MAYNOOTH

How many reading passages are there?

3
How many questions much you answer?
40
How much time do you have?
60 minutes
Do you have extra time to transfer your answers?
No
How many minutes should you spend per reading?
20

Are spelling and grammar important?

Yes

How many marks do you get for each correct answer?

One

Is the word limit important?

Yes, answers above the required word limit will not get
the mark
SKIMMING:
Reading fairly quickly to get the general idea of the kind of
writing, the overall topic and the main subject of each
paragraph.
Example tasks: multiple choice and paragraph headings

SCANNING:
Reading fairly quickly to find a specific fact such as a date, place
or name.
Example task:Short answers
READING FOR DETAIL:
Careful study of the text so that you understand exactly .what
the author is saying
Example tasks: True, False, Not given
Knowing which words are important in a text is a
key exam skill.
 Task approach:
•Read each statement and underline key words

•Find the relevant part of the text and study the

information carefully

•Look for expressions that mean the same as the words in

the statement.

•Write TRUE if the statement exactly matches information

in the text.
 TRUE:
If the statement agrees with the statement in the
text.

FALSE:
If the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN:
If there is no information on this.
PART ONE:
Answer short questions about familiar topics E.G. HOME OR
FAMILY

PART TWO:
You speak for 1-2 minutes on a given topic.

PART THREE:
Discussion with the examiner on more general topics related to
the topic in part 2.
If you don’t hear the questions ask the examiner
to repeat it.

Use fluency markers to help buy you time

before or during your answer.

In the interview you should note the tense or

verb form in the examiner’s question as this will
tell help you to form your reply.
•Topics everyday social activities

•Section One: Conversation between two speakers

•Section Two: Talk by one speaker

•TASK: Fill in missing information in notes, sentences, a
summary, a table, a flow-chart.

•You can use up to three words/and/or a number.

•Correct spelling essential

•Occasionally you have to choose the correct letter A,B

etc., from a box of answers.
 Read the instructions carefully. Note how many
words you can write.

Identify the topic by looking quickly at the heading and

the questions.

Study the first few questions. Underline key words and

think about possible answers e.g also word types

Remember to check your spelling.

 NOTE: Questions in the same order as you will
hear the recording.

Take care when you are transferring your

answers to your answer book e.g. 1 to 1 etc.,
Task approach:
• Study each unfinished sentence and underline the key words
or phrases.

• Locate the relevant section of text.

• Choose the best answer from the list of endings, checking

again for parallel expressions.

• Make sure the answer fits both logically and grammatically.

NOTE: Parallel expressions

Instead of using exactly the same expressions /words as the text,

questions will often replace words/expressions with the same
meaning.
• Underline the key words in the statements .

• Use these to scan the text to match the words and

statements.
•Read the questions and underline key words

•Predict what type of information/word you will

have to listen for

•Make an attempt.
•Study the diagram. Note the topic, units
vocabulary et c.,

•Predict what information you have listen for. Be

as specific as possible.