CUTTING

EDGE

Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Candidate name

PLACEMENT TEST

2



You will hear five short recordings (A – E).



Before each recording you will have one
minute to read the questions.



You will have time after each recording to
answer the questions.



You will hear each recording only once.

Recording A

Listen to someone speak about their
childhood in Scotland in the 1930s. Mark the
four statements which are correct. [4 marks]

A In the 1930s, my family lived in a village

in Scotland.

B We didn’t have a TV but we listened to the

radio every morning.

C The school was six miles from our house.

D We walked to school every day.

E

When I was 14, I left school.

F

I went to the cinema in our village every
Saturday afternoon.

G My family left Scotland when I was 15 and

moved to England.

H I often go back to the village in Scotland.

Mark: / 4

Recording B

Listen to an interview with a man called Bob
Kessler. Choose the correct option (A – D) for
each question (1– 4). [4 marks]

1

A Bob Kessler has a wife and daughter.

B Bob Kessler has two sons.

C Bob Kessler is a bachelor.

D Bob Kessler was married before.

2

A Bob Kessler is English.

B Bob Kessler lives in West Hills

California, USA.

C Bob Kessler’s wife isn’t American, she’s

British.

D Bob Kessler is American but he lives in

England.

3

A Bob Kessler writes two or three books a

year.

B Bob Kessler writes travel books about

England and other European countries.

C Bob Kessler’s job is selling books in Italy

and France.

D Bob Kessler likes Italy and France more

than the USA.

4

A Bob Kessler’s wife works at a school in

England.

B Bob Kessler’s daughter has many

English friends.

C Bob Kessler never drinks tea without

milk.

D Bob Kessler always drives his daughter

to school.

Mark: / 4

LISTENING TEST

Total time: 20 minutes

3

Recording C

Listen to a telephone conversation between
two people preparing to go on a trip. Mark
the four statements which are correct. [4
marks]

A Neil asks Lucy to pack his black shoes.

B They are going to do a lot of sightseeing.

C Neil doesn’t think it will rain.

D Lucy suggests they pack some smart

clothes.

E

They are planning to hire a car when they
arrive.

F

They are going to a country where
everyone speaks English.

G Lucy doesn’t think they should pack sun

cream.

H Neil is going to the airport now.

I

Lucy will phone Neil if she thinks of
anything else.

J

They’re going to meet at the airport at 5
o’clock.

Recording D

Listen to a woman talking about her shop.
Mark the four statements which are correct.
[4 marks]

A Denise has owned the shop for two years.

B She lives next door to the shop.

C Most of the things she sells are handmade.

D She sells some ceramics imported from

Greece and Portugal.

E

The interviewer likes the Japanese dresses
in the shop.

Mark: / 4

F

The shop also sells kitchen equipment like
washing machines.

G A lot of the jewellery is made by local

artists.

H Denise would like to move somewhere else.

I

Unfortunately, it’s noisy because it is on a
busy high street.

J

Denise would like to have richer customers,
rather than the students who come into the
shop.

Recording E

Listen to a conversation in which a woman is
checking out of a hotel. Mark the four
statements (A – J) which are correct. [4 marks]

A The receptionist asked the guest how she

was going to pay her bill.

B The guest took the telephone from room

603.

C The guest asked about a charge for $120.

D The receptionist asked why she had used

the telephone.

E

The receptionist suggested that she should
phone her husband.

F

The guest told the receptionist he was
crazy.

G The guest insisted on seeing the hotel

manager at once.

H The receptionist explained that the hotel

manager was having his lunch.

I

The receptionist invited the guest to have
lunch with the hotel manager.

J

The guest agreed to meet the hotel
manager at two thirty.

Mark: / 4

Mark: / 4

4

Part One

Read the text and mark the correct answer
(A – C) to each question (1– 4).

1

How old was Estelle Dupont in 1967?

A She was living in Bordeaux.

B She was 67 years old.

C She was a hundred years old.

2

Where did she live when she was a child?

A She lived in the city of Bordeaux,

France.

B She lived in an old people’s home in

Paris.

C She lived in a chateau near Bordeaux.

3

Did she like the gardens at the chateau?

A Yes, she said they were beautiful.

B Yes, she said they were very big.

