Preparing for English

ENGLISH SECTION INSTRUCTIONS

  • All tasks (except longer writing tasks and speaking interview) are in multiple-choice format.
  • The remaining time will be shown on the screen for each part. Once you complete the sections, you may jump to the next part.
  • This is a computer-based test. Candidates are expected to know how to use a computer keyboard.
  • You will be provided with pen and paper. You are allowed to take notes while doing the listening test.
  • You should get your headset ready before the interview part. The questions will be asked by an animation character; you should press the button on the screen when you are ready to answer, and your answer will be recorded. Click submit when you finish speaking. You have the chance to repeat the question in three different ways, the question will be asked more slowly and easier to understand. Please also bear in mind that for each request of question repeating, 1 point will be deducted from your total score.

WRITING

Each candidate will answer two longer writing tasks. It is very important to pay attention to the wording of the questions and instructions. The task will say if a narrative, an argument, a personal recount, a procedural text, etc. should be written. Candidates should familiarise themselves with the different text types that come up in each stage. Please see the table below for text types:

TEXT TYPE
  • Narrative
  • Explain a short process
TEXT TYPE
  • Narrative (one task includes a picture for inspiration)
TEXT TYPE
  • Narrative
  • Argumentative
  • Explanatory
  • Procedural
TEXT TYPE
  • Explanatory
  • Argumentative
  • Informative
TEXT TYPE
  • Explanatory
  • Argumentative
  • Informative
TEXT TYPE
  • Explanatory/Informative – Science experiment
  • Personal recount

It is very important to read the instructions for each writing task, so candidates know exactly what to write. Here is a sample writing task for Stage 3:

INSTRUCTIONS:

Write at least three paragraphs. Make sure to try and be interesting. Use interesting vocabulary and try to use different kinds of sentences. Be aware of the structure and plan your writing. Edit and check your own work before submitting.

Write a narrative about one of your birthdays. Include a list of all the people you saw that day and any presents/gifts you received. Describe how you celebrated your birthday and if it was better/worse than your typical birthday. Use words which show your feelings, opinion, and point of view.

Looking at the task above, it is clear that to answer this question fully, candidates must include several different components. It is a good rule of thumb to write down all the KEY WORDS from the instructions when planning an answer. This will help candidates ensure they are including ALL the necessary information in their answer.

Key words from this instruction are:

  • three paragraphs
  • narrative
  • birthday
  • list of people/presents
  • how you celebrated
  • better/worse than your typical birthday

To score high marks for this question, ALL components of the question must be included in the written text, and it must be written as the correct text type. Candidates often write very solid pieces of work, but they lose marks because they have not followed the conventions of the text type required in the question.

In the sample question above, it is a narrative, so the text should include a plot, storyline, and dialogue. It also must include a materials list. As well as writing a narrative about a birthday, it must include how it was celebrated AND if it was better/worse than your typical birthday.

This is a computer-based test. Candidates are expected to know how to use a computer keyboard. Candidates should note that when typed answers are required (longer writing tasks), it is important to write the same way you would by hand. Paragraphing, punctuation, capitalisation, etc. are all graded. If candidates are not familiar with using a computer keyboard, they should practise before the test.

SPEAKING & LISTENING

In the listening/speaking part of the test, candidates are interviewed by an avatar. Candidates are asked 10 questions. The first two questions are general, and the rest deal with topics appropriate for the age and stage of student.

Candidates are encouraged to listen carefully to each question asked. It is important to answer EXACTLY what is asked. Candidates can take notes to help them prepare their answer. Candidates should remember that this is an important stage of the test for them to express themselves and show their level of English-speaking ability. However, they can demonstrate their listening ability by only including information pertaining to the question asked.

Candidates have a maximum of two minutes, once they press record, to answer each question. Some questions can be answered more briefly than others. It is important to remember to answer the question fully but also to be concise. Candidates often lose marks for going off topic or “talking for the sake of talking”. Depending on the question asked and the stage of the test the candidate is sitting, the length of answers can vary. It is normal that higher stages of the test might necessitate longer answers, but this depends on the question asked, and students should exercise common sense when preparing their answers.

Of course, each question is different, but for some of the longer/multipart questions towards the end of the interview, the average answer length* could be as follows:

  • Stage 1 & 2 – 30-60 seconds
  • Stage 3 & 4 – 60-90 seconds
  • Stage 5 & 6 – 90-120 seconds
*These timings are just a guideline and not a rule.

