English Exam Prep
ENGLISH EXAM PREPARATIONS
All exam prep begins by taking a Diagnostic Test which will gauge your current level of ability and identify the specific areas you need to work on. This enables us to match you with the most appropriate tutor – one whose biggest strengths are your weaknesses.
Primary
(*Cambridge courses)
STARTERS*
MOVERS
FLYERS
KET*
(*為劍橋課程)
Secondary
STARTERS
SAT
SSAT & ISEE
TOEFL
STARTERS
Starters
Cambridge English: Pre A1 Starters is the first of three Cambridge English: Young Learners (YLE) exams for children between the ages of four and twelve. This exam shows your child's ability to learn English from an early age and creates a positive attitude to language Qualifications.
Who should take this exam?
Children who take the exam are usually between the ages of four and six, and are studying Kindergarten 2 to Primary 1 in Hong Kong.
In the qualification your child will need to:
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Recognise colours in English
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Answer very simple questions about themselves
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Write short one-word answers to basic questions.
What happens when my child takes this exam?
There is no pass or fail for the exam. Your child can get a maximum of five shields for each part of the exam. The number of shields they are awarded for each part will be shown on their certificate. They will receive the certificate about a Month after taking the exam.
Please call 2383-0300 (for Kowloon) / 2833-6728 (for HK Island) or submit an online enquiry form for more details.
Movers
Cambridge English: A1 Movers is the second of three Cambridge English: Young Learners (YLE) exams for children between the ages of four to twelve. This exam demonstrates your child's ability to communicate in real-life situations in English.
Mock exam sessions for computer-based: Movers are also available. The exam format is the same as the paper-based qualification which includes a listening test, a reading and writing test and a speaking test. A microphone and headset will be used to record your child's speaking tests on the computers. They may use the mouse or onscreen virtual keyboard to answer questions for the listening, reading and writing tests. Registration ends one week before the exam date so it gives you and your child much more flexibility when choosing your preferred qualification.
Level of qualification: Beginner = A1 on the Common European Framework
Who should take this exam?
Children who take the exam are usually between the ages of six and eight and are studying Primary 1 to Primary 3 in Hong Kong.
In the exam your child will need to:
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Understand basic instructions in English
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Fill out a simple form or respond to questions about themselves
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Answer questions and write down simple facts (such as days of the week, times or names) they hear or read in a children's story.
What happens when my child takes this exam?
There is no pass or fail for the exam. Your child can get a maximum of five shields for each part of the exam. The number of shields they are awarded for each part will be shown on their certificate. They will receive the certificate about a (paper-based version) or two weeks (computer-based version) after taking the exam.
Please call 2383-0300 (for Kowloon) / 2833-6728 (for HK Island) or submit an online enquiry form for more details.
Flyers
Cambridge English: A2 Flyers is the highest of the three Cambridge English: Young Learners (YLE) exams for children between the ages of four and twelve. This exam shows that your child can understand simple English in everyday situations and will communicate in basic English.
Mock exam sessions for computer-based: A2 Flyers are also available. The exam format is the same as the paper-based qualification which includes a listening test, a reading and writing test and a speaking test. A microphone and headset will be used to Record your child's speaking tests on the computers. They may use the mouse or onscreen virtual keyboard to answer questions for the listening, reading and writing tests. Registration ends one week before the exam date so it gives you and your child much more flexibility when choosing Your preferred agenda dates.
Level of qualification: Elementary = A2 on the Common European Framework
Who should take this exam?
Children who take the exam are usually between the ages of eight and twelve and are studying Primary 3 to Primary 6 in Hong Kong.
In the qualification your child will need to:
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Explain the differences between two stories or pictures
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Write or tell a short story in English
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Ask questions and use the past tense.
The Cambridge English: A2 Flyers exam is equivalent to the Cambridge English: Key for Schools (A2 KETfS).
What happens when my child takes this exam?
There is no pass or fail for the exam. Your child can get a maximum of five shields for each part of the exam. The number of shields they are awarded for each part will be shown on their certificate. They will receive their certificate about a (paper-based version) or two weeks (computer-based version) after taking the exam.
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Listening 25 mins
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Reading and Writing 40 mins
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Speaking 7-9 mins
*Maximum five shields for each section
Please call 2383-0300 (for Kowloon) / 2833-6728 (for HK Island) or submit an online enquiry form for more details.
KET
Who should take this exam?
You should take the KET if you have done about 250 hours of study or practice and can speak, write and understand basic English.
This exam is the first step in building your English language skills for work or study in the future. You should be able to:
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Ask and answer questions about yourself and others
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Comprehension announcements and instructions when people speak slowly
and clearly -
Tell people what you think about something you read or hear.
What is the exam format?
There are three parts to the exam. You do the Reading and Writing and the Listening papers on the same day. You may need to return to do the Speaking on a different day. You do the Speaking with two examiners and one other exam candidate.
Please call 2383-0300 (for Kowloon) / 2833-6728 (for HK Island) or submit an online enquiry form for more details.
PET
The Cambridge Preliminary English Test, also known as PET or B1, is aimed at students of an Intermediate level and demonstrates the linguistic abilities needed to understand basic information or instructions, express simple opinions on different topics, understand everyday texts and write about familiar subjects.
Cambridge English Language Assessment exams are known and recognized by schools, universities, and employers all over the English-speaking world. Success in a Cambridge English exam provides your child with an internationally recognized English language certificate.
