Preparing for your language test

You will listen to four recorded texts, monologues and conversations by a range of native speakers, and write their answers to a series of questions.

Recording 1: a conversation between two people set in a normal everyday setting.
Recording 2: a monologue set in a normal everyday setting.
Recording 3: a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training setting.
Recording 4: a conversation on an academic subject (i.e. a university lecture).

You will be asked to answer questions related to a wide range of reading skills, which include reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument, recognizing writers’ opinions, attitudes and purpose.

You will be required to read three long texts which range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. These are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers.

In Task 1 you will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. You can write the letter in a personal, semi-formal or formal style.

In Task 2 you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. You can use a fairly personal style.

Part 1: you will be asked to answer general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as your home, family, work, studies and interests. This part lasts between 4 and 5 minutes.

Part 2: you will be given a minute to prepare your thoughts on an assigned topic. You will then be asked to speak for up to two minutes. The examiner will then ask one or two questions on the same topic to finish this part of the test.

Part 3: you will be asked further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. These questions will provide an opportunity to discuss more abstract issues and ideas. This part lasts between 4 and 5 minutes.

You will listen to audio clips to test your ability to understand spoken English. Topics will include listening to problem solving, daily life conversation, news, viewpoints and discussion.

You will read passages to test your comprehension skills. Topics will include reading correspondence, applying a diagram, information and viewpoints.

You will be required to answer questions with written answers. This includes 2 tasks:

1. Task 1 - Writing an email (150-200 words) 
2. Task 2 - Responding to survey questions (150-200 words)

You will be required to respond to on-screen prompts verbally. This includes 8 tasks:

Task 1 - Giving advice,
Task 2 - Talking about personal experience,
Task 3 - Describing a scene,
Task4 - Making predictions,
Task 5 - Comparing and persuading,
Task 6 - Dealing with a difficult situation,
Task 7 - Expressing opinions,
Task 8 - Describing an unusual situation.

You will listen to audio clips to test your ability to understand spoken French. This portion of the exam consists of 4 sections with multiple choice questions.

You will be tested on your anility to read and comprehend written documents. This portion of the exam consists of 4 sections with multiple choice questions.

You will tested on your ability to communicate orally with another person. This portion of the exam consists of two section:

1. Section A: Obtaining information (5 minutes),
2. Section B: Making a case to convince someone (10 minutes)

You will be tested on your ability to express yourself in written French. This portion of the exam consists of two sections:

1. Section A: Write the next part of an article (at least 80 words),
2. Section B: Express and justify your point of view (at least 200 words)

You will listen to audio clips to test your ability to understand spoken French, including:

• current words and expressions used in daily life
• the essentials of public messages and announcements
• concrete and abstract subjects.

These questions will test your comprehension of:

• familiar names, words and phrases; 
• information contained in classifieds
• brochures, menus and schedules
• information about people, facts or events (personal letters)
• articles and reports in which the authors take a stand on concrete or abstract subjects
• long and complex factual or literary texts, specialized articles.

You will tested on your ability to communicate orally with another person. This portion of the exam consists of three section:

1. Section A: The candidate demonstrates his/her ability to talk to someone they don't know (the examiner)
2. Section B: The candidate demonstrates his/her ability to get information in a daily life situation
3. Section C: The candidate demonstrates his ability to speak spontaneously, continuously and convincingly in answering a question chosen by the examiner.

You will be tested on your ability to express yourself in written French. This portion of the exam consists of three sections:

1. Section A: Writing a message to describe and/or explain, addressed to one or more recipients
2. Section B: Writing an article, a letter, a note, etc. for multiple recipients
3. Section C: Writing a text (for a newspaper, a website, colleague, supervisor, etc.) which compares two points of view.