Interview tips:

  • This is a formal interview – language should indicate this.
  • Listen carefully to each question – it can be repeated, but you will lose marks.
  • Take notes and prepare your answers.
  • Answer in full sentences.
  • Address each part of the question.
  • Never answer a question with fewer than seven words – you will lose marks for brevity, not being formal enough, or not using the opportunity to share your thoughts and knowledge.
  • Answer each question fully – without waffling on or going off topic.
  • Do not press SUBMIT until you have fully finished speaking.

OTHER QUESTION TYPES

Many of the multiple-choice questions in all stages will contain some of the following instructions.

Being familiar with the following question types and the sample questions will help students prepare for the test.

  • Fill in the blank
  • Which sentence is correct?
  • Correct the underlined word(s)
QUESTION TYPE
  • Identify a noun or naming word in this sentence.
  • Complete the word.
  • What is the correct spelling of this word?
  • Which pair of words has the same sound underlined?
  • What is the first sound in these words?
  • What is the final sound in these words?
  • Which sentence uses capital letters correctly?
  • What is missing from the end of the sentence?
SAMPLE QUESTION

Which sentence is correct?

A. The boy short on that lives street.
B. The short boy lives on that street.
C. Boy lives on street the short that.
D. That street boy the lives short on.

Answer: B

QUESTION TYPE
  • Proper/Common noun.
  • Choose the correct beginning for the word.
  • Choose the correct ending to make a noun or naming word.
  • Choose the correct ending to make an adjective or describing word.
  • Which sentence is written correctly?
  • What does the underlined word mean?
  • What is the best definition of the root word “______”?
  • Which word rhymes with “______”?
  • Which word contains the underlined sound?
  • Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?
  • Which sentence correctly punctuates direct speech?
SAMPLE QUESTION

Fill in the blank:

Every afternoon Sam ______ his dog for a walk.
A. goes
B. drinks
C. takes
D. speaks

Answer: C

QUESTION TYPE
  • Pronouns
  • Active/Passive voice
  • Which affix means “______”?
  • Choose the correct form of the word in (brackets) to complete the sentence.
  • What does this saying mean?
  • Which part of this sentence is a noun phrase?
  • Which of these options orders the words from most happy to least happy? (Words in bold will change depending on question.)
  • Which word is close in meaning to the underlined word but is a stronger emotion?
  • Which word is closest in meaning to the underlined word but is a weaker adjective?
  • Choose the word that is a synonym of the underlined word.
  • Which indirect speech sentence is punctuated correctly and has the same meaning as the sentence below?
SAMPLE QUESTION

Change the sentence from active to passive voice:

The teacher gave the students their report cards to show to their parents/guardians.
The students ______ their report cards to show to their parents/guardians.

A. were given
B. were gave
C. were giving
D. was give

Answer: A

QUESTION TYPE
  • Active/Passive voice.
  • Decide if the underlined word has a positive, negative or neutral connotation.
  • Decide if the overall tone of this sentence is positive, negative or neutral.
  • Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
SAMPLE QUESTION

Change the sentence from active to passive voice:

Decide if the overall tone of this sentence is positive, negative or neutral:

She had a wonderful life and was always surrounded by friends and family.

A. Positive
B. Neutral
C. Negative

Answer: A

QUESTION TYPE
  • Transitional words/phrases.
  • What part of speech is the underlined word?
  • Which is not a word?
  • What does the underlined euphemism mean?
  • Choose the word that is a synonym of the underlined word.
  • Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
SAMPLE QUESTION

Fill in the blank:

The test will cover chapters 5-8. ______, it is very important that you look back over those specific chapters.

A. Since
B. Because
C. Therefore
D. On the other hand

Answer: C

QUESTION TYPE
  • Active/Passive voice.
  • Choose the word that is a synonym of the underlined word.
  • What part of speech is the underlined word?
  • Which is not a word?
  • Which word could replace the underlined word without changing its meaning?
  • Which two words could fill in the blank without changing the meaning of the sentence?
  • Which word does not have a similar meaning to the underlined word?
SAMPLE QUESTION

Choose the word that is a synonym of the underlined word.

While your apology doesn’t vindicate your action, it may help to provide some comfort for the people who were harmed by it.

A. damage
B. exemplify
C. realise
D. justify

Answer: D

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