General English Proficiency Test

Advanced Level Research Report

The Language Training and Testing Center

January, 2002

General English Proficiency Test

Advanced Level Research Report

Contents

I. GEPT Consultative, Advisory and Research Committeesi

II. General English Proficiency Test Skill-Area Descriptions..ii

III. Preface.......v

IV. Advanced Level Listening & Reading Test.....LR-1~LR-69

V. Advanced Level Writing Test............W-1~W-30

VI. Advanced Level Speaking Test.......S-1~S-22

VII. Bibliography......vii

GEPT Research

January, 2002

Consultative members of Ministry of Education (in alphabetical order): Deputy Minister Fan, Sun-Lu Deputy Minister Lu, Mu-lin Deputy Minister Wu, Tieh-hsiung General Director Chang, Kuo-Pao, Department of Higher Education General Director Chen, De-hua, Department of Technological & Vocational Education General Director Chou, Tsan-Der, Department of Social Education General Director Hung, Ching-Hsiang, Department of Secondary Education General Director Li, Chen-ching, Bureau of International Cultural & Educational Relations General Director Liu, Yi-Chuan, Department of Elementary Education

Hsieh, Wen-ho, Chief , Division 1, Department of Social Education Program Directors: Prof. Lin, Yaofu

Director Lu, Chen-lai Advisory Committees (in alphabetical order):

Prof. Ahrens, Kathleen Prof. Kao, Tien-en Prof. Su, I-wen Lily Prof. Chang, Wu-chang Vincent Prof. King, Burt L. Prof. Sze, Ding Kuo Prof. Chen, Mei-hua Prof. Lee, Chingkwei Adrienne Prof. Tsao, Feng-fu Prof. Cheung, Hintat Prof. Liao, Hsien-hao Prof. Weir, Cyril J. Prof. Chou, Shu-hua Prof. Lin, Sieh-Hwa Vice Director Wu, R.W. Jessica Prof. Huang, Can-sui Prof. Lin, Yaofu Prof. Yang, Tai-hsiung Prof. Huang, Pi-Twan Prof. Nash, Thomas Prof. Yin, Yuen-mei Prof. Huang, Tzyh-lai Prof. Shih, Yu-hwei Prof. Yu, Kuang-Hsiung Research Committees (in alphabetical order):

Prof. Ahrens, Kathleen Prof. Huang, Can-sui Prof. Weir, Cyril J. Prof. Chang, Wu-chang Vincent Prof. Huang, Tzyh-lai Prof. Yang, Tai-hsiung Prof. Cheung, Hintat Prof. Sze, Ding Kuo Prof. Yin, Yuen-mei Prof. Chou, Shu-hua Vice Director Wu, R.W. Jessica Prof. Yu, Kuang-Hsiung Research Team: R&D Department, The Language Training & Testing Center

Jessica R.W. Wu, Rachel Wu, Joyce Chin, Grace Kuo, Cecilia Liao, Echo Wei

i

General English Proficiency Test General Level Descriptions

General Level Descriptions

Level General Level Descriptions

Elementary An examinee who passes this level has basic ability in English and can understand and use rudimentary language needed in daily life. His/her English ability is roughly equivalent to that of a junior high school graduate in Taiwan.

Intermediate An examinee who passes this level can use basic English to communicate about topics in daily life. His/her English ability is roughly equivalent to that of a high school graduate in Taiwan.

High-Intermediate An examinee who passes this level has a generally effective command of English; he/she is able to handle a broader range of topics, and although he/she makes mistakes, these do not significantly hinder his/her ability to communicate. His/her English ability is roughly equivalent to that of a university graduate in Taiwan whose major was not English.

Advanced An examinee who passes this level has English ability which enable him/her to communicate fluently, with only occasional errors related to language accuracy and appropriateness, and to handle academic or professional requirements and situations.

Superior An examinee who passes this level has English ability approaching those of a native English speaker who has received higher education. He/she is able to communicate effectively in all kinds of situations.

Skill-Area Descriptions

Elementary

Listening An examinee who passes this level can understand simple conversation related to daily life on such topics as prices, time, and places.

