Test preparation

PTE-A(PEARSON TEST OF ENGLISH ACADEMIC)

PTE Academic is the world’s leading computer-based test of English for study abroad and immigration. PTE Academic is a new, international, entirely computer-based academic English language test. The test measures the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking skills of test takers who are non-native speakers of English and need to demonstrate their level of academic English proficiency.

This will be of 3 hours test session, where you can find there different parts: Speaking and Writing (together), Listening and Reading. There is also a provision of 10 minutes break between the Reading and Writing parts which is an optional.

Test Format

PART 1: SPEAKING & WRITING (77-93 minutes)

• Personal introduction
• Read aloud
• Repeat sentence
• Describe image
• Re-tell lecture
• Answer short question
• Summarize written text (one sentence)
• Summarize written text (paragraph)
• Essay (20mins)

PART 2: READING (32-41 minutes)

• Multiple choice questions (x2)
• Re-order paragraphs
• Fill in the blanks (x2)

PART 3: LISTENING (45-57 minutes)

• Summarize spoken text
• Multiple choice (x2)
• Fill in the blanks
• Highlight the correct summary
• Select missing word
• Highlight incorrect words
• Write from dictation.

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) measures a person’s proficiency in the Japanese language. Test results are widely used by professionals seeking employment at Japanese companies and students seeking acceptance at Japanese educational institutions to certify their language proficiency.

The test has five levels, from level 5 for beginners to level 1 for advanced students. Writing, reading, listening, vocabulary and grammar skills are all tested during the 1.5 to 3 hour test. Anyone wishing to take the test should register at least three months in advance. Results of the test are released about 2 to 3 months after the test date.

Level	A summary of linguistic competence required for each level
N1	The ability to understand Japanese used in a variety of circumstances. Reading One is able to read writings with logical complexity and/or abstract writings on a variety of topics, such as newspaper editorials and critiques, and comprehend both their structures and contents. One is also able to read written materials with profound contents on various topics and follow their narratives as well as understand the intent of the writers comprehensively. Listening One is able to comprehend orally presented materials such as coherent conversations, news reports, and lectures, spoken at natural speed in a broad variety of settings, and is able to follow their ideas and comprehend their contents comprehensively. One is also able to understand the details of the presented materials such as the relationships among the people involved, the logical structures, and the essential points.
N2	The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations, and in a variety of circumstances to a certain degree. Reading One is able to read materials written clearly on a variety of topics, such as articles and commentaries in newspapers and magazines as well as simple critiques, and comprehend their contents. One is also able to read written materials on general topics and follow their narratives as well as understand the intent of the writers. Listening One is able to comprehend orally presented materials such as coherent conversations and news reports, spoken at nearly natural speed in everyday situations as well as in a variety of settings, and is able to follow their ideas and comprehend their contents. One is also able to understand the relationships among the people involved and the essential points of the presented materials.
N3	The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations to a certain degree. Reading One is able to read and understand written materials with specific contents concerning everyday topics. One is also able to grasp summary information such as newspaper headlines. In addition, one is also able to read slightly difficult writings encountered in everyday situations and understand the main points of the content if some alternative phrases are available to aid one’s understanding. Listening One is able to listen and comprehend coherent conversations in everyday situations, spoken at near-natural speed, and is generally able to follow their contents as well as grasp the relationships among the people involved.
N4	The ability to understand basic Japanese. Reading One is able to read and understand passages on familiar daily topics written in basic vocabulary and kanji. Listening One is able to listen and comprehend conversations encountered in daily life and generally follow their contents, provided that they are spoken slowly.
N5	The ability to understand some basic Japanese. Reading One is able to read and understand typical expressions and sentences written in hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji. Listening One is able to listen and comprehend conversations about topics regularly encountered in daily life and classroom situations, and is able to pick up necessary information from short conversations spoken slowly.

NAT

NAT-TEST is the Japanese language proficiency test which measures the Japanese language ability of the students who doesn’t possess the native Japanese speaking capability. The test is considered by five difficulty levels i.e. N5 basic level to N1-Advanced level. And the general ability is measured in three categories: Grammar/ Vocabulary, Listening and Reading Comprehension.

When students are entering a Japanese university or applying for a college student visa, they often take the JLPT as a general way to measure their language ability. It is also an excellent way to prepare for that exam. (For example, Level 5 of the NAT-TEST is equivalent to N5 of the JLPT). One other advantage the NAT-TEST has is that while the JLPT is only held twice a year (once a year in select countries), NAT exam is held six times a year so you can use it to get a more detailed measure of the progress of your Japanese ability.

Levels 3, 4 and 5 have a Language Knowledge section, which includes kanji and vocabulary, a second Language Knowledge section with grammar and reading, and then a Listening section. On the day of the exam, it will take several hours for test takers to complete the test.

Level 1 1Q	One has studies Japanese for about one year (approx. 1000 hours of study) and has achieved an extremely high level of Japanese competence. This level is suitable for those who wish to enter a Japanese university or graduate school and for those who are seeking to pass level 1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
Level 2 2Q	One has studied Japanese for nine to twelve months (approx. 800 hours of study) and has achieved a high level of Japanese competence. This level is suitable for those who are studying Japanese as a prerequisite to enter a vocational school or Japanese university in the future and for those who are seeking to pass level 2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
Level 3 3Q	One has studied Japanese for six to nine months (approx. 600 hours of study) and has achieved a moderate level of Japanese competence. This level is suitable for those who wish to prepare for a university or vocational school entrance exam and for those who are seeking to pass level 3 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
Level 4 4Q	One has studied Japanese for three to six months (approx. 400 hours of study) and has achieved a basic level of Japanese competence. This level is suitable for those who are seeking to pass level 4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Level 4 (4Q) of NAT-TEST is equivalent to CEFR A2.
Level 5 5Q	One has studied Japanese for one to three months (approx. 200 hours of study) and has achieved a very basic level of Japanese competence. This level is suitable for those who are seeking to pass level 5 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.

KOREAN LANGUAGE

TOPIK, Test of Proficiency in Korean, is a written test designed to measure the ability of non-native speakers for expression and comprehension in the Korean language. TOPIK test measures proficiency in reading, writing and listening comprehension in the Korean language. The test has three different levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Further accuracy is expressed through six grade, two matched to each level to evaluate proficiency.

Purpose of Exam

• To propagate and set direction for learning Korean for non-native Korean speakers and overseas Koreans.
• To measure and evaluate their Korean language skills and utilize the results for in-Korea colleges and job-seeking.

Applicant qualification

Overseas Koreans and foreigners for whom Korean is a second language and who:

• Aim to learn the language and enter a Korea University for higher studies.
• Seek jobs in companies and public institutions in Korea and overseas.
• Reside overseas or are attending/graduated from a foreign school.

National Institute for International education (NIIED), which operates directly under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, is responsible for the general management of the test, such as supervising institutions administering the test in domestic and overseas locations.

TOPIK test is conducted 5 times in a year inside Korea (January, April, July, October, and November) and twice a year overseas (April and October). In most countries, the beginner and advanced level TOPIK papers are in the morning and the intermediate papers are held in the afternoon. Test is always held on Sunday (in some countries on Saturdays as well). TOPIK results are valid for 2 years from the time of test result announcement.