Diploma in TESOL

Diagnostic Test
Age level - For Beginners
The diagnostic test below is for ESL students at university level who are at a low level of
English (just beginners). The test consists of 4 papers, assessing the students skills in reading,
listening, speaking, and writing. Each skill is assessed at the Beginner level.
Time allotted for each section is 15 minutes.
Section 1 Reading Comprehension

(10 marks)

(This activity is designed to test their reading ,writing and comprehension ability)
Read the passage given below and answer the questions.
Rayan was a kind boy. He loved animals and birds. He never hurt them .One day , he saw a dog
in his garden. It had hurt its leg badly. He took the dog home and washed its leg. He put some
medicine on the wound and bandaged it. He also gave the dog some milk to drink. At night
,Rayan made a soft bed with some old sheets. The dog lay down on it. It looked at Rayan and
wagged its tail. Rayan had a new pet now. He decided to call it Sheru. He was sure that Sheru
would be a good pet .Soon they became good friends.
A. Now fill in the blanks with words from the passage. ( 9 marks )
1. Rayan saw a ________________ in his _______________________.
2. It had hurt its ________________ badly.
3. He put some ________________ on the _________________ and bandaged it.
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Diploma in TESOL
4. He made a _______________________ with some old sheets.
5. He gave the dog _____________________________ to drink.
6. He decided to call the dog ________________________.
7. They became good ______________________.
B Write the opposites of: ( 1 mark)
a) good :____________
b) night :____________

Section 2 Listening

(10 marks)

Listen to the following recorded transcript and answer the following questions.
One day , Mona heard a bird crying. She went to the window and looked out. She saw a pigeons
nest on a tree. The pigeon was caught in a kite-string. The pigeon tried to break the string but it
could not.
Mona called a few people for help. Two of them came to help her. They placed a ladder near the
pigeons nest. One of them climbed the ladder and cut the string gently.
Soon, the bird flapped its wings and flew up into the sky. Everyone said Mona was a kind girl.
I. Underline the correct word.
1.
2.
3.
4.

(5 marks )

Mona heard a (bird / goat) crying.

The pigeon was caught in a (kite string / net).
Mona called the ( people / children) for help.
They used a (ladder / rope) to climb.

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Diploma in TESOL
5. The pigeon (fell down / flew up) into the sky.

II. Write T for true NT for not true.

( 5 marks)

1. Mona looked out of the window .

( ____ )

2. She saw a crows nest on a tree.

( ____ )

3. Five people rushed to the place .

( ____ )

4. The pigeon flew up into the sky.

( ____ )

5. Mona was a kind girl.

( ____ )

Section 3 Speaking Activity

( 10 marks)

This activity is to be done between two random people to be partners. Then, they have to ask
each other 5 questions, one from each section. They can't ask their partner the same question that
they were asked. I listen and grade on things such as grammar, fluency, pronunciation etc.

#1. How often do you ____________?

#2. What can you do? What can you NOT do?
What do you have to do? What do you NOT have to do?

#3 (Give 3 reasons in your answer)

Where do you usually buy your clothes? Why?
Are you healthy or unhealthy? Why?

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Diploma in TESOL
#4. Big/bigger, etc. There will be a picture. You have to make a sentence. (No question from
partner).

#5 How long was your last vacation?

How was the weather yesterday?
Were there any problems on your way to school today?
Was your teacher late today?
Section 4-Writing

(10 marks)

( It is designed for lower level classes and give students an opportunity to write about a number
of basic subjects including: studies, hobbies, travel, likes and dislikes, application forms, brief
job descriptions, recipes, etc. )
This is the last part of a letter from a friend. Read it and respond.

Anyway, have a good time at the seaside, and please send me a postcard about where you're
staying, the weather, the food, etc. By the way, who are you going with? See you in September,
Love, Janet
Now you are on holiday at the seaside. Write the postcard (about 50 words).

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_____

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