The whole exam lasts 2 hours and consists of 2 parts –

 

i)                    PART 1 - A compulsory question of (300-350 words), where the student has to present and develop arguments, express and support opinions and evaluate ideas.  The areas to write about usually involve magazine articles, extracts from a book or advertisements etc.  The style may be an essay, an article, a letter, a review, a proposal or a report.

 

ii)                   PART 2 – The student can choose here 1 of 4 questions, again with (300-350 words), usually between an article, a letter, a report or a review from a selection of material (i.e), a book, a magazine or a newspaper.

 

 

 

The style types you will be asked to write are either, an essay, an article, a letter, a review, a proposal or a report.

 

 

ESSAY

 

This is used when we i) explain somebody’s point of view, ii) relay information or iii) present hard facts.

 

1)      After reading the question, write the topics down which you have to talk about and tick them off one by one once mentioned them in your writing.

2)      Decide to cover either one side of an argument or both (i.e) for and against.

a.      If the question/issue is about robots, then you could talk about their benefits only (ONE SIDE) or you could talk about their benefits and their drawbacks on the human workforce (BOTH SIDES).

3)      Give an introduction (often using a rhetorical question) (i.e) So why are we here? or So what about the ozone layer?, usually something with impact (catchy to the reader).

4)      Explain the points you need to in as much depth so as to adhere to the word count.

5)      Provide a conclusion referring back to the title and your introduction.

6)      Use formal (NO don’t, Doesn’t etc, you have to use do not and does not) and third person speech.

 

 

ARTICLE

 

This is used when we want you want to write your own opinion or view on a topical subject or area.

 

1)      Think of an appropriate catchy title.

2)      Depending on audience, choose the appropriate style, humorous, formal, informal or business (e.t.c).  As an example if you writing in business weekly magazine you would write formal, but if you were writing for a students’ magazine you would use informal language and try to enter humour within your writing.

3)      Ensure to include the topics asked in the question separately.

4)      Make sure the initial sentence is interesting and performs an introduction to the topic.  As a dramatic example – What will happen if the world stops spinning?, this doesn’t have to be rhetorical.

5)       Include comments from the question; these are usually views of a society, another writer, a book (e.t.c).

6)      A final closing paragraph to reflect and conclude on your previous comments.

7)      Try to incorporate adjectives, adverbs, personal pronouns and elevated vocabulary.

 

 

LETTER

 

This is used always formally and it presents information, intermingled with your own thoughts and opinions, generally concluding all thoughts.

 

1)      Begin with Dear Sir/madam or a person’s name if known on the initial separate line.

2)      First line is ALWAYS why you are writing (i.e) I am writing to inform you ……..

3)      Try to develop a discussion on the article presented, think of new and original ideas and discuss them.

4)      Summarise what your views were and how they would affect the society we live in.

5)      Conclude with something like this.  Even though the article suggests this………., we could adopt this…………

6)      Finish with yours faithfully for (sir/madam) or yours sincerely for (Names person).

 

 

REVIEW

 

This is used for you to write your own opinion about something, usually a restaurant, a book or a film (e.t.c).

 

1)      Introduce the topic in an interesting way to try to make an impact on the reader.

2)      Ensure to cover all points asked for in the task and choose the appropriate style, humorous, formal, informal or business (e.t.c). 

3)      Talk about the location, building, amenities or service obviously depending on the topic discussed.

4)      Try to evaluate and recommend at the end in a conclusion all the positive and negative points you mentioned.

 

 

PROPOSAL

 

This is used for a proposal/suggestion for a new idea or generally a future change or course of action.

 

1)      Begin the introduction with the present situation.

2)      Make this formal and impersonal (3^rd person).

3)      Use sections with individual headings, such as:

                                                               i.      Time.

                                                             ii.      Finance.

                                                            iii.      Effect on workers.

                                                           iv.      (e.t.c)

4)      Explain your proposal and details.

5)      Conclude with why your idea/solution is the best and should be adopted.

 

 

REPORT

 

This is used to report about a past event usually a meeting.

 

1)      Begin the introduction with the present situation.

2)      Make this formal and impersonal (3^rd person).

3)      Use sections with individual headings, such as:

                                                               i.      Introduction.

                                                             ii.      Background.

                                                            iii.      Problems.

                                                           iv.      Possible measures.

                                                             v.      Comments and conclusions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reading consists of 4 parts and lasts 90 minutes in total.

 

PART 1 – CLOZE

 

i)                    Three short 150 word cloze texts from various backgrounds with 6 (choice of 4) multiple choice words to choose from.

ii)                   In order to achieve success here, you must know IDIOMS, COLLOCATIONS, FIXED PHRASES, COMPLEMENTATION, PHRASAL VERBS AND SEMANTIC PRECISION.

iii)                 Best advice is to skim read to get general idea of text.  Look at for nouns, adjectives and adverbs in text and try to fit accordingly to the rules you have learnt.

iv)                 REMEMBER – [1] An adjective always follows a sense verb or a verb of appearance like feel, taste, smell, sound, look, appear, and seem, when it modifies the noun before the verb.  [2] An adjective always follows a form of the verb “to be” when it modifies the noun before the verb.  [3] If the word modifies the subject, you should use an adjective. If the word modifies the verb, you should use an adverb.

 

 

PART 2 – MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

i)                    Four short 150 word texts from various backgrounds with 6 (choice of 4) multiple choice words/sentences to choose from.

ii)                   Usually these questions range from “What did the author imply in this text?” or “The writer says that ______ is?”.

iii)                 In order to achieve success here, you must know DETAIL, OPINION, ATTITUDE, TONE, PURPOSE, MAIN IDEA, UNDERSTANDING OF TEXT, IMPLICATION, COMPARISON AND REFERENCE.

iv)                 Best advice is to read the text in depth and try to fully understand it first, and then answer the multiple choice questions.

