THE READING SUB-TEST

The Reading Sub-test takes 60 minutes and is in 3 sections. There are 3 passages with a combined
length of 1500-2500 words and a total of 40 questions.

• The reading passages become more difficult as you progress through the test.
• The passages are taken from journals, magazines, books and newspapers. All the topics are of
general interest and are not specialised texts.
• The reading passages may contain diagrams, charts or graphs, and at least one passage will
include an argument. If a reading passage contains technical or specialised words, a glossary is
usually provided.
• The questions may come before or after the reading passages in the examination booklet, and
instructions and examples are given at the beginning of a new group of questions.
• You must write your answers during the Reading Sub-test on the Answer Sheet provided.
The Writing Sub-test takes 60 minutes.

There are two writing tasks.
The first task will take approximately 20 minutes, and you are required
to write a minimum of 150 words. The second task will take approximately
40 minutes with a minimum of 250 words.
For Task 1 you describe information that is presented to you in a graph, table, chart, diagram,
or short piece of text. The description is usually given in the form of a report. You might have
to compare sets of data, or use a set of data to support a given statement. Alternatively, you might
be required to describe the stages of a process, describe an object, or explain how something
works, or how it is used.

For Task 2 you are asked to write a formal essay or a report in which you might have to offer a
solution to a particular problem, present and justify an opinion, compare information given in
the question task, or evaluate and challenge a given argument.
In both tasks you must write in the formal academic style appropriate to the question task. You
will also be marked on your ability to organise your writing, and on your choice of content within
your answers.

The question tasks do not require you to have any specialised knowledge of a particular subject.