C No, because she had no one to play

with.

Estelle Dupont was 100 years old in 2000. She
was born near Bordeaux in France, where her
father was a rich businessman. Today she
lives in an old people’s home in Paris.

“My father was a rich businessman and we
lived in a chateau about ten kilometres from
Bordeaux. Our home was very comfortable.
The house was very big – there were twenty
bedrooms, beautiful gardens and lots of
servants. But my childhood wasn’t happy. I
was an only child, and my mother was
always ill. She died when I was eight, and my
father died two years later when I was ten. It
was a very bad time. I was a very unhappy
child, but life is better now.”

4

What happened to her parents?

A Estelle’s mother died two years after her

father.

B Her father died two years after her

mother.

C She was an only child.

Part Two

Mark the correct word (A – C) to complete
each sentence (5 – 8).

5

My sister likes Mexican food, but I don’t
like .

A it

B them

C her

6

Does

friend like classical music?

A your

B you

C yours

7

My parents haven’t got calculators, but

have a computer at home.

A it

B them

C they

8

I really like Craig David’s music. My older
brother gave

some of his CDs.

A me

B them

C my

Mark: / 4

Mark: / 4

TEST A

READING SECTION

Time: 10 minutes

5

Part Three

Read the utterances (9 –12). Mark the place
(A – C) where you would hear them.

9

Look at exercise 6 on page 21.

A restaurant

B classroom

C shopping mall

10

How much is an sandwich and a bottle of
water?

A café

B restaurant

C living room

11

What time does the main film start?

A video shop

B cinema

C library

12

Fasten your seatbelts, put the backs of
your seats in the upright position and fold
away your tables.

A police station

B train station

C aeroplane

Part Four

Mark the correct word (A – C) to complete
each sentence (13 – 20).

13

We are looking for a green car

.

A every day

B at the moment

C yesterday

14

I don’t usually play tennis

.

A on Tuesdays

B last week

C tomorrow

Mark: / 4

15

John isn’t going to buy a new house

.

A next year

B last month

C yesterday

16

Where were you at 6 o’clock

?

A tomorrow

B in the summer

C this morning

17

What time did you leave home

?

A tomorrow

B on Thursday

C at 6 o’clock

18

There are a lot of clouds in the sky

.

A on Monday

B yesterday

C at the moment

19

Do you like going to the beach

?

A in summer

B tomorrow

C last month

20

She never drives her car

.

A today

B next day

C at weekends

Recording A

Total mark for Test A:

/ 24

Mark: / 4

Mark: / 8

6

Part One

Read the text and choose the best answer
(A – D) for each question (1– 4).

1

Where was Tim Berners-Lee born?

A in Massachusetts

B in Oxford

C in Dorset

D in England

Tim Berners-Lee looks ordinary – he is about
45 years old and has brown hair. His life is
quite normal – he was born in England, but
his home is now in Massachusetts, USA. But,
in 1989, Tim had a very important idea. He
invented the World Wide Web.

Tim went to school in London. His parents
both worked with computers, so it isn’t
surprising that he loved computers from an
early age. When he was eighteen, he left
school and went to Oxford University, where
he studied Physics. At Oxford he became
more and more interested in computers, and
he made his first computer from an old
television. He graduated in 1976 and got a job
with a computer company in Dorset, England.
In 1989, he went to work in Switzerland,
where he first had the idea of an international
information network linked by computer …
and he decided to call it the World Wide Web.
In 1994, he went to live in the United States,
where he now works. In 1995, he wrote an
article in the New York Times where he said
‘The Web is a universe of information: it is for
everyone.’ His idea of a web, where people
from all over the world can exchange
information, is now real.

2

What did Tim study at Oxford University?

A computers

B school

C the world wide web

D physics

3

What did he make when he was at Oxford?

A a television

B the first computer

C a computer company

D a computer

4

When did he invent the World Wide Web?

A 45 years old

B in Switzerland

C in 1989

D in 1994

Part Two

Choose the correct answer (A – D) for each
question (5 – 8).

5

Which verb is the opposite of sell?

A cost

B bid

C bye

D buy

6

Which word means very good?

A expensive

B brilliant

C important

D beautiful

Mark: / 4

TEST B

READING SECTION

Time: 10 minutes

7

7

Which word is not about family?

