Academic Reading

Paper Format→ Three reading passages with a variety of questions using a number of task types.
Timing→ 60 minutes
No of Questions→ 40

Task Types→ A variety of questions are used, chosen from the following types; multiple choice, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.

Sources → Texts are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers and have been written for a non-specialist audience. All the topics are of general interest. They deal with issues which are interesting, recognisably appropriate and accessible to candidates entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration. The passages may be written in a variety of styles, for example narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative.
At least one text contains detailed logical argument. Texts may contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical terms then a simple glossary is provided.

Academic Writing

Paper Format→ There are two Writing tasks and BOTH must be completed.
Timing→ 60 minutes
No of Questions→ 2

Task Types→ In Task 1 candidates are asked to describe some visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram), and to present the description in their own words. They need to write 150 words in about 20 minutes.
In Task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view or argument or problem. They need to write 250 words in about 40 minutes.

General reading

Paper Format→ Three sections of increasing difficulty. Section 1 may contain two or three short texts or several shorter texts. Section 2 comprises two texts. In Section 3 there is one long text.
Timing→ 60 minutes
No of Questions→ 40

Task Types→ A variety of questions are used, chosen from the following types; multiple choice, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.

Sources→ The first section, ‘social survival’, contains texts relevant to basic linguistic survival in English with tasks mainly about retrieving and providing general factual information, for example, notices, advertisements and timetables.
The second section, ‘Workplace survival’, focuses on the workplace context, for example job descriptions, contracts and staff development and training materials. The third section, ‘general reading’, involves reading more extended prose with a more complex structure but with the emphasis on descriptive and instructive rather than argumentative texts, in a general context relevant to the wide range of candidates involved, for example, newspapers, magazines and fictional and non-fictional book extracts.

General Writing

Paper Format→ There are two Writing tasks to complete.
Timing→ 60 minutes
No of Questions→ 2

Task Types→ In Task 1, candidates are asked to respond to a situation, by writing a letter for example, requesting information or explaining a situation.
In Task 2, candidates write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

Listening

Paper Format→ Four sections, each with ten questions. The questions are designed so that the answers appear in order in the listening.
The first two sections deal with situations set in everyday social contexts. There is a conversation between two speakers in Section 1 (for example a conversation about travel arrangements) and a monologue in Section 2 (for example, a speech about local facilities). The final two sections deal with situations set in educational and training contexts. In Section 3 there is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, two university students in discussion, perhaps guided by a tutor), and Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject.
The recordings are heard once only. They include a range of accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand and American.
Timing→ Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes' transfer time).

No of Questions→ 40
Task Types→ A variety of questions is used, chosen from the following types: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion, sentence completion.

Speaking

Paper Format→ The Speaking test consists of an oral interview between the candidate and an examiner.
All Speaking tests are recorded.
Timing→ 11-14 minutes

Task Types→ There are three parts to the test and each part fulfils a specific function in terms of interaction pattern, task input and candidate output.
Part 1 - Introduction and interview
Task Type & Format- In this part, the examiner introduces him/herself and checks the candidate’s identity.
Then the examiner asks the candidate general questions on some familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies, interests. To ensure consistency, questions are taken from a scripted examiner frame.

Part 1 lasts for 4-5 minutes.
Task Focus -This part of the test focuses on the candidate’s ability to communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences or situations by answering a range of questions.
Number of Questions - Variable


Part 2 - Long turn
Task Type & Format- Part 2 is the individual long turn. The examiner gives the candidate a task card which asks the candidate to talk about a particular topic, includes points to cover in their talk and instructs the candidate to explain one aspect of the topic. Candidates are given 1 minute to prepare their talk, and are given a pencil and paper to make notes. Using the points on the task card effectively, and making notes during the preparation time, will help the candidate think of appropriate things to say, structure their talk, and keep talking for 2 minutes.
The examiner asks the candidate to talk for 1 to 2 minutes, stops the candidate after 2 minutes, and asks one or two questions on the same topic.

Part 2 lasts 3-4 minutes, including the preparation time.
Task Focus- This part of the test focuses on the candidate’s ability to speak at length on a given topic (without further prompts from the examiner), using appropriate language and organising their ideas coherently. It is likely that the candidate will need to draw on their own experience to complete the long turn.
Number of Questions- Variable


Part 3 - Discussion
Task Type & Format - In Part 3, the examiner and the candidate discuss issues related to the topic in Part 2 in a more general and abstract way and – where appropriate – in greater depth.

Part 3 lasts 4-5 minutes.
Task Focus- This part of the test focuses on the candidate’s ability to express and justify opinions and to analyse, discuss and speculate about issues.
Number of Questions- Variable