Online Placement Test

Inforum Placement Test

There are 3 sections plus the writing part:

The timing for each section is:
Writing: 10 minutes
Section 1: 25 minutes
Section 2: 20 minutes
Section 3: 20 minutes

WARNING: This is a timed assessment. Your time will start upon clicking the "Login" button below. The Time Remaining indicator will appear in the corner of each page.

Name

Nationality

Agent Name (if you have)

Writing Test (Take 10 minutes to finish this writing)

Please write 100-150 words on the following topic:

The best holiday I have ever had...

SECTION 1

PART 1
QUESTIONS 1-3
Which notice (A-E) says this (1-3)?
Example:
0 You should take care when you walk under here. Answer: A

A. Mind your head.
B. Children aren’t allowed in the casino.
C. Fire exit.
D. Pool closed for maintenance.
E. Lift out of order.

1. You must use the stairs.

ABCDE

2. Use this when you hear an alarm.

ABCDE

3. This place is for adults only.

ABCDE

PART 2
QUESTIONS 4-6
Read the sentences about a surfer.
Choose the best word (A, B or C) for each space.
Example:
0 George didn’t ______ to surf when he was younger. Answer: B
A. liked B. use C. enjoyed

4. George _______ surfing every morning by himself.

A. playsB. goesC. does

5. When he waits for a wave, George often _____ to the surfer next to him.

A. tellsB. saysC. speaks

6. George hasn’t seen a shark _____.

A. yetB. alreadyC. just

PART 3
QUESTIONS 7-8
Complete the 2 conversations.
Example:
0 Where does she live?
A. Over England
B. In Brazil
C. To Australia
Answer: B

7. Would you like to come shopping with me?

A. I sure did, but what about tomorrow?

B. I’m shopping tomorrow.

C. I’d love to but I have to do my homework.

8. Can I help you cook dinner?

A. That’s nice, what time should I arrive?

B. I’m sorry, I don’t eat meat.

C. That would be nice, thank you.

QUESTIONS 9-11
Complete the following conversation. Choose from the five options below to complete the conversation.
Example:
0. When did the party start? Answer: F

Joe: Did you go to Tom’s party on the weekend?
Susan: 9. ______________________________
Joe: I heard it was a lot of fun.
Susan: Yes we danced until two o’clock in the morning.
Joe: 10. _____________________________
Susan: I’m not sure but the sun was up.
Joe: I was working on the weekend so I couldn’t go.
Susan: That’s a shame. We really missed you.
11. _____________________________
Joe: Really? That is great, I guess I will see you next weekend.

A. Wow! What time did you get home?
B. Yes, Janet and I went together.
C. Wow! What time did you dance until?
D. No, unfortunately I couldn’t dance.
E. Don’t worry. He is having another party next weekend.
F. We arrived at 6.00 and things were just getting started.

ABCDEF

10.

ABCDEF

11.

ABCDEF

PART 4
QUESTIONS 12-14
Read the article about a world champion motorcycle rider.

Valentino Rossi – World Champion Motorcycle Rider

Valentino Rossi is from Italy and motorcycle racing has always been in his family. His father, Graziano Rossi, was also a motorcycle racer and he raced motorcycles in the 1970s. Valentino first started racing go-karts when he was 5 years old. He won many races and became a regional champion. While he was racing go-karts, he also started racing motorcycles. In 1993, he moved to racing motorcycles full-time.
Valentino has been racing in the World Championships since 1994 and he has won nine Grand Prix World Championships. He almost won the championship for a 10th time in 2015, but he was beaten in the last race of the year.

Example:
0. Valentino Rossi is from Spain.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Doesn’t say
Answer: B

12. Valentino Rossi’s father was a motorcycle racing champion.

A. RightB. WrongC. Doesn’t say

13. Valentino spent some time racing go-carts and motorcycles at the same time.

A. RightB. WrongC. Doesn’t say

14. Valentino started racing in the World Championships in 1994.

A. RightB. WrongC. Doesn’t say

PART 5
QUESTIONS 15-19
Read the article about science.
Choose the best word (A, B or C) for each space.

