TEST OUTLINE
Section 1: Reading (30 minutes 25 marks)
This section assesses your reading comprehension through two genres: informative and narrative. Your responses will be evaluated based on your ability to interpret key ideas, analyze details, and support your answers with evidence from the texts.Part 1: Informative Text (13 marks)Read a non-fiction passage of approximately 300 words. You will then select the correct options to fill in the missing words or phrases. Note that not all options will be used.
You will then answer one short-answer question and 5 true-or-false questions based on the passage.It is recommended that you spend 5 minutes on this task.Part 2: Narrative Text (12 marks)Read a narrative passage of about 600 words, then answer two full-sentence questions and five multiple-choice questions.It is recommended that you spend 15 minutes on this task.
Section 2: Writing (30 minutes 25 marks)
This section assesses your writing skills across two key areas: descriptive writing and professional communication. Your responses will be evaluated based on clarity, organization, vocabulary, grammar, and task fulfillment.Part 1 Descriptive Paragraph (10 marks)Write one descriptive paragraph based on a given photograph.
Suggested length: 100 wordsYour response will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Sentence Quality & Variety – Effective use of diverse sentence structures.
Grammar – Accurate and appropriate use of grammar.
Vocabulary Use – Strong word choice and appropriate descriptive language.
Task Fulfillment – The paragraph accurately describes the image and meets the requirements.
Organization – Logical flow and coherence of ideas.It is recommended that you spend 10 minutes on this task.Part 2: Professional Email Response (15 marks)Write one response to a professional email.
Suggested length: 150 wordsYour response will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Structure & Coherence – Logical flow and clarity of ideas.
Grammar – Accurate and appropriate use of grammar.
Vocabulary – Appropriate word choice and tone for professional communication.
Task Fulfillment – The response effectively addresses the email’s purpose.It is recommended that you spend 15 minutes on this task.
Section 3: Speaking (15 minutes 25 marks)
This section assesses your speaking skills. All tasks are administered via Speakpipe (recorded or written prompts) with no live interaction.Your responses will be evaluated based on:
Fluency & Coherence – Smooth and logical speech flow.
Vocabulary – Appropriate and varied word choice.
Pronunciation – Clarity and accuracy of speech sounds.
Overall Communicative Effectiveness – Ability to convey meaning clearly and naturally.Part 1 Picture Description (10 marks)Look at an image and record yourself describing it in detail. You will also answer a follow-up question related to the image.It is recommended that you spend 5 minutes on this task.Part 2 Oral Response Questions (15 marks)Answer three open-ended questions on a given topic. Your responses should be clear, structured, and well-developed.It is recommended that you spend 10 minutes on this task.
Section 4: Listening (15 minutes 25 marks)
This section assesses your ability to understand spoken English through dictation and two audio-based short-answer tasks.Part 1: Audio Comprehension (15 marks)Listen to an audio recording of a conversation. After listening, you will answer short-answer questions based on the content. The audio clip can be paused and replayed. Minor grammar or spelling errors will not result in mark deductions unless they impede meaning.Your response will be evaluated based on:
Comprehension – Understanding and accurately reflecting the audio content.
Clarity – Clear and understandable answers.
Accuracy – Correct details; minor grammar or spelling errors are allowed if meaning is clear.It is recommended that you spend 10 minutes on this task.Part 2: Dictation (10 marks)Listen to 3-5 second audio clips and write down exactly what you hear.Your response will be evaluated based on:
Grammar – Proper sentence structure and word forms.
Punctuation – Correct use of commas, periods, and other punctuation marks.
Spelling – Accurate reproduction of words as spoken.It is recommended that you spend 5 minutes on this task.
TEST TIMING
During your test, there will be one main timer at the top of your screen. This timer counts down the total time available for the test. At the top of each page (each section of the test), you will also see a time suggestion that tells you how long you should spend on that section to finish on time. Please note that these are only guidelines. There is no separate timer for each section.If you would like, you may also use a timer application on your computer to help you pace yourself through each section. However, you must only use timers on your computer screen. You may not look at your phone or any other device for timing. If you look away from your screen, we cannot know what you are doing, and you may be accused of academic dishonesty.The best timers are those that stay “on top” of your screen, so they do not get hidden behind your test window.
If your computer is too old to run that type of app, you can use a timer that displays at the top of your screen near the system clock.Recommended Timer AppsHere are some examples of free and reliable timer applications:For Windows (Windows 10 and newer):Focus Booster – simple Pomodoro-style timer that stays on top.
Desktop Countdown Timer (from Microsoft Store).
Free Timer by Comfort Software.For macOS (macOS 10.14 Mojave and newer):Be Focused – floating countdown you can keep visible.
Activity Timer – floating countdown you can keep visible.For older macOS versions (macOS 10.13 High Sierra or earlier):Timer for Mac (older versions still available online).
TimeLeft (runs on older systems).If you cannot find a suitable app for your computer, or if you have any questions, please contact [email protected] for assistance.