Who is this exam for?
This exam is for candidates who are applying for higher education in an English-speaking institution and/or wishing to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English for social, academic and professional purposes.
Candidates will be expected to understand stated and unstated functions and the explicit and implicit meaning of the content of written and spoken communication in a wide range of social, academic and professional contexts, and to express themselves in the spoken and written form effectively with a high degree of accuracy, appropriacy and style.
How is this exam structured?
The exam has a written paper (2 hours 55 minutes) and an oral test (15 minutes). The written paper is divided into five tasks which are linked to a theme to which the candidates can relate.
Tasks 1 and 2: Listening (written paper)
Tasks 1 and 2 consist of two listening texts recorded on tape and candidates will be asked to undertake some of the following tasks:
- make rough notes of key information heard on the tape and reorder it where necessary
- make comments and give qualified reasons about different aspects of the spoken discourse
- complete missing information from the spoken discourse
- complete a table or fill in a grid, diagram, map or picture with appropriate general and specific details from the spoken discourse
- identify points or features of accompanying written text which relate to information or ideas heard on the tape
- mark statements about a picture or text as true or false or not stated
- summarise information from the spoken discourse
- write down responses to questions and statements about the spoken discourse
Task 3: Reading and Integrated Reading and Writing (written paper)
a) The first task will involve reading and processing information to complete a task such as taking extended notes or making a summary.
b) The second task will involve reading different types of texts and analysing, interpreting, synthesising and evaluating the source data and their implications. Written responses may include writing a biography, writing a CV, making notes in preparation for an interview or talk or preparing an ‘abstract’ of a lecture which summarises the main points.
Task 4: Reading (written paper)
Candidates read up to three texts of no more than 1300 words. Candidates may be asked to undertake some of the following tasks:
- identify main and secondary ideas and supporting details, arguments and conclusions in the text
- compare, select and extract information from a text and transfer it to a diagram, map, picture, table or grid
- compare texts and make responses to questions and statements about the texts
- put a sequence of pictures, illustrations or sentences in order according to information in the text
- mark statements about a picture or text as true or false
- write short answers to questions on important features of the text
- explain the meanings or significance of key words or phrases
- summarise information from the texts
- make comments and give qualified reasons about different aspects of the texts
- match given words and phrases to words and phrases (or headings to paragraphs) in the text
- infer the meaning of words in the text
- analyse how the writer constructs a text, organises information or uses language in order to achieve the purpose for which the text is written, e.g. to form, persuade, entertain or instruct
- insert additional or missing information into a suitable point in the text
Task 5: Writing (written paper)
- A discursive essay in response to a specific statement and/or question, e.g. People often say that travel broadens the mind. Do you agree?
- A newspaper article or critical review advancing arguments or discussing specific activities, projects, findings, advice or conclusions, based on the scenario of the test.
Oral Test
Oral tests are conducted by an interviewer. Each candidate is assessed for effective communication, interaction, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Candidates are assessed in pairs and are expected to ask and respond to each other’s questions, as well as to respond to questions and prompts from the interviewer.
Candidates should demonstrate that they can:
- speak and hold their own on a wide range of general and professional topics in a wide range of complex situations and describe experiences in detail
- express, qualify and discuss ideas and personal opinions using expressive and persuasive language
- cope with and respond to controversial and emotionally-charged points of view and reach a conclusion in extended and complex discussions.