A aunt

B grandfather

C wide

D wife

8

Which word is not a language?

A Russian

B Italian

C Argentina

D Japanese

Part Three

Choose the best answer (A – D) for each
question (9 –12).

9

Do you sell toothpaste?

A No, we don’t. Try the pharmacy.

B No, we can’t. It’s too late.

C Did you go to the pharmacy?

D No, it isn’t.

10

Excuse me, are you Mr Rogers?

A I don’t know.

B No, he isn’t there.

C No, I’m not. I think he’s in the

restaurant.

D No, he’s from Jordan.

11

What’s the time?

A It’s rather hot at the moment.

B I’ll tell you later.

C I’m sorry, I don’t know.

D It’s the 15th August.

12

Would you like a drink?

A Thanks. I’d like an apple juice.

B Excuse me, are you drinking?

C Tea or coffee?

D I don’t know. Can you ask someone

else?

Mark: / 4

Mark: / 4

Part Four

Choose the correct word or phrase (A – D) to
complete each sentence (13 – 20).

13

Peter come from Dublin?

A Do

B Does

C Is

D Was

14

Do you like

house over there?

A those

B this

C these

D that

15

Where did you

when you were a

child?

A live

B lived

C lives

D living

16

it raining in Amsterdam?

A Do

B Does

C Is

D Are

17

Are you

José tomorrow?

A see

B will see

C seen

D going to see

18

You

clean your car.

A mustn’t to

B don’t have to

C don’t want

D can’t have to

19

I went home

my new baby.

A to see

B for to see

C seeing

D see

20

This is

picture of my friend.

A some

B any

C a

D an

Recording B

Total mark for Test B:

/ 24

Mark: / 4

Mark: / 8

8

Part One

Read the five texts quickly and choose the
correct answer (A – D) for each question
(1– 4).

1

Who has earned the most money?

A Ameet

C Hannah

B Lucy

D Edward

2

Who works in a bar?

A Ameet

C Hannah

B Lucy

D Edward

3

Who has appeared on television?

A Kate

C Hannah

B Lucy

D Edward

4

Who worked for no money?

A Edward

C Hannah

B Lucy

D Kate

During the last ten years, Ameet has had ten
different jobs: he has worked in an import-
export business, he has been an estate agent
and now he has just started his own company
which sells mobile phones – but he hasn’t
made a million pounds yet!

Edward has moved to the United States,
where he now works, designing computer
games. His most popular game, Death Rider,
has already sold over ten million copies, and
has made him very rich! He isn’t married, in
fact, he’s never had a girlfriend, and he still
spends most of his time playing computer
games in his bedroom.

Lucy is an actress and a part-time waitress. In
the last few years, she’s appeared in several
plays and a couple of TV commercials – but
there has been no call from Hollywood yet!

Part Two

Choose the correct word (A – D) to complete
each phrase (5 – 8).

5

I’m looking

to seeing my friend

next week.

A forward

C for

B about

D out

6

She thinks all Spanish men look
Antonio Banderas!

A after

C like

B about

D same

7

Can you look

Bill’s address?

A up

C out

B forward

D on

8

I’m looking

my coat. Have you

seen it?

A out

C for

B after

D towards

Mark: / 4

Mark: / 4

Since leaving university with a brilliant
degree, Kate has worked for Greenpeace and
other similar organisations, first as a
volunteer and now as a manager. She’s just
had her first baby.

In the last ten years, Hannah has got married,
and has lived in Italy, Egypt, France and
Australia. At present, she’s running a bar on
the Greek island of Kos with her husband,
Nikos.

TEST C

READING SECTION

Time: 10 minutes

9

Part Three

Choose the best answer (A – D) for each
question (9 –12).

9

Your letter begins ‘Dear Sir’, what do you
write above your signature?

A Yours faithfully

B Yours sincerely

C With love

D Your obedient servant,

10

Where exactly is New York?

A On this side of the USA.

B On the right hand side of the USA.

C In the east coast of the USA.

D On the east coast of the USA.

11

You walk into a shop. What does the shop
assistant say to you?

A What do you want?

B Can I help you?

C Do you want to buy something?

D What would you like to buy?

