Listening

  • Listen & Match

  • Picture Description

  • Short Talks

  • Extended Listening

Reading Vocabulary

  • Synonym

  • Antonym

  • Idiom

  • Root & Affix

Writing Multiple Choice

  • Synonym

  • Grammar, structure
    & written expression

  • Paragraph choices

  • Recognizing errors

Speaking

  • Oral Vocabulary

  • Speech Functions

  • Personal Opinion

  • Story Retelling

  • Graph Interpretation

Reading Comprehension

  • Main Idea

  • Detail

  • Inference/Prediction

  • Reference

  • Rhetorical Elements

  • Vocabulary in Context

Constructed Response

  • Writing sentences

  • Writing paragraphs

Speaker Notes:

Facilitator Notes:

The listening test is all multiple-choice and is paced by a CD (or teacher script, which appears in the Directions for Administration manual).

There are four item types that progressively get more challenging.

1. Listen and Match: single sentences—taps into the lower end of the proficiency spectrum.

2. Picture Description: single sentences, but more listening is involved.

3. Short Talks: two types—partial dialogues and teacher talks (mixture of BICS and CALP).

BICS – Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills or the language skills needed in social situations.

CALP – Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency or formal academic learning. This includes listening, speaking, reading, and writing about subject area content material.

4. Extended Listening: assesses whether the student can learn new information in English.

The Speaking section is administered in a one-on-one setting. The test administrator sits with a student and asks a series of questions. The student’s responses are scored on the spot by the test administrator.

There are 5 items types in the speaking tests:

1. Oral Vocabulary – student identifies objects or actions and state antonyms

2. Speech Functions – student asks a question related to a situation

3. Personal Opinion – student gives reason to support an opinion

4. Story Retelling – student hears story then repeats it

5. Graph Interpretation – student looks at graph and speaks about the information on the graph