To take the exam you should be able to:
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Express your likes and dislikes, and discuss them with others
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Understanding spoken and written announcements and instructions
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Write a personal letter or take notes from a meeting or discussion.
The exam consists of three papers, testing the four language skills as well as grammar and vocabulary:
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Reading and Writing (1 hour 30 minutes),
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Listening (30 minutes)
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Speaking (10-12 minutes)
Reading and Writing counts for 50% of the total marks, while the other two papers count for 25% each.
Paper-based or computer-based exams:
You can do the PET exam on a computer or on paper. The computer-based exam is available once a month. The paper-based exam is only available six times a year.
PET Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please call 2383-0300 (for Kowloon) / 2833-6728 (for HK Island) or submit an online enquiry form for more details.
HKDSE
The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE; Chinese: 香港中學文憑) is Hong Kong's university entrance examination, administered at the completion of a three-year senior secondary education. Since the implementation of the New Senior Secondary academic structure in 2012, HKDSE serves as replacement for the previous Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (O Levels) and Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination.
Students are required to study four compulsory "core subjects":
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Chinese
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English languages
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Mathematics
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Liberal studies
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In addition to these four, students must choose one to four "elective subjects" of 20 options available.
Prepare your child for the NEW HKDSE English Language exam. We are currently accepting F4, F5 & F6 students and all materials are supplied.
Our course consists of:
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Reading
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Writing
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Oral: Group and Individual Discussion
Please call 2383-0300 (for Kowloon) / 2833-6728 (for HK Island) or submit an online enquiry form for more details.
SSAT & ISEE
The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is an admission test administered in the United States for students in grades 3–11 to provide a standardised measure that will help independent or private elementary, middle, and high schools to make decisions regarding student admission. The ISEE (see below) can be seen as a parallel to the SSAT.
There are three levels of the SSAT:
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Elementary Level (EL), for students in grades 3 and 4 who are applying to grades 4 and 5;
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Middle Level, for students in grades 5–7 applying for grades 6–8;
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Upper Level, designed for students in grades 8–11 who are applying for grades 9–12 (or PG{Post-Graduate year before college}).
The SSAT consists of a brief unscored writing sample and multiple choice sections that include quantitative (mathematics), reading comprehension, and verbal questions. It emphasises critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for academic success.
ISEE
The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) is an entrance exam used by many independent schools and magnet schools in the United States.
The ISEE has four levels:
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Primary level, for entrance to grades 2–4;
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Lower level, for entrance in grades 5–6;
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Middle level, for entrance in grades 7–8;
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Upper level, for entrance in grades 9–12.
All levels consist of five sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics Achievement, and a 30-minute essay.
Please call 2383-0300 (for Kowloon) / 2833-6728 (for HK Island) or submit an online enquiry form for more details.
SAT
The SAT is one of two standardised tests you can sit in order to apply to US universities. The alternative exam is called the ACT but it isn’t quite as popular.
In 2016, the SAT got a facelift. The new SAT exam consists of four sections: Reading, Writing and Language, Math with calculator, and Math no calculator. There’s also an optional essay section.
All of the sections (minus the essay) are multiple choice and each section features at least one graph or table.
WHAT IS A GOOD SAT SCORE?
A good SAT score depends on which university you wish to attend.
Most top universities, such as the Ivy Leagues, look for students whose scores range between 1410 and 1600, out of the maximum 1600.
Keep in mind that US universities place a lot of emphasis on other application factors, such as extracurricular activities, so a perfect score won’t necessarily get you in (but it does help!). Additionally, not all universities have such high average SAT scores.
SAT VS. ACT: WHICH ONE?
The ACT is much tighter on time, which makes it harder to complete all the questions.
Some people work well under such strict time constraints while others struggle.
There’s no harm in taking both exams once, seeing which you prefer, and then retaking that exam. Or, simply sit a few practice exams to figure out which exam is best for you.
Most universities don’t prefer one exam over the other, so it’s best to sit the one that plays to your strengths.
Please call 2383-0300 (for Kowloon) / 2833-6728 (for HK Island) or submit an online enquiry form for more details.
TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language® (TOEFL) is a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. TOEFL is one of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being the IELTS.
TOEFL is the standard language proficiency exam for those who wish to study or work in the US.
The four-hour test consists of four sections, each measuring one of the basic language skills (while some tasks require integrating multiple skills), and all tasks focus on language used in an academic, higher-education environment. Note-taking is allowed during the TOEFL iBT test. The test cannot be taken more than once every 12 days.
Please call 2383-0300 (for Kowloon) / 2833-6728 (for HK Island) or submit an online enquiry form for more details.
IELTS
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the world's most popular English Language test and is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand academic institutions, by over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States, and by various professional organisations across the world.
Taking IELTS opens doors – it can help you live, study and work around the world. More than 10,000 organisations worldwide accept IELTS, including government, academic and employment institutions. In fact, IELTS is the only English Language test accepted for immigration purposes by all countries that require one.
The IELTS test is designed to help you use English in your new life abroad. It effectively assesses all of your English skills, including listening, reading, writing and speaking.
The four parts of the IELTS test:
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Listening: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes' transfer time)
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Reading: 60 minutes
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Writing: 60 minutes
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Speaking: 11–14 minutes
The test total time is: 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Listening, Reading and Writing are completed in one sitting. The Speaking test may be taken on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.
Please call 2383-0300 (for Kowloon) / 2833-6728 (for HK Island) or submit an online enquiry form for more details.