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The ECL exams (Level A)

 The equivalent of the Council of Europe level: A2

After successfully achieving level A you are a good tourist: you can ask questions, you understand the simpler answers, you can go shopping, you can ask for food and drink in the target language, you understand the signs, that is: you can manage.

PARTS OF THE ECL EXAM

1. ORAL COMMUNICATION


Candidates will be interviewed in pairs. Odd numbers of candidates will be interviewed in threes.

Introduction (3-5 minutes approximately) - is not to be assessed.
The main purpose of this part of the test is, firstly, to put the candidates at their ease and to enable the interviewer to gather information about the candidates for the remainder of the exam.

Guided conversation (5 - 8 minutes)

The interviewer initiates a conversation based on a topic of his/her choice and by asking questions encourages a conversation between the two candidates.

Picture description based on visual stimuli (5 - 8 minutes)
The pictures are selected and provided by the interviewer. If necessary the interviewer can help the candidates with questions.

Marks are awarded on a scale of 0 to 5 (a total of 25) according to each of the following criteria:

Formal Accuracy (morphology and syntax) 0-5 points
Oral accuracy (pronunciation, prosody and fluency) 0-5 points
Vocabulary (range and activation) 0-5 points
Style (pragmatic and sociolinguistic aspects) 0-5 points
Communicative effectiveness (adequate task completion) 0-5 points
   

2. WRITING (sample tests: http://inyt.pte.hu/teszt.html)

The test assesses the ability of the candidate to write short texts related to everyday situations including general information

Formal Accuracy (morphology and syntax) 0-5 points
Accuracy (test construction and spelling) 0-5 points
Vocabulary (range and activation) 0-5 points
Style (pragmatic and sociolinguistic aspects) 0-5 points
Communicative effectiveness (adequate task completion) 0-5 points
   

3. READING COMPREHENSION
(sample tests: http://inyt.pte.hu/teszt.html)

The test assesses the ability of the candidate to understand short, simple texts of a general content (e.g. announcements, short travel information, simple forms, short news, timetables).


4. LISTENING COMPREHENSION

(sample tests: http://inyt.pte.hu/teszt.html)

The test assesses the ability of the candidate to understand a conversation between two native speakers about a topic familiar for the candidate and to grasp the general sense of simple public announcements (announcements, ads).

LEVEL A - BEGINNER
 
1. The individual
 

personal particulars
appearance/clothing
daily routine
 
2. Partnership
 



relatives, acquaintances, friends
classmates/
schoolmates/
colleagues
 
3. Family
 

family members
family occasions /celebrations
 
4. Place of living
 


house/flat
furnishing
the street, the town
housework
 
5. Travelling/transport
 

means of transport
timetable/information
buying tickets/ travelling documents
 
6. Shopping/shops
 

shops/markets
food
clothing
 
7. Communication/keeping in contact
 

post (letter, postcard)
telephone
 
8. Services
 

restaurant (menu, ordering, paying)
hotel (booking, paying)
 
9. Culture/entertainment
 

guests
cinema, theatre
 
10. Time/weather
 

seasons
weather forecast
 
11. Health/illnesses
 
at the doctor's
1-2 common illnesses
 
12. Sport
 
popular sports
doing sports
 
13. Media
 

television/radio
newspapers/magazines
 
14. Hobby
 

reading/listening to music
the candidate's favourite pastime
 
15. Studying/work
 


subjects
popular professions/jobs
colleagues

 



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