Skills Placement Test

Complete all four sections.

Section 1: Reading

1 Sentences 1-9 are taken from articles. Match a headline to each sentence and write your answers here.

1___ 2___ 3___ 4___ 5___ 6___ 7___ 8___ 9___

a ON THE CHEAP b A BLEAK MIDWINTER OR OIL COMPANIES TAKING ADVANTAGE? c OFFICE WORKERS RUDER d NETWORKED CAMPAIGNS e A QUICK STEP UPWARDS

f WHEN EXCLUSIVE BECOMES COMMON g GOING UP h KEEPING PACE - BUT FOR HOW LONG? i IS ANYONE LOOKING?

1 Gone are the days when protests were disorganised gatherings of the masses. Nowadays internet is the tool of choice for those with a cause in mind…

2 Recent price rises in fuel have not gone unnoticed but no-one in the government has yet seemed to question why. With the UK suffering some of the coldest temperatures on record, it may occur to the more cynical of us that someone somewhere is cashing in…

3 A recent survey shows people in the workplace are more impolite than they were five years ago and more customers report dissatisfaction…

4 Gucci, Calvin Kline, Porshce. All names associated with the rich and famous but what happens when such a brand tries to reach the masses? The stories of brand stretching - becoming more accessible to more people - vary between the successful to the downright disastrous…

5 Few companies can boast the instant success of the footwear company `Camber'. In what is known as a highly competitive sector, the Spanish designers surprised everyone with their growth.

6 Today the Russian Space agency announced plans for a lift to carry cosmonauts directly from central Siberia directly to the moon…

7 New research suggests that of the 1,500 images that companies throw at consumers per day, we are in fact ignoring most of them.

8 With mobile phones seemingly changing by the week, some analysts are beginning to question the speed at which consumers are being expected to update and upgrade…

9 The trend for supermarkets to bring their prices down doesn't seem to be stopping, with customers demanding more food for less.

Section 2: Writing

2 Part One: Read this email. Each line contains a mistake. Underline the word and correct it. See the example.

Dear Mr Glass

am

I is writing to you for information about the job

10 what you advertised in today's newspaper.

11 I have the degree in business studies and this

12 summer I worked as an office supplies company

13 where I was in charge for post and some telephoning.

14 Your post interest me because I studied sales on my

15 degree course and would to like to specialise in this area.

16 Please finding attached my CV.

3 Part Two: Write the reply from Mr Glass to the email in Part One. Write on lines 17-21 below. Your email should:

- refer to his email (line 17)

- thank him for the CV (line 18)

- say you have attached the job description (line 19)

- invite him for an interview (line 20)

- refer to future contact (line 21)

17___________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

18___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

19___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

20___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

21___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Section 3: Listening

Track 1 parts one and two

You will listen to someone talking about their job. Read the questions below. Listen twice to the interview and tick answer a, b or c.

22 He works in… a) IT.

b) pharmaceuticals.

c) banking.

23 His job involves providing help to… a) teams.

b) technicians.

c) customers.

24 Many employees are recruited… a) from Chennai.

b) nationally.

c) locally.

25 Slash also… a) provides services to other countries.

b) recruits from other countries.

c) recruits people who speak the languages of Germany, France and Latin America.

26 The long hours mean that a) he finds it hard to work.

b) he found it hard to work.

c) he doesn't like training.

27 Most of the other employees are… a) not educated

b) not technicians

c) not lawyers

28 He thinks it is harder to… a) live in India that in the US or Europe.

b) deal with differences when he isn't at work.

c) get used to working from home than from an office.

29 He believes the effect of globalisation… a) is reasonable.

b) will cause unemployment in Europe.

c) makes it difficult to outsource.

30 He thinks that India… a) has outsourced more than France.

b) has guaranteed its future with its experience.

c) needs to continue to work hard to be successful.

Section 4: Speaking

Instructions to the teacher:

Use the following questions or discussion points to assess a student's level. Begin with questions from the pre-intermediate level questions. If the student answers effectively and confidently choose another from the same level or from a higher level. As the student becomes less communicative choose questions or discussion points from a lower level until you establish the level of questioning or discussion a student can confidently handle.

Pre-Intermediate

- What's your job? What are you studying?

- What do you do in your job/on your course?

- What does your company do? What kind of company do you work for?

- Tell me about your typical day. What time do you have lunch? What do normally eat for lunch? What do usually wear to work/school?

- Why do you need English? When did you start learning English? What suggestions would you give to someone who wants to learn English?

- How often do you attend meetings/lessons? What are they about? Are they useful?

- Tell me about your product or service. Compare it your competitor's

- What are three key events in your life? What do you hope to do in the future?

- Tell me about a recent problem you had at work/school. How did you solve it?

Intermediate

- What motivates you in your work/studies?

- Who is your manager? How would you describe his/her management style?

- Have you been working on a project recently? What kind of deadlines have you had?

- What major changes do you predict for you/your area of business?

- How does your company market itself? What are some effective methods of marketing?

- How would your customers (or colleagues) describe you or your company?

- Tell me about your company's recent financial performance.

- What are some of the rules you have at work/school?

- If you hadn't chosen your current job/course, what would you have done instead?

Upper Intermediate

- How much do you think the personal relationship is important in your work? How much do cultural differences affect the way you talk to people from other countries?

- Do you prefer working (or studying) alone or in teams? Why?

- What ways do you communicate with people? By phone? By email? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these methods? Do you spend too much time on them?

- What do you hope to achieve this year? What decisions will you have to make?

- What was the last book you read or film you saw? Tell me about it.

- What was a recent problem you had to solve? How did you solve it?

- Do you ever deal with conflict at work? How do you resolve conflict?

- Tell me about some training you took recently.

PHOTOCOPIABLE © 2006 Pearson Longman ELT

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PHOTOCOPIABLE © 2006 Pearson Longman ELT

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