Reading An examinee who passes this level can understand simple written English related to daily life. He/she can read street signs, traffic signs, shop signs, simple menus, schedules, and greeting cards.

Writing An examinee who passes this level can write simple sentences and paragraphs, such as those used in postcards, memos, and greeting cards. He/she can fill out forms and use simple written English to describe or explain topics related to daily life.

Speaking An examinee who passes this level can read aloud simple passages and give a simple self-introduction. He/she can engage in simple dialogue in situations with which he/she is familiar, including greetings, shopping, and asking for directions.

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Intermediate

Listening An examinee who passes this level can understand general conversation in daily life situations and grasp the general meaning of public announcements, weather forecasts, and advertisements. At work, he/she can understand simple product introductions and operating instructions. He/she can catch the general meaning of native English speakers' conversations and inquiries.

Reading An examinee who passes this level can read short essays, short stories, personal letters, advertisements, leaflets, brochures, and instruction manuals. At work, he/she can read job-related information, company notices and operation manuals, as well as routine documents, faxes, telegrams and e-mail messages.

Writing An examinee who passes this level can write simple messages and narratives. He/she can write about things he/she has learned and use simple English to write about his/her own experiences or about topics with which he/she is familiar.

Speaking An examinee who passes this level can use simple English to discuss or describe general daily life topics, introduce his/her daily life, work, family, and experiences, and state his/her outlook on general topics. At work, he/she can ask and answer basic questions and can carry on basic conversations with native English speakers in social settings.

High-Intermediate

Listening An examinee who passes this level can understand conversations in social settings and grasp the general meaning of lectures, news reports, and TV/radio programs. At work, he/she can understand brief reports, discussions, product introductions, and operating instructions.

Reading An examinee who passes this level can read written messages, instruction manuals, newspapers, and magazines. At work, he/she can read general documents, abstracts, meeting minutes, and reports.

Writing An examinee who passes this level can write general work-related reports and messages. In addition to topics related to daily life, he/she can write about current events and more complex or abstract subjects.

Speaking An examinee who passes this level can fluently express his/her opinion about issues he/she is interested in. At work, he/she can socialize with native English speakers; explain the contents of a task or project; conduct business transactions and participate in discussions; give brief reports or express his/her opinions in a meeting.

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Advanced

Listening An examinee who passes this level can understand conversations on all sorts of topics as well as debates, lectures, news reports, and TV/radio programs. At work, when attending meetings or negotiations, he/she can understand reports and discussions.

Reading An examinee who passes this level can understand all sorts of written English from a wide variety of sources, including magazine and newspaper articles, literature, professional periodicals, and academic publications.

Writing An examinee who passes this level can use English appropriately in writing several text types, such as reports, essays, news items or summaries of general/professional topics. He/she can express his/her opinions on different topics and discuss them in depth.

Speaking An examinee who passes this level can participate in discussions on, and fluently express his/her opinions about all sorts of issues. He/she can give reports or express his/her opinions in general meetings or professional seminars.

Superior

Listening An examinee who passes this level can understand spoken English on a wide variety of topics, from a wide variety of sources.

Reading An examinee who passes this level can understand all sorts of written English on a wide variety of topics, from a wide variety of sources.

Writing An examinee who passes this level can write many different types of documents, including proposals and reports, professional or academic abstracts, theses, news reports and editorials on current events. He/she can completely and effectively elaborate on, and carry out in-depth investigations into all sorts of subjects.

Speaking An examinee who passes this level can express himself/herself in correct and fluent English in all kinds of situations. He/she can make appropriate use of cultural knowledge and idiomatic expressions.

iv

General English Proficiency Test Advanced Level Pretest Development

Preface

The Language Training and Testing Center (LTTC), under the support of the Ministry of Education (MOE), started to develop the General English Proficiency Test (GEPT) in 1999 to support MOE's lifelong learning policies. The development of all the five levels of the GEPT was scheduled to be completed by March 2002. The GEPT Intermediate Level Test was first launched in early 2000 and received positive feedback from the public. The GEPT High-Intermediate Level Test and the GEPT Elementary Level Test were launched in 2001. The number of examinees from a