THE AMAZING WORLD OF SCIENCE
Why is the sky blue? Why do balls fall (0) __________ and not up? Science (15) __________ these questions. “The sky is blue because of the way light is scattered in the atmosphere”. “Balls fall down (16) __________ of gravity”.
Science helps (17) __________ answer questions about the world around us. Some (18) __________ are difficult to answer. It’s not that we don’t know the answer, we just don’t know the answer yet.
Science gives us light in the darkness and it will keep answering our questions for as long as the human race (19) __________.

Example:
0. A. over B. ground C. down
Answer: C

15.

A. toB. givesC. answers

16.

A. becauseB. andC. with

17.

A. themB. usC. him

18.

A. questionsB. scienceC. question

19.

A. existsB. aliveC. stays

SECTION 2

PART 1
Questions 1-3
Look at the text in each question.
What does it say?
Example:
0. Children under five must have adult supervision to enter.
A. Children under five can’t enter.
B. Adults must go with their children.
C. A child of four needs an adult to watch them inside the ride.
Answer: C

1.
Closing down sale
Everything must go before the end of the month!
All items on sale, up to 90% off.

A. You can get items 95% off.

B. Everything in the shop is cheaper now.

C. The shop is going to be closed next week.

2.
To: All students
From: Sarah
Your projects are due next Friday at the latest. If you need an extension, you must provide a doctor’s note.

A. Students can hand in their projects on Thursday.

B. All students need a note from the doctor.

C. Students without a doctor’s note can give their assignments to the teacher late.

3.
Warning:
The road is closed due to flooding.
Please seek an alternative route until further notice.

A. The road is closed for repairs.

B. The road will open soon.

C. It’s not possible to take this road.

PART 3
Questions 8-10
The people below all want to watch a movie at the cinema. There are descriptions of five movies below. Decide which movie would be the most suitable for the following people.

A. Too Many Ninjas!
The latest action-comedy from Jeckie Chen, who plays a martial-arts master whose daughter has been kidnapped by the evil Snake Clan! The fight scenes are stylish and exciting, but also punctuated by Chen’s classic gags. A movie for the whole family!

B. If Life Were Simpler
A reimagining of Princess Celine’s tragic life and death, this movie is sure to evoke many emotions. The Princess is forced to choose between the responsibilities of royalty, and her love for a foreign prince. Tears will be shed, so make sure you bring plenty of tissues.

C. Slash 2: Another Nightmare
The sequel to the critically-acclaimed horror flick of last year is finally here. The movie picks up 1 year after the original, as the survivors try to put the pieces of their lives back together. Haunted by their memories, they all get together to mourn the loss of their friends. However, a shadow lurks, waiting…With gruesome special effects, this flick is definitely not for the faint of heart.

D. Grey Men
When creatures from Jupiter land on the surface of our planet, mankind is unprepared. Geoff Spellberg has outdone himself again with this sci-fi thriller, and no expense has been spared with regards to the costumes and sets. The plot is quite intense, however, with so many twists and turns that some viewers may need to see the movie twice to make sense of it.

E. Big Dog
Gabriel Mezzini has made his debut into cinema with this heart-warming tale about a young boy named Greg and his dog, Foster. The two of them are inseparable, but when Foster suddenly goes missing, it’s up to Greg to find him. With loads of zany characters, clever jokes and a catchy soundtrack, there is something here for everyone.

8. Mark and his girlfriend Tammy want to see something with substance. They both appreciate unusual concepts and like to see a lot of attention to detail in movies.

ABCDE

9. The Wallace family are in the mood for something they will all enjoy, but Mr and Mrs Wallace would like to avoid anything violent.

ABCDE

10. Helen and Tara aren’t interested in sentimental stories. They usually enjoy science fiction, but tonight they want to watch something that will make them jump.

ABCDE

Around the world at 16

Jessica Watson was the youngest person in the world to complete a solo trip around the world. Departing Sydney on 18 October 2009, Watson headed north-east crossing into the Pacific Ocean before then sailing through the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. She returned to Sydney on 15 May 2010, three days before her 17th birthday. The Queenslander, who sailed her pink yacht more than 19,000 nautical miles nonstop and unassisted, actually describes herself as reasonably conservative and "not adventurous at all". Watson has difficulty recalling specific details, but she mentions waves as tall as telephone poles, Southern Ocean storms that turned her upside down and orange sunrises so wondrous they made her scream with delight. Despite being "'not adventurous", Watson definitely sees the upside of getting out of the comfort zone. Getting stuck in that comfort zone also has its risks, she says. "I think you need to appreciate that to do nothing is also risky, so you've got to go and put yourself out there. "It's really very, very simple. It's about what you can achieve if you set your mind to it. I was just an ordinary girl who couldn't sail and was scared of the water, and look what I did. I like the simple message in that."

