ALCE™ Format & Content

Section	Time	Short Description	Number of items
Listening	Approx. 40 minutes	Part 1(multiple choice) Five extracts from radio broadcasts, each followed by two questions with three answer choices. The questions are also printed in the test booklet. The extracts are heard once.	10
Part 2(multiple choice) Ten short dialogues, each followed by a question with three answer choices that is also printed in the test booklet. The dialogues are heard once.	10
Part 3(multiple choice) A recorded radio interview, broken into five segments. Two questions with three answer choices follow each segment. The questions are also printed in the test booklet. Each segment is heard twice, followed by the questions.	10
Part 4 (multiple choice) A long recorded talk, broken into two segments, each followed by five questions with three answer choices that are also printed in the test booklet. Each segment is heard once.	10
Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading(GVR)	80 minutes	Grammar (multiple choice) Candidates complete each sentence by choosing from four possible answer choices. Only one choice is grammatically correct.	40
Vocabulary(multiple choice) Candidates complete each sentence by choosing from four possible answer choices. Only one choice is semantically correct.	40
Reading Part 1 (multiple choice) A review of a book, play, film, etc, followed by seven questions with four answer choices.	7
Reading Part 2(multiple choice) A text on a scientific/academic topic, followed by seven questions with four answer choices.	7
Reading Part 3(multiple choice) A text examining a social issue, followed by six questions with four answer choices.	6
Writing	30 minutes	Candidates chose one from a choice of two possible tasks. Both tasks comprise an argumentative essay, in which the candidate argues a case based on at least two of the prompts provided. The candidates have thirty minutes to complete their chosen task and should write approximately 250 words.	1 task
Speaking	11 – 13 minutes	Task 1:Warm Up Candidates answer non-sensitive personal questions.	4 tasks
Task 2:Introduction to Topic Candidates are presented with one question, helped by prompts to which they give an extended answer.
Task 3:Topic Questions Candidates answer two to three questions on the topic, supported by prompts for each question.
Task 4:Arguing a Case Candidates are given the context for a controversial issue, as well as points for each side. They are expected to choose one side and argue their case effectively.

Section

Time

Short Description

Number of items

Listening

Approx. 40 minutes

Part 1(multiple choice)

Five extracts from radio broadcasts, each followed by two questions with three answer choices. The questions are also printed in the test booklet. The extracts are heard once.

Part 2(multiple choice)

Ten short dialogues, each followed by a question with three answer choices that is also printed in the test booklet. The dialogues are heard once.

Part 3(multiple choice)

A recorded radio interview, broken into five segments. Two questions with three answer choices follow each segment. The questions are also printed in the test booklet. Each segment is heard twice, followed by the questions.

Part 4 (multiple choice)

A long recorded talk, broken into two segments, each followed by five questions with three answer choices that are also printed in the test booklet. Each segment is heard once.

Grammar,

Vocabulary,

Reading(GVR)

80 minutes

Grammar (multiple choice)

Candidates complete each sentence by choosing from four possible answer choices. Only one choice is grammatically correct.

Vocabulary(multiple choice)

Candidates complete each sentence by choosing from four possible answer choices. Only one choice is semantically correct.

Reading Part 1 (multiple choice)

A review of a book, play, film, etc, followed by seven questions with four answer choices.

Reading Part 2(multiple choice)

A text on a scientific/academic topic, followed by seven questions with four answer choices.

Reading Part 3(multiple choice)

A text examining a social issue, followed by six questions with four answer choices.

Writing

30 minutes

Candidates chose one from a choice of two possible tasks. Both tasks comprise an argumentative essay, in which the candidate argues a case based on at least two of the prompts provided. The candidates have thirty minutes to complete their chosen task and should write approximately 250 words.

1 task

Speaking

11 – 13 minutes

Task 1:Warm Up

Candidates answer non-sensitive personal questions.

4 tasks

Task 2:Introduction to Topic

Candidates are presented with one question, helped by prompts to which they give an extended answer.

Task 3:Topic Questions

Candidates answer two to three questions on the topic, supported by prompts for each question.

Task 4:Arguing a Case

Candidates are given the context for a controversial issue, as well as points for each side. They are expected to choose one side and argue their case effectively.

Listening Section
Grammar, Vocabulary and Reading Section
Writing Section
Speaking Section

Listening Section

Part 1

Aim: this section tests the candidates’ ability to understand the gist of a text, the relationship between speakers, and their attitudes, as well as the ability to make inferences and predictions.