 

 

PART 3 – GAPPED TEXT

 

i)                    One 500 word text split into usually 7 smaller sections with text missing.

ii)                   The answer text is separate to the main text and consists of anything from 50 to 100 word paragraphs.

iii)                 You have to fit the 7 answer paragraphs into the main text.

iv)                 BEWARE there are always 8 answer paragraphs, even though you only need to use 7.

v)                  In order to achieve success here, you must know COHERENCE, COHESION, TEXT STRUCTURE AND GLOBAL MEANING.

vi)                 Best advice is to skim read the entire main text first, briefly write what each text is about and then try to fit the answer paragraphs in.

 

PART 4 – READING

 

i)                    One 600 word text on any topic with 7 (choice of 4) multiple choice answers.

ii)                   This is similar to part 2 in terms of the answer style.

iii)                 In order to achieve success here, you must know DETAIL, OPINION, ATTITUDE, TONE, PURPOSE, MAIN IDEA, UNDERSTANDING OF TEXT, IMPLICATION, COMPARISON AND REFERENCE.

iv)                 Best advice is to read the text in depth and try to fully understand it first, and then answer the multiple choice questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The use of English consists of 5 parts and 44 questions lasting 90 minutes in total.

 

PART 1 – OPEN CLOZE

 

i)                    One long text of about 200 words, where you have to read and understand, so as to answer 15 questions on it.  No multiple choice answers are given here, you have to find the most appropriate word to fit in.

ii)                   REMEMBER try to look out for the correct structure of the sentence, read the whole text first, then try to fit the words in.  Again try to observe the text as to what word is expected (i.e) preposition, noun, adjective, adverb or verb (e.t.c).

 

PART 2 – WORD FORMATION

 

i)                    One text of about 200 words with 10 questions.  You have to use derivatives of the words given to make the text correct.

ii)                   Each word is given, you merely have to find the appropriate derivative (i.e) adverb, adjective, noun (e.t.c).

iii)                 REMEMBER try to look out for the correct structure of the sentence, read the whole text first, then try to fit the words in.  Again try to observe the text as to what word is expected (i.e) preposition, noun, adjective, adverb or verb (e.t.c).

 

PART 3 – GAPPED SENTENCES

 

i)                    This consists of 6 questions with 3 different sentences on each question.  You have to determine the COMMON word missing in each sentence.

ii)                   MAKE SURE the word you choose fits in all three sentences not just one.  First quickly read all three sentences and try to determine the meaning and then fit the appropriate word.

 

PART 4 – KEY WORD TRANSFORMATIONS

 

i)                    8 questions of 2 sentences each.  The first sentence is complete and gives you the information required.  The second question is also written but with a gap for you to add anything from 2- 6 words, which MUST include the highlighted word given.

ii)                   Do not just put the word given alone; you have to try to make the sentence make sense with the given word and your own added words.

 

PART 5 – COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

 

i)                    5 questions are given here, where 4 of them are questions regarding the 2 short 150 word texts (2 questions per text).

ii)                   The 5^th question is a 50-70 word only writing section, where you have to sum up the text and answer a question with regard both texts usually.  These are not your own opinions; they are to be found within the context of the text.

iii)                 ENSURE to read and understand the texts before even looking at the questions.

 

 

 

 

 

The whole exam lasts 19 minutes and consists of 3 parts –

 

PART 1 – CONVERSATION BETWEEN CANDIDATES AND INTERLOCATOR

 

i)                    The students are asked to respond to the interlocutor’s questions about themselves and their own personal opinions.  This lasts for about 3 minutes in total.

 

 

PART 2 – TWO WAY CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES

 

i)                    This lasts for about 4 minutes and involves the candidates receiving visual and audio prompts, in order for them to use decision-making skills between themselves.

ii)                   The interlocutor doesn’t play much of a role here, it is basically down to the 2 students to talk about the prompts and give their own opinions.

 

 

PART 3 – (SPLIT INTO 2 SECTIONS) LONG TURN FOR EACH CANDIDATE

 

i)                    Here each candidate is asked to speak for about 2 minutes each on a topic, usually similar to the topics of the whole test followed by a short discussion on the mentioned subject.

ii)                   Each candidate is given a written question to respond to for about 4 minutes each. Here you have to explore further areas of the previously discussed long-turn topic, specifically elaborating on opinions and developing the topic further.

 

 

 

 

 

The whole exam lasts 40 minutes and consists of 4 parts (All exam heard twice) –

 

 

PART 1 – THREE OPTION MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

i)                    8 questions in 4 short extracts from monologues or texts involving two interactive speakers with 2 questions on each extract.

ii)                   This tests the students’ capabilities in understanding of the whole conversation. BEWARE this is interacting speakers, usually only 2, that’s 2 voices and accents to comprehend quickly.  Practise with English songs (duos) or English radio of interviews.

 

PART 2 – SENTENCE COMPLETION

 

i)                    9 questions are involved here, where you have to complete gaps in sentences with the information from a monologue. 

 

PART 3 – FOUR OPTION MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

i)                    5 questions are involved here, where you have to again understand the gist of the conversation (usually an interview) and answer the appropriate multiple-choice option.

ii)                   BEWARE this is again interacting speakers, usually only 2.

 

 

PART 4 – THREE-WAY MATCHING

 

This may come in 2 parts, either i) multiple matching task or ii) multiple choice task.

 

i)                    6 questions are involved here, where you have to match statements on a text to either of two speakers or to both when they express agreement.

ii)                   Main activity is to understand the speakers’ opinion and if they are in agreement or not.