Writing Based on Reading and Listening
You will read a passage about an academic topic. Then you will listen to a lecture about the same topic. You are permitted to take notes while you read and listen. You will be asked a question that relates to both the text and the listening. Your response should be 150-225 words.
Reading Passage
In many organizations, perhaps the best way to approach certain new projects is to assemble a group of people into a team. Having a team of people attack a project offers several advantages. First of all, a group of people has a wider range of knowledge, expertise, and skills than any single individual are likely to possess. Also, because of the number of people involved and the greater resources they possess, a group can work more quickly in response to the task assigned to it and can come up with highly creative solutions to problems and issues. Sometimes these
creative solutions come about because a group is more likely to make risky decisions that an individual might not undertake. This is because the group spreads responsibility for a decision to all the members and thus no single individual can be held accountable if the decision turns out to be wrong.
Taking part in a group process can be very rewarding for members of the team. Team members who have a voice in making a decision will no doubt feel better about carrying out the work that is entailed by that decision than they might be doing work that is imposed on them by others. Also, the individual team member has a much better chance to “shine,” to get his or her contributions and ideas not only recognized but recognized as highly significant, because a team’s overall results can be more far-reaching and have a greater impact than what might have
otherwise been possible for the person to accomplish or contribute working alone.
Next you will listen to part of a lecture on the same subject.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, comparing how they relate to the points made in the reading passage.
Integrated Task Checklist | |
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Do I have full sentences? |
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Do I use complex-compound sentences? |
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| Do I have correct punctuation and spelling? |
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Does my work mention details from both the reading and the listening passages? |
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Does my work include correct reference/referent construction? |  |
| Do I use correct conjunctions and conjunctive adverbials? |
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Do I use proper and correct English words? | |
| Am I using Spanish words? | |
Do I use correct grammatical structures that I am comfortable with? |
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Does my writing have between 150 to 225 words? |
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Writing Based on Knowledge and Experience
This section of the test asks you questions about common experiences. You will be asked to give your opinion and provide reasons and examples. You will not be required to have any previous knowledge on a topic. You will have 30 minutes to prepare an essay in response to the question provided.
Question:
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Some people pay money for the things they want or need. Others trade products or goods for what they need.
Compare the advantages of these two ways of obtaining things.
Which way do you? prefer? Explain why.
Use specific reasons and examples to develop your essay.
Essay Checklist | |
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Do I have an introductory sentence? |
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Do I have a thesis? |
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Does my introduction state the topics I plan to cover? |
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Does each paragraph have a topic sentence? |
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Do I use examples and reasons to support my points? |
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Are my spelling and punctuation correct? |
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Do I use a variety of grammatical structures that I am comfortable with? |
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| Do I use complex-compound sentences? | |
Do I use transitional phrases? |
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Have I covered both sides of an issue fairly? |
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Did I prove my thesis? |
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Does my conclusion end with an interesting thought or idea? |
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