The Saber Pro English module evaluates students' ability to communicate in English, focusing on their reading comprehension and use of the language. This assessment adapts to different levels of complexity, aligning with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Its purpose is to assess how well a student can understand and use the language in various contexts.
Structure of the Test
The English module consists of several parts, each designed to assess different aspects of language proficiency. Below is an overview of each section and the skills it evaluates.
Part 1: Lexical Knowledge
In this section, students must select words based on their definitions. The format is multiple-choice, with eight options provided, and the student must match five definitions with the correct words. One word is used in an example at the beginning, and two options are not used at all. This task tests the student's knowledge of vocabulary, including its meanings, uses, and forms. Understanding a word involves complex cognitive processes that can be both automatic and conscious, integrating knowledge of its context, frequency, and use in communication.
Example: You might be asked to match the definition “a tool used to cut wood” with the word "saw" among several other options.
Part 2: Contextual Understanding
This section also uses multiple-choice questions with three options. Students are shown different signs or notices, and they must select the location where each sign would most likely appear. This test evaluates the student's understanding of contextual factors, such as the environment, the time, and the specific communication setting. It requires the ability to interpret messages based on social expectations, knowledge, and the participants in the communication.
Example: A student might need to choose whether a "No Smoking" sign belongs in a hospital, a park, or a restaurant.
Part 3: Conversational Understanding
In this part, students read the first part of a conversation and must choose the response that best fits. The question tests the ability to understand the communicative intent and context of the conversation. It requires recognizing how different parts of speech and structures work together to form coherent messages and respond appropriately in a conversation.
Example: After reading a sentence like “What time does the train leave?”, you would need to choose the most logical reply, such as "It leaves at 10 AM."
Part 4: Grammar and Vocabulary Application
This section involves completing a text with the appropriate words from multiple-choice options. The choices are designed to test students' knowledge of grammar rules and conventional meanings of expressions. The goal is to assess the student’s ability to construct grammatically correct sentences and use vocabulary appropriately.
Example: A sentence like "She ____ to the store yesterday" would require the student to choose the correct form of the verb (e.g., "went").
Part 5: Literal Comprehension
Students are given a general knowledge text and must answer multiple-choice questions based on explicit information in the text. This section evaluates the ability to understand the literal meaning of words and phrases, including paraphrasing them correctly without changing their meaning.
Example: After reading a short article about environmental protection, you might answer questions like, "What does the article suggest about recycling?"
Part 6: Inferential Comprehension
In this section, students must infer meaning from a text, even when it is not directly stated. They answer multiple-choice questions that require drawing conclusions or making connections based on the information in the text. This part assesses the ability to interpret underlying meanings, relationships between ideas, and the logical structure of a text.
Example: After reading a passage about a character's behavior, a question might ask, "Why did the character react that way?" The correct answer requires inferring the character's motivation from context clues.
Part 7: Vocabulary and Contextual Use
Students read a general knowledge text with blank spaces, and they must choose the correct word to complete each sentence. This section evaluates the understanding of words' denotative (literal) and connotative (figurative) meanings, depending on the context in which they are used. It assesses how well students can use vocabulary appropriately to achieve a particular communicative purpose.
Example: In a sentence like "He was feeling ____ after hearing the news," the student might need to select between "happy," "relieved," or "excited," based on the context provided.
Conclusion
The Saber Pro English module is designed to test a broad range of language skills, from vocabulary knowledge to understanding and interpreting different types of texts. By measuring both literal and inferential comprehension, as well as the ability to use language in context, it helps assess students' overall ability to communicate effectively in English. Mastering these skills requires practice, exposure to different types of texts, and the development of a deeper understanding of how language functions in real-life communication.
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