Information Guide for the ESL (English as a Second Language) Placement Test

Although we call the placement exam a test, there is no way you can fail the test. Instead, it is a method to determine your skill levels in grammar and vocabulary. Knowing your skill level helps the English department place you in the appropriate ESL class. Because OCC offers beginning through advanced levels of ESL, it is important for you to be placed in the right class.

The following are sample questions for the ESL placement test. Look the questions over to prepare yourself for the test. You may print this page to study before you take the test.

Directions
Read the following. You will see four choices underlined throughout the text. Choose the best word (A, B, C, or D) to complete the story or conversation. Read everything first. Do the easy questions first; then go back to the others. Only one answer is correct.

Mary goes to school.   (1) ^A She   ^B She's   ^C He   ^D Her   studies English.   She  (2) ^A attends   ^B goes   ^C like   ^D going   class every day.   Her classmates are very   (3) ^A study   ^B kindness   ^C work   ^D kind . Jane and Mary work at the same place.   They see each other every day and meet for lunch.

Jane:   “Hello! How are you today?”

Mary:   “I am fine.  What do you have for lunch?”

Jane:   “I have a turkey sandwich, an apple, and a cookie.  (4) ^A How   ^B What   ^C Food   ^D This   do you have?” 

Mary:   “I  (5) ^A forget   ^B forgot   ^C forgetting   ^D forgotten   to bring it.   I guess I  (6) ^A must   ^B having   ^C have to   ^D going   buy something in the cafeteria.”

Jane:   “That's OK. I'll  (7) ^A going   ^B buy   ^C went   ^D go   with you.” 

Mary:   “Great!   I'll see you in the cafeteria later.” 



Answer Key
1.A     2.A     3.D     4.B     5.B     6.C     7.D