How to Register

The English Language Proficiency Entrance Test (ELPET) is an institutional test designed to fulfill the English language proficiency measurement and placement required for admission to the American University in Cairo.

Students should register for the ELPET after getting their application form processed in the Admissions Office by doing the following:

• Pick up an ELPET or EWAT admittance form from the Cashier.
• Choose a test date from the Testing Schedule
• Pay the ELPET or EWAT registration fee at the Cashier: LE 250 or $ 50 for ELPET; LE 125 or $ 25 for EWAT.
• Bring two photos and collect the ELPET or EWAT test card from the Student Service Center.
• Review directions written on the bottom of the test card.
• Come to the test location on the date and time specified on your test card.
• If you must change the test date selected, come to the Student Service Center and complete a "Change of ELPET Test Date" form and follow steps outlined above.

*Change of ELPET Test Date Fee = LE 50 or $ 10.

 

What to Expect on the Test Day

You will be given two tests when you come on testing day: the English Language Writing Ability Test (EWAT) and The English Language Proficiency Entrance Test (ELPET). The following is a description of what these tests will be like and several sample items. First you will be given the EWAT and then the ELPET. The scores from each of these two tests will be used for determining your placement. You need to bring TWO SOFT LEAD PENCILS (either No. 2 or HB) and an eraser. You will be provided with paper and test booklets in the Testing Hall.

The English Language Writing Ability Test (EWAT)

This test assesses your ability to write a thoughtful, well organized, grammatically correct essay in English. You will be given ONE topic to write on. The topic will consist of either (1) identifying and analyzing a problem; or (2) analyzing possible solutions to a given problem; or (3) stating a position, explaining and supporting your opinion on an issue. An effective essay ranges from 250 to 500 words. You will have60 minutes (one hour) to organize your material and write the essay.

Two sample topics appear below:

EXAMPLE 1: Analyzing a problem:

In recent years a "culture of celebrity" has emerged in which celebrities such as actors, TV talk show hosts, singers and athletes exert a great deal of influence on people.

Analyze effects of this phenomenon on the young people growing up today in your country and support your ideas with examples.

EXAMPLE 2: Taking a position:

Every nation has an interest in maintaining the health of it's citizens. For example, in April 2001 the Egyptian government enacted a ban on cigarette advertising on state-run television because of the proven negative effects of smoking on people's health. Yet many Egyptians still smoke.

Take a position on whether you believe the government has the ability to shape its citizens' attitudes toward smoking and health through the passage of laws. Give reasons for your position and offer evidence to support your view.

The English Language Proficiency Entrance Test (ELPET)

The ELPET consist of two booklets. The first booklet is designed to assess proficiency in academic English in three skills: reading, vocabulary, and grammar. The second booklet tests proficiency in listening comprehension. Each part is scored separately. These scores are then combined to provide a total composite score for the ELPET.

The topics of the reading passages fall within the following disciplines: humanities, social sciences and general science. Reading is defined as the ability to understand university level material at sufficient reading speed. It is the ability to identify and comprehend the essential or main ideas in a passage and the ability to understand various parts of a passage. It is also the ability to make immediate inferences from explicit, isolated statements and the ability to make inferences based on 75 percent or more of the text. It is the ability to infer the author’s purpose and point of view. It is the ability to use clues to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words in a passage. Vocabulary is defined as the knowledge of a range of words sufficient for coping with university level work. Grammar is defined as the ability to recognize grammatically correct English within the range of syntactic structures specified in the ELPET grammar taxonomy.

The following is information on the types of questions, which appear in each section. Please note that you will be given a test booklet with questions and an answer sheet (see sample on last page) which will be computer scored. Therefore, you must be sure to BRING TWO SOFT LEAD PENCILS (either No. 2 or HB) as well as an ERASER when you come to sit for the test. During the test after you have selected your answer choice, you must blacken the circle on the answer sheet, which corresponds, to that choice for each question. You should not make any marks on the test booklet. Answer ALL questions only on the answer sheet. Only those questions answered on the answer sheet will be scored.

Booklet 1: READING COMPREHENSION, VOCABULARY, GRAMMAR

PART 1: Reading and Vocabulary (80 Minutes total for this section)

There are two sections to this part.

Section A: This section of the Reading and Vocabulary Section consists of six reading passages and nine questions about each passage. These questions cover reading comprehension and vocabulary in context. Read each passage carefully and then answer each of the questions by selecting the ONE best answer according to the meaning of the passage. Fill in the corresponding circle on your answer sheet.

Example: (The length of the actual test passages will vary to some degree).

The Persian empire of 500 BC was the earliest empire to envelop the region. Macedonian Greeks followed to radiate their culture, culinary and other. As the Romans and Parathions fought for dominance, the states they governed assimilated their traditions -- and their recipes. And while these empires were won and lost, the character and style of Middle East food was unknowingly being born.

1. In this passage, envelop (line 2 ) most closely means to

A. influence
B. contain
C. hamper
D. maintain

Choice "B" is correct according to the information in this passage.

