Saturday 19 March 2011

6 – Classification


This question type tests your ability to identify associations and relations between facts in the listening text. You are required to classify information by matching a numbered list of items from the listening text. Classifications are normally according to the speaker’s view(s) or to a period of time or place. You may be asked to write a letter which corresponds to one of the classifications next to each item in a list of statements. Or the question might ask you to circle a letter in a table. 

To do well in this question type make sure you know the number of classifications and what letters you have to use. Read the statements and expressions carefully, they may be articulated in a different way in the listening text and might use synonyms. Underline important words in the classifications and the questions and concentrate on the words you have underlined during listening.

Below is the example provided for your better understanding of this type of questions.


Model – Classification

Q1Write the appropriate letters A-C against questions 9-12.
Q2: Where do you get the following services?
Q3:Where are the following tourist attractions?

5 – Labelling a Diagram, Plan or Map


In this task you will be provided a map or a diagram and you have to complete labels given in the listening text. The diagram or map may include a set of pictures, a plan of a building or a map of a city. 

You will be provided a list on the question paper usually a box of words or expressions from which to select the labels. If you are not provided with a box of labels then you will be instructed on the word limit, so make sure you read the instructions carefully to find out how many words you are supposed to use for your answer. The information given will be in the same order as the numbers on the diagram. You must write the words from the listening text and do not use your own words as your answer.

Model 1 – Labelling a Diagram, Plan or Map
Label the map below.

Choose FOUR answers from the box and write the correct letter A-G next to questions 11-14.
A Admin offices
B gaming room for the workers
C health centre
D café
E kitchen
F library
 
 









4 – Sentence Completion

In this question type you will be given a set of incomplete sentences and you will have to complete a gap in each sentence using information from the listening text. Read the instruction for word limit. Generally you have to write three words or less. You must take words from the listening text, write them on the question paper and then transfer on the answer sheet at the end. 

Questions may also appear in a table. Pay attention to your grammar particularly in this type of questions and if you are not sure of the answer to a question make a little note next to that question and attempt an intelligent guess at the end.


Below are the examples provided for your better understanding of this type of questions.

Model – Sentence Completion
Q1: Tour services run …..…....trips every month.
Q2:  ……………..costs $150.
Q3: For more information on the tours visit our ……………….



Friday 18 March 2011

3-Short Answer questions


3-Short answer questions

In this task type you will be given a question to which you have to write a short answer using information from the listening text. Sometimes you may be given a question which requires you to list two or three points. You will be instructed on a word limit, typically no more than three words and/or a number. In short answer questions, if you cannot answer a question do not just leave it, place some words in the blanks, but not more than three. 


Read the instructions carefully and determine the context of the conversation. If you are not sure about the meaning of a word in the questions, you can guess it by looking at other questions that might have some related vocabulary.


Below are the examples provided for your better understanding of this type of questions.

Model 1– Short-answer Questions

Answer the questions below;

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

How often the Bus services run for Lahore?

………………………………………..
What time the bus leaves for Lahore?

……………………………………………

Model 2– Short-answer Questions

List THREE things which Ali wants to take on the trip
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
1………………………………………………………………… 
2………………………………………………………………… 
3………………………………………………………………… 


  

Listening 2-Multiple Choice Questions


2-Multiple Choice Questions


Multiple Choice questions test your ability to demonstrate a complete understanding of particular points or an overall understanding of the key points of the listening text. To accomplish this task, you will have to choose the best answer from three choices A, B or C and to write the letter of the correct answer on the Answer Sheet. There will be more options then questions, one option will be correct and others might look possible but will in fact be incorrect. 

In this type of questions sometimes you have to choose more than one answer to get one mark and sometimes you are required to choose more than one answer and each answer is worth one mark. So it is important to read the instructions carefully to avoid misunderstanding what is required. After you make sure how many letters you are required to circle, look through the questions quickly and underline the important words in questions. You should be able to predict the sort of information you are going to hear from the words of the questions and/or pictures.

Below are the examples provided for your better understanding of this type of questions.

Model 1 – with one answer required
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Q: The ‘interpersonal skills’ workshop lasts for
A
One day
B
Two days
C
Three days

Model 2 – with more than one answer required
Choose TWO letters A-E.
Q: Which TWO facilities did the employees request on premises?
A
a health centre
B
a recreation hall
C
a cafeteria
D
a kitchen
E
a reception






Listening Question Types (1Summary Completion)


1 – Form/Notes/Table/Flow-chart/Summary Completion

In this type of questions you have to fill in the blank spaces in a sketch of the listening text. 

There are two type of these completion questions


Type 1 with a Selected List

In this type you may be given a list of possible answers to choose from. This type of questions requires you to put in missing words or phrases in the middle or at the end of a sentence.You may have to write a letter that represents a word or a phrase. To do well in this task you must find out the missing words from the recording which fit into the form/notes etc. and you should not change the words from the recording in any case.  

Read the questions and example carefully. Underline keywords in questions and in any possible choices given. This will help you in predicting and preparing for what you will be listening out for when the recording begins. Also you must stay within the word limit stated in the instructions. 

In case you get a table or a diagram in question, read the information given on both the horizontal and vertical axis. Quickly locate the question numbers in a table or diagram and see the information given parallel to these numbers. Usually the conversation in these kinds of tables and diagrams is in sequence regardless it is horizontal or vertical.

Type 2 Without a selected list

These questions involve general information or specific details, without a selected list of options, which you will have to find by listening. You may be instructed to write your answers in NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. So you can answer with one, two or three words but not more than three words. Writing four words will mark your answer as wrong even though your answer is correct.

Read all the instructions carefully and make sure you look at the examples. Browse through the questions quickly during the 30 seconds provided to read the questions and underline the significant words in questions, this way you will be able to predict the type of information you are going to hear. By doing this you have also set your ears for the type of specific information you already know you will be listening for. Carefully examine the answer choices for each question as you listen to the text. Do not use contractions in your answers (e.g. I can’t, you shouldn’t). While answering question that require a number, you are allowed to write it as a number (e.g. 50) or a word (e.g. fifty) or a mixture of a numeral and a word (e.g. 50 thousand).   

Below are the examples provided for your better understanding of this type of questions.
Model 1 – summary completion with a list of answers to choose from
Complete the summary below using words from the box. 

Model 1 – Summary completion with a list of answers to choose from
Complete the summary below using words from the box
National Tennis Centre
Rialto Towers
Aquarium
 Museum
MCG
Tourist attractions costing less than $10: 6 …………………………and MCG
Tourist attractions which have free entry: 7 …………………………and Rialto Towers
Tourist attractions which are open at night: 8………………………..and Aquarium

Model 2 – Table Completion without the list of answers to choose from

Complete the table below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Author
Title
Publisher
Year of Publication
Negus
1....................
HarperCollins
2....................
3....................
Speak Smart
The Princeton Review
1998
Brown
The Lost Symbol
4....................
5....................





Listening Test Format

There are four sections in the listening test. Each section has 10 questions making 40 in all. Sections 1 and 2 are based on social survival in an English speaking country and sections 3 and 4 are more education and training oriented



The table below shows how the four sections of the test are divided to asses your English language skills.

Section
Topic Areas
Format
Number of questions
Section 1
Social Needs
Conversation between two speakers
10
Section 2
Social Needs
Speech by one speaker
10
Section 3
Educational or Training
Conversation between up to four speakers

10
Section 4
Educational or Training
Speech by one speaker
  10