Format: the candidates listen to short extracts from five conversations between two speakers taken from radio broadcast material and hear two questions about what was said immediately after each extract. The questions are also written in the test booklet. They choose the appropriate answer choice from three possible answer choices. A pause of nine seconds separates each item.

Part 2

Aim: this section tests the candidates’ ability to understand stated or implied information in a semi-formal spoken text which contains high-level colloquialisms.

Format: the candidates listen to short extracts from ten conversations taken from an educational, occupational or public domain between two speakers. After each extract, the candidates hear a question about what was stated or implied in the extract. The question also appears in their test booklet. The answer choices are short phrases or sentences. There is a pause of nine seconds between each item.

Part 3

Aim: this section tests the candidates’ ability to use their understanding of specific information and recognition of the opinions of the speakers.

Format: the candidates listen to an extended extract from a dialogue between two speakers in the form of an interview on a social, or academic / scientific issue. The extract is broken up into five parts, each of which is followed by two questions relating to specific information included in the extract, for a total of ten questions. The questions also appear in the test booklet.

Part 4

Aim: this section tests the candidates’ ability to use their understanding of the salient points of an extended text.

Format: the candidates listen to an extended talk of a factual nature. The talk is heard in two parts and candidates hear five questions about what was said after each part, giving a total of ten questions.

Grammar Section

Vocabulary Section

Aim: the vocabulary section assesses the candidates‟ knowledge of advanced vocabulary, ranging from collocations, idiomatic expressions, metaphors, word grammar, compound words, etc., to topic-related vocabulary and context specific vocabulary of the English language in order to formulate well-formed and meaningful messages.

Format: this section consists of 40 multiple-choice questions with four answer choices that tests advanced vocabulary. Candidates are required to choose the answer that best completes the sentence.

Reading Section

Part 1

Aim: this section tests detailed understanding of a text at sentence and discourse level, and ability to understand conflicting opinions, as well as inferences and vocabulary in context.

Format: 1 text of approximately 500 words in the form of a review of a book, play or other cultural work or event, followed by 7 multiple-choice questions.

Part 2

Aim: this section tests detailed understanding of text at sentence and discourse level, and ability to understand multifaceted arguments, logical progression, e.g. cause & effect and vocabulary in context.

Format: 1 text of approximately 500 words, in the form of a scientific text, followed by 7 multiple-choice questions.

Part 3

Aim: this section tests detailed understanding of a text at sentence and discourse level, and the ability to understand opinionated discussion with several „voices‟ and multifaceted arguments, as well as vocabulary in context.

Format: 1 text in the form of a newspaper article from a newspaper or periodical of approximately 500 words, followed by 6 multiple-choice questions.

Writing Section

Aim: the ALCE™ writing section tests candidates on the production of advanced and sophisticated writing. Candidates should produce texts which not only are well organized and fully developed, but which also demonstrate a solid grasp of complex sentence structure and the ability to employ a wide range of topic-related vocabulary appropriately and effectively. The candidates are expected to have developed a high level of fluency and accuracy at this level.

Format: candidates chose one from a choice of two possible tasks. Both tasks comprise an argumentative essay, in which the candidate argues a case based on at least two of the prompts provided. The candidates have thirty minutes to complete their chosen task and should write approximately 250 words.

Speaking Section

Aim: the candidates are tested on their ability to interact orally with fluency, accuracy and coherence and demonstrate a range of language resources appropriate for the context.

Format: the ALCE™ Speaking Test lasts approximately 11-13 minutes and is divided into four parts. Part 1 is a warm up, while Parts 2, 3 and 4 focus on different aspects of the same topic. Prompts in the form of short phrases are provided for the questions in Parts 2, 3 and 4. All the questions, prompts and the text providing background to the topic are written on the test material that the candidates receive.

The first part of the Speaking Test lasts approximately 1 minute. The candidates are asked several non-sensitive personal questions about their studies, work and hobbies.

Part 2 lasts approximately 2½ minutes, and the task is based on a picture and a related text. The candidates look at the picture, read the text, consider the prompts and prepare a response to one question.

Part 3 of the Speaking Test lasts approximately four minutes. The examiner chooses from a range of six questions that focus on different aspects of the topic introduced in Part 2.

For each question there are prompts which the candidates can develop.

Part 4 of the Speaking Test lasts approximately 3½ minutes, and requires that candidates argue a case. The candidates are given time to read both sides of a controversial issue and to look at the two sets of prompts provided, each supporting a different point of view.