English as a Second Language START (Student Testing, Advising, Retention, and Transition) Information>
Two different tests are given at an ESL START session. They consist of an ESL Reading Test (CELSA ) and an ESL Writing Sample.
ESL Reading Test: The reading test is written in English and is taken on the computer. No computer experience is needed. You will have 45 minutes to answer 75 multiple-choice questions, but you are not expected to finish all of them. Read quickly and answer as many questions as you can. The test administrator will print a copy of your placement results before you leave.
ESL Writing Sample: You will be given 30 minutes to write as much as you can about a topic that will be given to you. It must be written in English. There is no right or wrong response to a topic. Your writing placement score is available from a counselor within 48 hours of completing a writing sample.
Practice Test: The CELSA test has beginning, intermediate, and advanced multiple-choice passages. There are four answers to choose from for every question. Only one is correct. Read the sentence and choose the best word to complete the story or conversation.
Sample Test Questions
Mary and Susan are students. They go to the same school. One day they meet in the hall. Mary: Hi! Are you a student? Susan: Yes. I’m studying English.
Mary: I'm from Hong Kong.
are you from?
Susan: I’m from Mexico.
Mary:
you like this city?
Susan: Oh, yes.
beautiful, but I really like hot
Johnson lives in this city with her husband and two children. They are living
on Post Street now.
moved there last month.
Their apartment
very big and sunny. It has
rooms. Ann is a secretary.
She works
an office
downtown. She works every day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
She only
45 minutes for her lunch.
Mary’s still upset about the terrible day she had last week. It all Started when she took her car to the repair shop in the morning. That afternoon, she
called the mechanic who
the car, and he said it needed
more repairs. He wanted her to
it there for a couple of
The following morning, Mary hurried around before she went to work.
Since she
have her car then, she had
take a city bus.
Anna Smith is at the medical center. She’s having a physical check-up. She had a lot of tests three weeks ago, and now she has just met the doctor.
Doctor: Hello, Mrs. Smith. The results of
tests are here. Let’s talk
about
Anna: I'm very nervous. I've worried a
about my tests.
Dear Edith, Thank you for the letter that I received last week. I have been busy studying. Soon I will take my final examinations and finish my courses here. I have made two good friends, Anna and Tom, but now we will all be going our separate ways.
My friend Anna doesn't know
she wants to do. Her family is her
main concern, and a job
necessary. She used to stay at home and had
few outside interests, but
coming to school she has become
People learn languages for many reasons. They also have different methods of learning.
