International Test of English Proficiency: iTEP Academic Orientation Guide
International Test of English Proficiency: iTEP Academic Orientation Guide
International Test of English Proficiency: iTEP Academic Orientation Guide
Table of Contents
I. Overview: iTEP Academic.............................................................................................1
A. What to Expect on Exam Day.....................................................................................................2
B. Scoring........................................................................................................................................3
C. The Seven Levels........................................................................................................................3
Welcome to iTEP
The International Test of English Proficiency was developed by Boston Educational Services to measure
how well you communicate in English. We designed it to be an efficient test that accurately represents
your English skill level. We hope you enjoy taking the test and that the results are useful to you.
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iTEP Academic Orientation Guide
Overview (continued)
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iTEP Academic Orientation Guide
Overview (continued)
B. Scoring
The exam will determine an overall English skill level from 0 (Beginner) to 6 (Advanced) as well
as levels for each section of the test. Half-levels (2.5, 3.5, etc.) are possible.
The reading, listening, and grammar sections are scored automatically by iTEP software.
The writing and speaking samples are graded by native English speaking ESL-trained
professionals, according to standardized scoring guidelines.
Each exam section is weighted equally. There is no penalty in the multiple-choice sections
for guessing or incorrect answers. In the writing and speaking sections, it is important that
you try to use all the words and time available for each section.
The Score Report presents an individuals scoring information. In the Skill Profile you can
see a visual display of your strengths and weaknesses.
iTEP Ability Guide shows how an individual of a certain skill level can usually communicate
in the real world.
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iTEP Academic Orientation Guide
Now that you have a general idea of what to expect on the exam, take a look at some sample
materials from the test.
A. Reading Exercises
Part 1 of the reading section will include a passage and questions like these.
Spiders
There are more than 37,000 species of spiders in the world. In general, spiders pose
very little risk to humans. Only about 25 species are believed to have venom that
can harm people. Their venom is used mostly to paralyze prey. Each spider eats an
average of 2,000 insects per year. They use their ability to jump to hunt down prey,
and then pounce on it. Some spiders can jump as much as 50 times their body length.
If a human had similar ability, he could jump 90 meters.
Not only can spiders jump far, but they can also walk upside down on smooth
surfaces. Their feet are covered with tiny hairs that enable them to hold 170 times
their body weight before coming unstuck. That is equivalent to a childrens super-
hero carrying 170 people from danger while clinging to the side of a building with
his fingers and toes.
Spiders can also spin as many as seven different kinds of silk. Some of the silk is
so strong that it rivals the strength of steel. Spiders use the silk for many different
purposes, such as catching insects in webs and then wrapping them up so that they
cannot escape. They also use silk to travel from place to place and to form egg sacs.
Spiders come in a wide variety of sizes. The largest known spider is the Goliath bird
eater tarantula. This South American spider can be as big as a dinner plate. The
smallest known spider is the mygalomorph spider from Borneo. Its body is the size
of a pinhead.
Correct Answer = D
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iTEP Academic Orientation Guide
B. Listening Exercises
There are three parts to the listening section of the test. As with other sections, each part is
more difficult than the one before.
Listening Part 1: In this section you will hear 4 short conversations, each followed by a question.
You will have a total of 80 seconds to answer the 4 questions. Time remaining will be shown in
the Time Left window. Click on Confirm Answer before moving to the next question. Once
you confirm your answer, you cannot change it.
Listening Part 2: In this section, there will be a longer conversation, followed by 4 questions.
You will hear each question once, and read it on the screen. You may write notes as you listen.
Below is an example of the type of question you will find in Part 2 of the listening section. Click
here to hear the passage for the question.
What new fact about Einstein did Michael learn from Dr. Slinsky?
A. Einstein did not attend college at all, because his family did not have the money.
B. Despite working in an office, Einstein was able to think in new ways about the
basic principles of physics.
C. Because of Einsteins religion, he was not able to attend the best college for the
study of mathematics and physics.
D. Einstein did not use previous scientists and philosophers writings to propel his
intellectual thinking.
Correct Answer = B
Listening Part 3: You will listen to a lecture and then have 3 minutes to answer 6 questions. You
will hear the lecture only once, and it will not appear on the screen. You may take notes while
listening. No previous knowledge of the topic is required. All questions can be answered by
using your listening skills.
C. Grammar Exercises
These are examples of the sort of questions you will find in this section of the test.