Example 2. According to the passage, Middle Eastern foods have their roots in the

A. Persian empire of 500 BC.
B. the culture of the Macedonian Greeks.
C. complex relationships among a number of regional cultures.
D. interaction with external forces.

Choice "C" is correct according to its use in the passage.

Section B: This part contains 16 questions on general academic vocabulary, with two types of vocabulary items. In the first example, you are given a sentence followed by four words or phrases. You are to find the word or phrase that is closest in meaning to the underlined word (or words) in the sentence and that could be used in the sentence without changing its meaning greatly.

Example: I thought that the food was superb.

A. very good
B. too little
C. very bad
D. too hot

Choice "A" is the choice nearest in meaning to "superb" in this sentence.

In the second type of question, you are given a sentence with one word omitted and a list of four words. You are to find the word that would best complete the sentence.

Example: Mr. Jones wants the coat now, so please send it ___________.

A. prematurely
B. primarily
C. probably
D. promptly

The word "promptly" fits best in the sentence, so choice "D" is the correct answer.

Note that at the end of this part you will read "STOP! DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.'' When the test Administrator tells you, you can turn the page and continue, you may do so, but not before.

Part II: Grammar (20 Minutes)

This part is designed to measure your ability to recognize language that is appropriate for academic English. Each of the questions consists of an incomplete sentence and four words or phrases marked "A", "B", "C", and "D". You are to choose the ONE word or phrase that best completes the sentence. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and blacken the circle that has the letter of your choice. This section contains 40 questions.

Example: I had hoped _________ answer my letter.

A. that she
B. that she would
C. her to
D. that she should

Choice "B" correctly completes the sentence, so you should have darkened "B" on your answer sheet.

 

BOOKLET II: LISTENING COMPREHENSION

This test booklet measures your ability to understand spoken English. There are three parts in this section, with special instructions for each part. You will be listening to a recording during this part of the test. You must LISTEN ONLY; you CANNOT take any written notes.

Listening is defined as the ability to recognize grammatical appropriateness and meaning at the sentence and discourse (more than one sentence) levels. It is also the ability to understand main ideas and some details over longer stretches of discourse delivered with normal clarity and speed in a standard dialect on general topics. The discourse involves descriptions and narrations in different situations and may include conversations, short lectures on familiar topics, news stories and oral reports mainly dealing with factual information. It includes the ability to understand inferences and detect emotional overtones.

Part A: 15 Questions

For each question in Part A, you will hear either a question or a statement. You must listen carefully to each sentence or question, since these sentences or questions will not be written in your test book, and each sentence or question will be spoken only ONCE. After you hear each sentence or question, look at the answer choices in your test booklet. Select the sentence or question that is closest in meaning to the sentence or question you heard. On your answer sheet, find the number of the question you are answering, then blacken the circle that has the letter of your answer choice.

Example 1: You will hear:

"Is that all the work you've done so far ? "

You will read:

A. All of you have to go far to work
B. You haven't done any more work?
C. That's all the work you can do.
D. Why didn't you do any work?

The correct answer to the question is choice B ("You haven't done any more work?").

Example 2: You will hear:

"I am nearly done with my homework".

You will read:

A. The homework is completed.

B. The homework is only partly completed.
C. The homework is almost completed.
D. The homework will not be completed.

Since "almost completed" means about the same thing as "nearly done", the correct answer is "C".

PART B: 10 Questions

In Part B you will hear about conversations between two speakers. At the end of each conversation a third person will ask a question about what was said. The conversation and the question will be spoken just ONE TIME. After you hear a conversation and the question about it, read the four possible answers in your test booklet and decide which one is the best answer to the question you heard.

Look at the following example:

You will hear:

(Male voice): “I am inquiring about the accounting position.”

(Female voice): “Please fill out this application and return it to me.”

(Third voice): “Where does this conversation probably take place?”

You will read:

A. In a supermarket.

B. In an office.

C. In the street.

D. In a classroom.

From the conversation, you can conclude that it takes place in an office. Therefore, answer B is the correct answer. Then, on your answer sheet, blacken the circle for choice B.

PART C: 15 Questions

In this part of the test, you will hear an announcement and five short talks. After each announcement or talk, you will be asked some questions. The talks and the questions will be spoken just one time. They will not be written out for you. Therefore, you must listen carefully to understand what each speaker says. Look at the following example:

You will hear:

The first permanent settlement in San Francisco was established in 1776 when a Spanish military post was set up next to the Pacific coast. During the same year, some Franciscan Fathers founded the Mission San Francisco de Asis on a hill above the post. A trail was cleared from the military post to the mission, and about halfway between the two, a station was established for travelers called Yerba Buena, which means, “the place where good herbs grow.”

You will read:

A. The first settlement was called San Francisco.

B. The first settlement was established by the Spanish military.

C. The first settlement was established high on a hill.

D. The first settlement was established by the Franciscan Fathers.

From the information contained in the listening passage, we know that the first settlement was established by the Spanish military. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer. Then, on your answer sheet, blacken the circle for choice B.