12

Your restaurant bill says ‘service not
included’. What should you do?

A Pay by credit card.

B Get your own food.

C Leave a tip for the waiter.

D Ask for a receipt.

Part Four

Choose the correct word or phrase (A – D) to
complete each sentence (13 – 20).

13

The Roxy Cinema closed seven years

.

A ago

C before

B yet

D on

Mark: / 4

14

You

park your car on the

pavement. It’s not permitted.

A don’t have to

C needn’t

B ought to

D shouldn’t

15

My hair is

than my sister’s.

A straightest

C more straight

B straighter

D straight

16

She’s been in India

1999.

A for

C since

B in

D at

17

How

long you a

soldier?

A have/ been

C did / be

B has / been

D were / being

18

Yes, I’ll come to the party but I

arrive late.

A might

C may be

B perhaps

D should

19

Stop

lazy. Go out and dig the

garden!

A being

C be

B been

D to be

20

She said that she

never seen

him before.

A had

C has

B would

D haven’t

Recording C

Total mark for Test C:

/ 24

Mark: / 4

Mark: / 8

10

Part One

Read this text quickly and match the correct
word (A – C) with each definition in questions
1– 4.

1

People who have no permanent home, but
move from place to place according to the
time of year.

A nomads

B Inuit

C Alaskans

2

To usually do something

A prefer

B tend

C tent

3

An imprecise number, more than a few,
but not a lot.

A normal

B couple

C several

4

Not more than a particular amount,
number etc.

A quite

B only

C often

Mark: / 4

The majority of Inuit people from Alaska are
nomads, moving from one place to another,
hunting and fishing to survive. They don’t
tend to live in houses, preferring tents or
houses built from ice, called ‘igloos’. It is quite
common for a man to have several wives.

In some parts of Kentucky and Virginia, USA,
it is quite normal for girls of twelve or
thirteen to get married and start a family.
Often their husbands are only sixteen or
seventeen, so young couples tend to live with
their parents until they finish their education.
Many schools in these areas have crèches to
look after their pupils’ babies while they are
studying.

Part Two

Mark the word (A – C) which has the same
vowel sound as the word in CAPITAL LETTERS
in each sentence (5 – 8).

5

I CAN’T read your handwriting.

A sent

B want

C aunt

6

She OUGHT to stay at home and study.

A out

B sort

C tough

7

I’m studying LAW at university.

A floor

B know

C flour

8 Have you READ Tolstoy’s War and Peace?

A seed

B said

C sighed

Part Three

Choose the correct answer (A – C) for each
question (9 –12).

9

Which is the normal way to write an
address on an envelope?

A London Road 28

HUDDERSFIELD
HD1 6DD
Miss Longtree Julia

B HUDDERSFIELD

Miss Julia Longtree
28, Road London
HD1 6DD

C Miss Julia Longtree

28, London Road
HUDDERSFIELD
HD1 6DD

Mark: / 4

TEST D

READING SECTION

Time: 10 minutes

11

10

What should Peter Thomas say when he
answers the telephone?

A I am Peter Thomas.

B Hello. Who are you?

C 412 3663 Peter Thomas speaking.

11

How would you recommend that someone
should visit the Grand Canyon?

A Why won’t you go to the Grand

Canyon?

B You really should go to the Grand

Canyon.

C You could go to the Grand Canyon if

you’ve nothing better to do.

12

You want to borrow a dictionary from a
friend. What do you say?

A Can I borrow your dictionary, please?

B Would you be so kind as to lend me

your dictionary, please?

C Give me your dictionary.

Part Four

Read these pairs of sentences (13 – 20)
carefully. Do they have the same or different
meanings? Mark the correct answer (A or B).

13

I haven’t seen her for four days.
I haven’t seen her since four days ago.

A Same

B Different

14

Don’t let me forget my umbrella.
Please remind me to forget my umbrella.

A Same

B Different

Mark: / 4

15

Jill’s shorter than her brother.
Jill’s brother is not as short as Jill.

A Same

B Different

16

I remember opening the door.
I remembered to open the door.

A Same

B Different

17

It was raining when I arrived.
When I arrived, it started to rain.

A Same

B Different

18

She taught here for 35 years.
She’s taught here for 35 years.