Select the answer that correctly completes the sentence.
Correct Answer = B
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iTEP Academic Orientation Guide
Correct Answer = C
D. Writing Exercises
These sections only appear on the iTEP Academic-Plus. You will write and speak your answers,
which will be graded by trained professionals. Your score will be based on your ability to
communicate a clear, coherent, and relevant message.
The skills that are evaluated in the writing section are: overall ability/fluency, grammar,
vocabulary, cultural/stylistic appropriateness, and effort required by reader for understanding.
Writing Part 1: You will be asked to write a short (5075 words) note or letter about a simple
situation or topic. You will have 5 minutes to type your answer using the keyboard.
Below is an example of the type of topic you may encounter in this section:
Think of your favorite book. Write a note to the author telling him or her that you
are a big fan.
I am a big fan of your book The Number One Ladies Detective Agency. The character
of Mma Ramotswe and the details about her daily life have given me a sense of what
it would be like to live in Botswana. I especially enjoyed learning that she has the
same feelings about her country, her life, and her family that I do. Thank you for such
a wonderful lesson about human nature.
Sincerely,
James Myers
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iTEP Academic Orientation Guide
Writing Part 2: You will be asked to write an essay of 175225 words (maximum 250 words)
expressing an opinion on a topic. You must give reasons and examples to support your opinion.
You will have 20 minutes to type your answer using the keyboard.
This is an example of the type of topic you may find in this section.
Some companies offer students internships to help them gain work experience.
Others argue that this takes valuable time away from the students education. What
do you think? Give reasons and examples to support your opinion.
I think that internships are a good way for students, especially college students, to
gain valuable on-the-job experience. My experience as a waitress taught me that
I am well-suited for a career in restaurant management, which is what I intend to
major in at college. Without this on-the-job experience, I wouldnt know how much
I enjoyed the atmosphere of a restaurant, or meeting and serving many different
people every day. I have some friends who have also decided on their careers because
of their summer jobs. One of my friends worked at a newspaper and is now studying
journalism at college.
I do believe that its necessary for the intern to have a level of maturity and some
theoretical knowledge if one is to perform well in an internship position and still be a
good student. Its difficult to mix work and study, but many students do it successfully.
In addition, an internship should not take away from class time, but rather offer the
student the opportunity to apply what is learned in class. The value of gaining this
type of practical knowledge is recognized by many schools and colleges, since they
frequently offer course credits for internship work.
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iTEP Academic Orientation Guide
E. Speaking Exercises
Your score in the speaking section is based on your overall ability/fluency, grammar, vocabulary,
cultural/stylistic appropriateness, and pronunciation.
Here is an example of what you will see on the screen during Part 1 of this section.
Think of ONE person from history whom you would like to meet. Who is that one
person and what would you ask him or her?
Ghandi was always an important historical figure that I wanted to meet. If I could
meet him, I would ask him what he wanted to see changed. I would want to know if
he had traveled to other countries, and which countries he enjoyed visiting. I would
like to know which place is his favorite for visiting and why. I would just be happy to
meet him.
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iTEP Academic Orientation Guide
Here is an example of what you will see on-screen during Part 2 of this section.
Below is an example of the type of opinion statement you will hear in this section. You will not
see this statement on your screen. You may take notes as you listen.
When a reporter writes a story, sometimes the reporter must interview people
confidentially, with the understanding that the reporter will hide their identity. Once
the stories have been published, readers may ask that the sources be revealed, in
order to better understand and evaluate the stories. Should reporters be allowed to
protect the identities of their sources, or should they be forced to reveal them when
the public wants to know? Why?
After hearing the statement, you will have 45 seconds to prepare, and 60 seconds to speak your
answer. Here is a sample response:
When reporters use confidential sources in order to get a story, they should be
able to keep the sources identities secret. Many important news stories could not
be reported if the source of the story fears that their identity will be revealed. For
example, someone who reports that his or her company is involved in illegal activity,
or the famous Deep Throat, who gave us the Watergate story, would never come
forward if they thought people would find out who they were.
Also, if a reporter makes a promise to a source that he will keep their identity a
secret, the reporter must keep that promise. Otherwise, the reporter would never
be trusted by sources in the future. Then the public would never hear about much of
the corruption and injustice that goes on. And criminals would get away with their
crimes. I think we are all better off, since we get to learn whats happening behind
the scenes, only if reporters are able to keep their sources secret.
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