2nd year entry - Entrance examination arrangements
English Syllabus for entrance to the Second Form in June
Sample papers
- English Language Native / Near Native Speakers 1999 (MSWord)
- English Language Native / Near Native Speakers 1999 (PDF)
- English Language Non Native Speakers 1999 (MSWord)
- English Language Non Native Speakers 1999 (PDF)
- English Language Native / Near Native Speakers 2000 (MSWord)
- English Language Native / Near Native Speakers 2000 (PDF)
- English Language Non Native Speakers 2000 (MSWord)
- English Language Non Native Speakers 2000 (PDF)
- English Language Native Speakers 2002
- English Language Native Speakers 2003
- English Language Non Native Speakers 2003
- English Language Native Speakers 2004
- English Language Non Native Speakers 2004
- English Language Native Speakers 2005
- English Language Non Native Speakers 2005
- English Language Native Speakers 2006
- English Language Non Native Speakers 2006
- English Language Native Speakers 2007
- English Language Non Native Speakers 2007
Entrance Exam Outline - ENGLISH LANGUAGE
For entry to the 2nd Form of the school there are two papers in English each designed for students from differing backgrounds: native/near-native speakers and non-native speakers.
Native/near-native speakers paper:
Level:
The exam tests candidates for a level of competence in English roughly equivalent to a good standard at the end of Year 7 in the UK .
Content:
Normally, the exam contains an essay of around 250-300 words (descriptive/narrative/factual), a reading passage and comprehension questions, and exercises focussing on English usage, grammar and vocabulary. These may vary from time to time.
The Essay:
Candidates are expected to show evidence of an extended use of appropriate vocabulary, fluency and range in structure, accuracy in the use of grammar punctuation, spelling and appropriacy in terms of the shape or structure of the response. Content should be as engaging as possible for this level and original. The instructions in the question set must be adhered to.
Reading Passage:
Candidates will be able to answer fairly concisely and clearly questions testing the understanding of the content of the text, skimming/scanning skills, occasional inference of ideas and opinions, situation and character, where relevant. There may also be a need to show evidence of basic summary skills. Question types will vary from time to time.
Usage/Grammar/Vocabulary exercises:
There should be evidence of a good grasp of usage/grammar/vocabulary at this level, both in terms of production as well as recognition.
Non-native speakers paper:
Level:
The exam tests for a level of competence in English roughly equivalent to a good standard at lower-intermediate/intermediate level or a good level of competence in relation to a student at the end of the 1st Form of the English School .
Content:
There is normally an essay of around 250-300 words (description/narrative/factual), a reading passage or passages, a response to the text (summary/directed writing), and a range of exercises on usage, grammar and vocabulary. These may vary from time to time.
Skills:
The Essay: Candidates are expected to show evidence of a reasonable confidence and fluency in expression and sentence structure and a good standard of accuracy and appropriacy in grammar and vocabulary for this level.
Reading Passage:
Normally, there should be evidence of an ability to understand facts from the text, some understanding of vocabulary, skimming/scanning skills, and occasional basic inference. Question types will vary from time to time.
Response to the Text:
This may take the form of a summary or directed writing task. The ability to be concise and relevant (in terms of content) as well as being appropriate in style are important factors here.
Usage/Grammar/Vocabulary exercises:
A sound grasp of grammar/vocabulary and usage for this level is expected.