PART 4
Questions 11-16
Look at the sentences below about a girl who sailed around the world. Read the text above to decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect.

11. Jessica Watson sailed around the world on her own.

CorrectIncorrect

12. The trip took one year to complete.

CorrectIncorrect

13. The sunrises were so beautiful that she was amazed.

CorrectIncorrect

14. Jessica has trouble remembering her time on the yacht.

CorrectIncorrect

15. Jessica believes that it’s best to be comfortable rather than take risks.

CorrectIncorrect

16. Watson explains that if you are determined, your dreams can come true.

CorrectIncorrect

PART 5
Questions 17-19
Read the text and questions below.
For each question, choose the correct answer.

Learning to Surf
I grew up on a farm in a small country town in Queensland, Australia. Growing up in the country was great. The environment was beautiful and I always had something to do. I spent a lot of time helping my father look after our animals, but I still managed to find time for fun.
In my free time, I loved doing adventurous things. My friends and I used to go mountain climbing, practice dangerous tricks on our ‘dirt bikes’ and even go water skiing at the nearby lake. Things like extreme sports and dealing with big farm animals were easy for me. I wasn’t afraid of anything. That was until I tried surfing for the first time.
When I was eighteen years old, I moved to the Gold Coast to go to university. The Gold Coast is famous for its surf beaches and I had been on a few holidays there in the past. I had never tried surfing though. I thought it would be easy, but I was wrong. The first time I tried surfing, I went by myself and the waves were huge! I got thrown around by the waves and actually got a bit scared. I then knew that I had to treat the ocean with respect. Sometimes overconfidence can be dangerous.

17. What is the writer trying to do in this text?

A. describe how to surf

B. give advice about the problems with being too confident

C. compare country life and Gold Coast life

D. warn people about extreme sports

18. What is the reason for the writer enjoying extreme sports?

A. He grew up in the country.

B. He was a university student.

C. He had done many dangerous things in his life.

D. He was attracted to dangerous activities.

19. What might the writer say to someone who wants to learn to surf?

A. If you want to learn to surf, the Gold Coast is the best place in Australia!

B. You have to be crazy to learn to surf on the Gold Coast. It’s too dangerous!

C. The Gold Coast is a great place to learn to surf, but you ought to get some lessons and advice first.

D. Surfing, water skiing, dirt bike riding and mountain climbing are fantastic activities!

PART 6
Questions 20-25
Read the text below and choose the correct word for each space.
For each question, choose the correct answer.

Example:
0 _______ A. Since B. Ago C. For D. Take
Answer: C (for)

0 _____ a long time, it was 20. _______ that developing cancer was something we have no control over. However, thanks to research, we now know more about the 21. ______ than ever before.
In an effort to teach people more about the causes of cancer, the Cancer Council has launched a new website to 22. ________ answers to people’s questions 23. _______ cancer.
Changing the 24. _______ of a lifetime isn’t easy so the website is designed to help you along by giving an easy guide with five simple steps to help 25. _______ your risk of cancer.
You can log onto the website at www.iheard.com.au and begin you journey to a healthier future.

20.

A. knownB. believedC. heardD. fact

21.

A. causesB. blameC. effectD. affects

22.

A. takeB. logC. surveyD. provide

23.

A. aboutB. forC. fromD. with

24.

A. chanceB. riskC. habitsD. danger

25.

A. increaseB. surviveC. minimalD. reduce

SECTION 3

PART 1
For questions 1–3, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.
There is an example at the beginning (0).