A Same

B Different

19

I won’t come to see you if the weather’s
bad.
I’ll come to see you if the weather’s good.

A Same

B Different

20

They weren’t allowed to enter the military
base.
They didn’t have permission to enter the
military base.

A Same

B Different

Recording D

Total mark for Test D:

/ 24

Mark: / 4

Mark: / 8

12

Part One

Read the text. Four of the statements below
(A-J) are really true (are not just beliefs or
opinions). Which are the four true
statements?

A

Scientists spend money on expensive
scientific equipment to predict earthquakes

.

B Animals can predict natural disasters.

C In the 1970s, Chinese scientists heard

reports of animals behaving strangely near
Haichin.

D The scientists knew this was a sign that an

earthquake was coming.

Rather than investing in expensive scientific
equipment to predict earthquakes, perhaps
scientists should spend more time watching
their pets. Many researchers now believe that
the behaviour of certain animals might help
them to predict natural disasters. For
example, Chinese scientists in the 1970s
thought that reports of farm animals running
around in circles, and of dogs barking all
night may indicate an impending natural
disaster. They decided to evacuate the city of
Haichin, which shortly afterwards was hit by
a huge earthquake. Thousands of lives were
probably saved as a result. Japanese scientists
have also discovered that catfish become
livelier several days before moderately strong
earthquakes. Many scientists now accept that
this can’t be pure coincidence; they believe
the explanation may be linked to slight
changes in the Earth’s magnetic field.
Although human beings can’t perceive such
changes, it is thought that the sensitive
nervous systems of some animals must be
affected by them. Now scientists must
discover exactly which animals are affected in
this way, so that they can save many more
lives in the future.

E

The city of Haichin was evacuated before
the earthquake.

F

Japanese scientists noticed an increase in
activity of catfish before earthquakes.

G Some animals are more sensitive to

magnetic changes than human beings are.

H All scientists believe this is not a pure

coincidence.

I

Scientists have discovered which animals
are affected by magnetic changes.

J

They will be able to save more lives in the
future.

Part Two

Choose the correct preposition (A – C) to
complete each sentence (5 – 8).

5

The car stopped because I had run

of petrol.

A out

B down

C over

6

She apologised

being late.

A over

B for

C from

7

She has brought

a family of five

healthy children.

A about

B out

C up

8

If you don’t understand, ask your teacher
to go

it again with you.

A through

B into

C towards

Mark: / 4

Mark: / 4

TEST E

READING SECTION

Time: 10 minutes

13

Part Three

Choose the most suitable sympathetic
response (A – C) to each utterance (9 –12)

9

My son is having an operation in hospital
today.

A Calm down!

B Oh dear, you must be really worried

about him.

C Oh, that’s too bad.

10

That wasp is really annoying me!

A Just try to ignore it.

B How awful for you!

C Nevermind, it’s only a wasp!

11

My girlfriend said she didn’t like my
moustache!

A Don’t worry, she’ll get used to it.

B How terrible for you!

C I agree, you look terrible!

12

I’ve been waiting for my bus for 15
minutes!

A Nevermind, I’m sure it will arrive soon.

B Try not to worry about it.

C Maybe it will never come.

Part Four

Read these pairs of sentences (13 – 20)
carefully. Do they have the same or different
meanings? Mark the correct answer (A or B).

13

I’ll phone you the moment I get home.
I’ll phone you as soon as I get home.

A Same

B Different

14

Parking is very difficult in Cambridge.
It is very difficult to park in Cambridge.

A Same

B Different

Mark: / 4

15

The criminals had escaped when the
police arrived.
The criminals escaped when the police
arrived.

A Same

B Different

16

More foreign cars are being sold than last
year.
People are buying more foreign cars than
last year.

A Same

B Different

17

She accused me of lying.
She said I was lying.

A Same

B Different

18

His nervousness prevents him from being
a good speaker.
What prevents him from being a good
speaker, is his nervousness.

A Same

B Different

19

The people, who shouted at the minister,
were arrested.
The people who shouted at the minister
were arrested.

A Same

B Different

20

I wish you were more helpful around the
house.
I wish you’d be more helpful around the
house.

A Same

B Different

Recording E

Total mark for Test E:

/ 24

Mark: / 4

Mark: / 8