BILKENT UNIVERSITY

PROFICIENCY IN ACADEMIC ENGLISH

EXAM
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PAE STAGE 1 EXAM
The PAE Exam Stage 1 is a placement test which is administered to all new students. Only those
students who are successful in Stage 1 are eligible to sit the PAE Exam Stage 2A.

All questions are in multiple choice format and a penalty for wrong answers is applied - for every
four incorrect answers, one point will be deducted from the overall score.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PAE STAGE 2 EXAM

The PAE Stage 2 exam, which measures academic English, has four written papers and a
speaking test. The exam is in two parts, Stage 2A and Stage 2B. Candidates must pass Stage
2A to be eligible to sit Stage 2B. These are administered on different days. Further details about
each paper can be found on pages 3, 4 and 5 of this document. In the Reading, Grammar and
Vocabulary and Listening papers, which assess through the multiple choice format, there is a
penalty for wrong answers. This means that for every four incorrect answers, one point will be
deducted from the overall score of that section.

A pencil, eraser and sharpener are provided for each student on the exam day. No other pencil
can be used to code in the answers onto the optic forms. Candidates should only bring a pen for
the writing paper and the note-taking section of the listening paper.

THE LEVEL OF THE PAE STAGE 2 EXAM

The PAE Stage 2 exam targets Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages (CEFR). The B2 level is considered a basic minimum for academic study in Bilkent
University as well as many other universities both in Turkey and abroad.

Learners at the B2 level are expected to read both concrete and abstract texts on reasonably
familiar topics as well as understand the main ideas of complex texts. They are also expected to
understand standard spoken language on both familiar and unfamiliar topics and be able to
interact with a degree of fluency that does not cause strain for the other party. B2 level learners
can write clear, detailed texts on a range of topics, provided that the topics are familiar, and can
also evaluate and synthesise ideas in their writing and provide systematic arguments. They are
also expected to have a broad active vocabulary connected to familiar and general topics and
express themselves clearly and with some degree of confidence. A high level of lexical and
grammatical accuracy in both speaking and writing is expected at the B2 level.

HOW TO USE THESE TESTS

There are six practice sets with answer keys, tapescripts and audio files. The writing and
speaking criteria can be found in a separate document. The aim of these sets is to familiarise
candidates with the formats that are used in the PAE Stage 2 exam as well as the range of
objectives that are tested.

RELIABILITY OF MARKING
Given the large numbers of candidates who take the PAE exam each year, the format used in
Stage 2A is multiple choice so that it can be reliably marked by an optic reader. Five options are
given. It is essential that great care is taken when transferring answers to the optic forms. If these
forms are not filled in carefully by the candidates, it will result in a loss of marks.

For the writing papers, double marking is carried out by a team of experienced raters, who are
trained in using the Bilkent University Preparatory Program PAE writing criteria for tasks 1 and 2.
This team is standardised before each marking session. The same procedure applies to the
speaking exam, which is administered by a trained team of experienced speaking raters, who

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receive ongoing training and standardisation. Speaking exam sessions are recorded and marked
by a second rater after the administration.

CONTENT OF THE PAE STAGE 2 EXAM

STAGE 2A – Reading, Grammar, Vocabulary, Listening

There are three booklets in PAE Stage 2A – the first booklet consists of Reading, Grammar and
Vocabulary, the second booklet consists of Listening Part 1 and Listening Part 2 note-taking
sheets and the third booklet has the questions for Listening Part 2. The Reading, Grammar and
Vocabulary section takes 1 hour 45 minutes and candidates are expected to organise their own
time as no specific time is set for each section. The Listening section takes 1 hour.

All questions are in multiple choice format and a penalty for wrong answers is applied - for every
four incorrect answers, one point will be deducted from the overall score.

READING PART ONE, TWO AND THREE

Candidates code their answers directly onto an optic form – no extra time is given to transfer
answers at the end of the exam.

CONTENT OBJECTIVES TESTED

PART ONE - 3 short texts of approximately 300 - inferring meaning
words each - identifying author’s tone/purpose/audience
- 8 questions - deducing meaning from context
- paraphrasing
- identifying main ideas
PART TWO - 2 texts of approximately 700 words each - identifying main ideas, supporting details
- 12 questions - deducing meaning from context
- inferring meaning
- understanding text cohesion

PART THREE - 1 text of approximately 1,600 words - identifying main ideas, supporting details
- 15 questions - deducing meaning from context
- inferring meaning
- understanding reference markers
- understanding text cohesion

GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY

Candidates code their answers directly onto an optic form – no extra time is given to transfer
answers at the end of the exam.

CONTENT OBJECTIVES TESTED

GRAMMAR - 2 texts of approximately 250-275 words each - grammatical structures in context
- 15 questions

VOCABULARY - 2 texts of approximately 250-275 words each - vocabulary in context

- 20 questions

LISTENING PART ONE AND TWO

For Part One, there are 5 short dialogues set in an academic context. Before each dialogue,
candidates are given 30 seconds to look at the questions. The questions are answered while
listening.

For Part Two, before the lecture starts, candidates are given 30 seconds to look at the note-
taking headings and read the background information that is provided about the topic. After the
lecture has finished, questions are distributed and candidates have 15 minutes to answer the

Bilkent University Preparatory Program reserves the right to make changes to the exam and the criteria. Page 3 of 4
questions using their notes. At the end of 15 minutes, the optic forms are distributed and 10
minutes is allocated to transfer the answers for Listening Parts 1 and 2 to the optic form.

For the audio files of the listening tasks in this document, please visit
https://busel-moodle.bilkent.edu.tr/pae

CONTENT OBJECTIVES TESTED

PART ONE - 5 dialogues of approximately 3 minutes each - listening for main ideas, specific information
- 15 questions - inferring meaning
- identifying the speaker’s tone/purpose

PART TWO - 1 lecture of approximately 15 minutes - note-taking

- 15 questions -listening for main ideas, specific information and
supporting details
- inferring meaning

STAGE 2B – Writing & Speaking

This part focuses on the productive skills of writing and speaking.

WRITING PART ONE AND TWO

There are two writing tasks in Stage 2B. Candidates are given 1 hour 35 minutes to complete
both tasks. Candidates must write in ink.

CONTENT OBJECTIVES TESTED

PART ONE - an input text of - understand a text and a given prompt
approximately 350 words - synthesise information
is provided - support an opinion
- candidates write a - write a coherent text
paragraph of about 150 - use a wide range of grammar and vocabulary
words giving their opinion appropriately

PART TWO - candidates have a choice - ability to comprehend a given prompt

of two prompts - generate and organise ideas appropriately
- candidates write an - justify and support an opinion
essay of about 350 words - use a wide range of grammar and vocabulary
appropriately
- produce a coherent text

SPEAKING
Candidates engage in a short conversation with an assessor for approximately 7 minutes. The
exam is scheduled at a different time for each candidate and is recorded. .

For samples of speaking performance, please visit

https://busel-moodle.bilkent.edu.tr/pae

CONTENT OBJECTIVES TESTED

- The assessor asks the
candidate a series of
questions
- answer and expand on questions of personal interest
- discuss topics that arise naturally from the
conversation
- produce relevant, coherent and meaningful
speech
- use correct rhythm and intonation
- produce individual sounds correctly
- use a wide range of grammar and vocabulary
accurately and appropriately
- the ability to self-correct
- speak without unnatural hesitation

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