Example:
0
A. prospect B. choice C. option D. magnificence
Answer: A. prospect

A one-way trip to Mars
The (0) ………. of space travel to distant stars has always fascinated humans and since the 1960s, humans have been travelling into space on a (1) ………. basis. (2) ………., travel to planets beyond our own solar system is still science fiction.
One of mankind’s greatest space travel (3) ………. was no doubt landing on the moon in 1969.
(00) ………. , since the Apollo missions to the moon, travel to outer-space has mostly been focused on launching satellites (4) ………. sending astronauts to the International Space Station, (5) ………. is only 400 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. The next big challenge is sending humans to our closest planetary neighbour, Mars.
‘Mars One’, is a group currently looking for people to be part of their Mars colonisation programme. With some good luck, they believe humans (6) ………. have colonised Mars by 2023. There are some conditions, however. The cost of the programme is expected to be about $6.5 billion. Moreover, if an astronaut goes to Mars, they will never come back. Despite being a one-way trip, more than 200,000 people have already applied (7) ………. an astronaut position with ‘Mars One’.

Questions 1-3
1.

A. sometimesB. alwaysC. regularD. typical

A. LuckilyB. UnfortunatelyC. TragicallyD. Desperately

A. achievementsB. creationsC. productionsD. completions

PART 4
You are going to read part of an article about a famous inventor. For questions 15-17, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Nikola Tesla was a multi-disciplinary genius whose inventions arguably make him the most significant inventor in history.
He was born around midnight, between July 9 and July 10, 1856 during a fierce lightning storm. According to family legend, midway through the birth, the midwife wrung her hands and declared the lightning a bad omen. “This child will be a child of darkness”, she said, to which his mother replied: “No. He will be a child of light.”
His discovery of the rotating magnetic field in 1882 led to a series of US Patents in 1888, which gave us the AC electric power system still in use today. This one achievement earned him the honour of being called “The Man Who Invented the 20th Century”.
His research went way beyond what has found its way into everyday use. He is the recognized inventor of the brushless AC induction motor, radio, remote control by radio, super-conductivity, fluorescent lighting, the bladeless turbine engine and pump, the capacitor discharge ignition system for automobile engines, the mechanical oscillator, and dozens of other inventions. He also discovered that useful energy could be extracted from the heat of the ambient air, and that electric power in the form of Radiant Energy could be broadcast to everyone in the world through the ground.
In his masterful article The Problem of Increasing Human Energy, first published in Century Illustrated Magazine in June 1900, Tesla discusses the “energy situation” like never before. After discussing every known method of gathering energy from the Natural World, Tesla departs into the unknown, writing about a machine that gathers heat from the ambient air. He calls it a “Self-acting Engine” since it could run indefinitely from the solar energy stored in the air. He calls it “the ideal way of obtaining motive power”.
Tesla worked for years trying to solve all of the technical issues presented by his idea. His work with liquefied air, his discovery of super-conductivity at ultra-low temperatures, his bladeless turbine and mechanical oscillator were all spin-offs from his work on the ambient air engine. He was convinced the system could work and that it was absolutely the best way to harness solar energy.

15. Tesla was called “The man who invented the 20th century’ because

A. he was a child of light

B. he made a series of US patents in 1888

C. his creation led to a power system which we still use

D. he discovered the AC electric power system

16. The article portrays Tesla as

A. a genius who invented many things

B. someone who invented the 20th century

C. a child of light

D. someone who invented the bladeless turbine

17. In the last paragraph, what does spin-offs mean?

A. a type of invention related to mechanical oscillators

B. a by-product or incidental result of a larger project

C. a system that led to harnessing solar energy

D. a type of spinning or oscillating engine component

PART 5
You are going to read an article about problems that affect sleeping habits. Three sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-D the one which fits each gap (18-20). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

We all need sleep. A good eight hours of rest is the difference between having a healthy and productive day or watching the clock, waiting to go home and collapse in bed. Scientists are still unable to completely explain why we need sleep, but the fact remains that it is essential for our physical and mental health. 18 _____ Dr Sonia Inn, a specialist in sleep, claims that there are a few key reasons for this.
19 _____ “The availability of computers, phones, televisions and other electronic devices is the primary reason that young adults are missing out on their rest.” Dr Inn says. “Whereas people used to go to bed around 10-11PM, they are now choosing to stay up, glued to their screens until the early hours of the morning.” On top of sleeping for shorter periods, the time spent looking at these devices stimulates the brain at a time when it should be shutting down. Dr Inn says that people must learn to switch off and focus on easing into a resting period for the night.
Another aspect of getting a healthy amount of sleep is linked to diet. There is easy access to high-sugar snacks, caffeinated drinks and alcohol from most shops. Caffeine is a poor substitute for rest but a rise in the popularity of drinks like coffee and energy drinks has contributed to poor sleeping habits. “Something that people don’t seem to understand,” adds Dr Inn, “is that caffeine takes a long time to go through your system. A drink consumed in the middle of the day might not have worn off by time you go to bed.”
The main conclusions drawn from the study are that people need to reassess their priorities and change their habits. It is known that a lack of sleep can have adverse effects on one’s health, from a lack of concentration to even nausea and death. Dr Inn has some simple suggestions on how young adults suffering from sleeplessness can improve their situation: “Switch off your screens at least two hours before you go to bed. 20 _____” With these tips, she hopes to see a decline in restlessness among young adults.

