The first part assesses reading and writing and the second part assesses listening and speaking. Test-takers can take a break between the two parts. The test is aligned to the CEFR (A2 to C1) and delivers extremely accurate and reliable results.
For more information about the test modules, click on the tabs below. Please note that this page is best viewed on a desktop PC or laptop.
Password Reading
Test-takers have 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete the test module.
Section 1
Test-takers put seven sentences together to show the order of events in a story.
Test-takers drag and drop each sentence into the table.
Please note the first sentence is always already in the table.
Ice Cream
| 1 | Shirley's children told her they wanted to eat ice cream. |
|---|---|
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 |
When she got home, her children were surprised but happy.
She went to the supermarket to buy some for them.
In the end, she decided she would buy both, so they could choose.
She didn't want to upset them by getting the wrong flavour.
When she got there, she couldn't remember if they wanted strawberry or chocolate.
| 1 | Shirley's children told her they wanted to eat ice cream. |
|---|---|
| 2 | She went to the supermarket to buy some for them. |
| 3 | When she got there, she couldn't remember if they wanted strawberry or chocolate. |
| 4 | She didn't want to upset them by getting the wrong flavour. |
| 5 | In the end, she decided she would buy both, so they could choose. |
| 6 | When she got home, her children were surprised but happy. |
| 7 | They ate all the chocolate ice cream and then they ate all the strawberry ice cream. |
Section 2
Test-takers fill empty spaces with words from below the text.
Test-takers drag and drop words into appropriate spaces. There are more words than spaces.
Stress
healthily cleanly result passed
being lasts foods harmful
Stress is often thought to be one of the greatest problems of the modern world. In fact , it is a natural part of our lives and you need to experience a certain level of it in order to live healthily . It happens when the human body reacts to threats or dangers. Your body begins to produce chemicals that cause your heart to beat faster and carry fats to your muscles to give them extra fuel. This is meant to help you to run away, fight off a predator or battle your enemies. When the threat has passed , or you have escaped from danger, the ‘relaxation response’ returns your system to normal.
Section 3
Test-takers must read the text and then answer eight questions about it.
Please note in the example below there is just one question. In the real test there are always eight questions.
Desertification
Agriculture in all parts of the world depends on the fertility of the soil. Good quality soils develop when organic materials such as fallen leaves are transformed by fungi and microbes into essential plant nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous. In some ecosystems, often those in dry areas with limited rainfall, there is a natural scarcity of rich soil. Relatively small numbers of animals and people are able to survive there.
there is too little water for people and animals to drink
there are too few plants to provide organic materials
there are too few people to make farming practical
there is too little water for people and animals to drink
there are too few plants to provide organic materials
there are too few people to make farming practical
Section 4
Test-takers read paragraphs of a text and then match headings to the paragraphs. The paragraph headings can be found just below the text.
There is one more heading than is required.
In this example there is just one paragraph. In the real test there are always seven paragraphs.
Bringing up children bilingually
Note: Bilingualism is the ability to speak two languages and multilingualism is the ability to speak many.
Publications for bilingual families
Multilingual Matters (MM) is a publishing company based in Bristol, England, that specialises in books on many aspects of multilingualism, and publishes newsletters for bilingual (and multilingual) families all around the world. It was started almost 25 years ago by British born Mike Grover and his Finnish wife, Marjukka, who were raising their two sons in Finnish and English, but were frustrated by the lack of practical advice.
THIS IS WHERE THE TITLE FOR THE BELOW PARAGRAPH GOES
Marjukka explains the decision to launch the company: “Unsound research in Wales in the 1950s led to quite negative conclusions and the suggestion that raising children with more than one language would result in them having weak language skills. It wasn’t until the 1980s that these issues were clarified by more carefully designed studies in Canada. When my children were born, I spoke to them from the beginning in my own language. Although I was certain I was doing the right thing, I wanted to learn more about the process of raising bilinguals. A lot of research has been done about this, but it had no real ‘home’. So we set up Multilingual Matters.”
Bringing up children bilingually
Note: Bilingualism is the ability to speak two languages and multilingualism is the ability to speak many.
Publications for bilingual families
Multilingual Matters (MM) is a publishing company based in Bristol, England, that specialises in books on many aspects of multilingualism, and publishes newsletters for bilingual (and multilingual) families all around the world. It was started almost 25 years ago by British born Mike Grover and his Finnish wife, Marjukka, who were raising their two sons in Finnish and English, but were frustrated by the lack of practical advice.
How and why MM started
Marjukka explains the decision to launch the company: “Unsound research in Wales in the 1950s led to quite negative conclusions and the suggestion that raising children with more than one language would result in them having weak language skills. It wasn’t until the 1980s that these issues were clarified by more carefully designed studies in Canada. When my children were born, I spoke to them from the beginning in my own language. Although I was certain I was doing the right thing, I wanted to learn more about the process of raising bilinguals. A lot of research has been done about this, but it had no real ‘home’. So we set up Multilingual Matters.”
Section 5
Test-takers read a text and then read some statements.
Test-takers put the statements in order to make a summary of the text.
The first statement is always answered.
There are two more statements than are required.
