On the following pages are sample questions from the English as a Second language placement examination (CELSA). Although we call the placement exam a test, there is no way for you to fail the test. The exam is a method to determine your skill levels on grammar and vocabulary. Knowing your skill levels helps the English department to place you properly in ESL classes. Because the college offers beginning through advanced levels of ESL, it is important for you to choose the right class.
There will be 75 test items. You will have 45 minutes to do the test. Try to answer every item. Guess if you have to. Choose only one answer (there are four choices, A, B, C, or D) and circle the correct answer on the sheet. Correct answers for the sample questions follow.
PRACTICE TEST DIRECTIONS:
Read the following.
You will see four choices in each box. Choose
the best word (A, B, C, or D) to complete the story or conversation. Read every
thing first. Do the easy questions first; then go back to the others. only one
answer is correct.
Mary goes to school.
studies English. She
class every day. Her classmates are very
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.
do you have?
Mary: I
to bring it.
I guess I
buy something in the cafeteria.
Jane: That's OK. I will
with you.
Mary: Great! I'll see you in the cafeteria later.