18.

A. First and foremost is the rise of technology.

B. The average adult regularly getting less than 8 hours of sleep a night is susceptible to a range of different symptoms.

C. Despite the clear importance of resting enough, recent studies have shown a decrease in the hours of rest in adults aged 18-30.

D. Limit the amount of caffeine you consume, and even try to wean yourself off it entirely, if possible.

19.

A. First and foremost is the rise of technology.

B. The average adult regularly getting less than 8 hours of sleep a night is susceptible to a range of different symptoms.

C. Despite the clear importance of resting enough, recent studies have shown a decrease in the hours of rest in adults aged 18-30.

D. Limit the amount of caffeine you consume, and even try to wean yourself off it entirely, if possible.

20.

A. First and foremost is the rise of technology.

B. The average adult regularly getting less than 8 hours of sleep a night is susceptible to a range of different symptoms.

C. Despite the clear importance of resting enough, recent studies have shown a decrease in the hours of rest in adults aged 18-30.

D. Limit the amount of caffeine you consume, and even try to wean yourself off it entirely, if possible.

PART 6
You are going to read an article about four people’s ideas on family life. For each of questions 21-25 choose one of the people (A-D). You can choose the people more than once.

Family Matters
Everyone has a family but not everyone decides to start one of their own. Four people discuss their ideas on marriage and having children.

A. My background is very traditional. My parents are first generation immigrants from Sri Lanka so there was always the expectation that one day they’d choose a nice boy for me to settle down with. I was brought up in New Zealand and when I was in high school, there were all these girls around me talking about boys and starting to date. Not me though- I was always kept far too busy with school work. My parents made it pretty clear to me that failing a subject was not an option. The big change I guess was when I went away for uni. It was the first time I had ever lived away from home and I really discovered my passion for theatre. I don’t know now that I’m against marriage and kids but it’s definitely not the right time for me. I need to get my foot in the door with my career first.

B. Parents can really affect how their offspring view the world and relationships. I remember there was always tension in my house and I never really saw my parents being particularly affectionate with each other. I suppose that must be why I’ve never been big on the fairy-tale wedding and the cake topper dress, maybe because I’ve seen the aftermath. It’s not that I don’t believe in marriage, it’s just that I think it changes things and that people have a lot of expectations associated with it, which in reality can never be entirely fulfilled. An honest relationship can often be healthier than marriage these days.

C. I’ve always thought that kids would be part of my life. I had a very happy childhood, growing up with my older brother. My mum and dad were young parents so they had a lot of energy to go and do stuff with us. We went to the beach every weekend and went roller-blading along the boardwalk and later, when we got a little bit older, we started going on ski trips too. I think sometimes that if you wait too long, you might not raise your kids in the same way. You might not physically be up to it. Of course, there are other advantages to having kids later in life, like money and stability but I can’t help feeling that your kids would really be missing out not having that active bonding time with you.

D. I’ve just gotten married and it’s been amazing so far. We went to Santorini for our honeymoon and it was great to have the time just for each other without having to worry about work, chores or other people. Some people say marriage changes things but I think if your relationship is solid, marriage is much the same. I’m back at work now and people keep asking when we’re going to start a family. I guess I’m not a spring chicken anymore, but your 30s is hardly old! Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about it. I don’t really think I’m ready for that stage of my life, either emotionally or financially though I should probably talk it over with my partner.

21. Which person is under pressure from peers to start having children?

ABCD

22. Which person would prefer shared experiences with their kids instead of financial support?

ABCD

23. Which person thinks their job is more important than having kids at the moment?

ABCD

24. Which person feels marriage changes relationships?

ABCD

25. Which person doesn’t feel marriage really changes anything?

ABCD

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