Please note in this example there are five statements. In the real test there are always eight statements.
The Ancient Gods
Often these beings known as gods were depicted in animal form in paintings and manuscripts and many of them became ‘sacred’, generating traditional ceremonies and rituals as illustrated by the cat in ancient Egypt. Primarily an agricultural society, rats presented serious issues for the Egyptians in terms of hygiene and food production, and it is thought that cats became revered in their culture due to their ability to keep the rat population down. Cats were considered so sacred that there were severe punishments for harming one, even if done so accidentally, which often resulted in death.
Rituals were constructed around these sacred animals, many of which were based on sacrifice, a widespread practice which involved killing and offering animals to the gods in exchange for favours. People would pray for good harvests, or to prevent bad weather or natural disasters, and in some cultures, for example the Sumerian, people believed that the thoughts of the gods could be seen by examining the internal organs of goats or sheep. They thought that by being able to predict the thoughts of the gods, it would be possible to keep them contented and in turn they would be blessed with good fortune.
Password Writing
Test-takers are given instructions regarding length and content.
(A) “School Children should choose the subjects they study from a young age and stop doing subjects they find uninteresting.”
How much do you agree with this opinion and why? Give reasons and examples to support your answer.
(B) “Old people are an essential part of society, so they should be respected.”
How much do you agree with this opinion and why? Give reasons and examples to support your answer.
You have 30 minutes to write your answer. You should write more than 200 words; if you write less, your score will be less.
Your essay should:
- Clearly present your ideas about the topic and be well organised.
- Use appropriate examples or details to support your opinion.
- Make accurate use of a suitable range of grammar and vocabulary.
Your score will be based on these aspects.
Write your answer in the box below. Do not click finish section until you have finished.
School children should choose the subjects they study from a young age and stop doing subjects they find uninteresting.
“In most education systems today, children learn a wide variety of subjects until they leave school. At university, they begin to specialise before focussing on a specific job or career in the long term. Some countries, however, allow students to start to choose areas of study they prefer from a much younger age and in my opinion this is not a good idea.
First of all, when a pupil is still young, they often do not realise the consequences of their choices. By this I mean that, if they choose not to study a subject because they find it too difficult or not interesting, they may not realise that this will prevent them having many careers. They may lose their dream job because they did not select the right subjects to study for it. In any case, working hard to overcome difficulties is an important life lesson to learn for every young person.
Another reason for not allowing students to drop subjects too early is that they may give up studying ones they feel are not useful in terms of their academic future, forgetting that these are important for their well-being and creativity. Art, music, drama, dance and sport are all important for our lives and can help build self-esteem. Research shows that these positive feelings can lower stress and even improve pupil’s exam results.
Finally, in my view, the world’s best thinkers are the people with the widest knowledge. In the future we will need creative people who can make links across many subject areas to come up with new ideas. Computers cannot do this as well as humans can, but to be able to make new links we need a wide foundation. In conclusion, school is the place to get the broad subject knowledge to build our future.”
Password Listening
Once test-takers press the play button, it is not possible to pause or restart the recording. Test-takers will hear the recording twice. The second time they hear the recording the question(s) will appear.
Notes can be made to help prepare answers.
Section 1
Each recording lasts approx. 1 minute and is repeated once.
Section 2
This recording lasts approx. 3 minutes and is repeated once.
Section 3
Each recording lasts approx. 1 minute.
Section 4
This recording lasts approx. 5 minutes.
Section 5
This recording lasts approx. 3 minutes.
Password Speaking
There is about the same amount of time available to prepare answers as there is to speak. You have 20 minutes to complete the test.
Notes can be made to help prepare answers.
Section 1
Section 2
EXAMPLE 1
Answer: I live in London next to Hyde Park.
EXAMPLE 2
Answer: It’s warm and sunny.
Section 3
EXAMPLE 1
You walk up to the pharmacist.
Talk to the pharmacist:
- Ask for help.
- Explain the problem.
- Ask for advice.
Answer: Hello, could you help me please? I’m not feeling very well. Last night I started to feel hot and I woke up this morning with a fever and a headache. What do you think I should do? Do you have any medicine for a fever?
EXAMPLE 2
You have forgotten to bring a present. Your friend says ‘Hello’.
What do you say?
- Congratulate your friend.
- Apologise.
- Explain why.
Answer: Hi Julie. Happy birthday! I’m really sorry but I’ve forgotten to bring your present. I bought a present for you, but earlier today, I went to visit my sister and I left it at her house. I’ll give it to you next week.
Section 4
EXAMPLE
Answer: I think that learning a musical instrument is more difficult because you have to learn and practise a lot just to play a simple song. When you start learning a sport it doesn’t take long to be able to play, even if you’re not very good. Although you need a high level of skill to play professionally, most people just want to have fun. For example, after an hour or so, most people can play football or hit a tennis ball to each other. However, if you want to play a simple song on the guitar or piano it takes longer to learn where the notes are on the instrument and how to play it. Another reason why it’s harder is that you have to learn to read music.
Section 5
EXAMPLE
- What is the situation shown in the graph/chart/diagram?
- Why is this happening?
- What do you think will happen in the future?
Level of education in adults over 15 in Canada (in %)
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