In this portion of the ECCE Information Bulletin you will find samples of the speaking, listening, grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing sections of the ECCE. You can use these samples to familiarize yourself with the format, content, and general difficulty of the ECCE. Please remember that these are samples only. The ability to successfully complete the sample sections does not necessarily indicate success on the ECCE.

Speaking

In the speaking section of the ECCE, the examinee meets individually with an oral examiner at the local test center. The test center may schedule the speaking test before or after the examinee sits for the other sections of the ECCE.

Two sample prompts from the speaking test are shown on pages 14 and 15.

The speaking test is scored by the oral examiner who administers the speaking test. Examinees are rated ONLY on stages 2, 3, and 4 of the speaking test. A passing score on the test is a rating of C or higher on an A to E scale. (See the ECCE Speaking Score Levels on p. 13.)

Speaking

The chart below summarizes examinee performance at each of the five ECCE speaking score levels.

listening, part 2

In Part 2 of the listening section, examinees hear someone from a radio station interviewing several people at an event. Examinees hear the interviews in several parts. After each part, they hear some questions about that part. Examinees choose the best answer to the question from the three answer choices. In Part 2, examinees are encouraged to take notes in the test booklet as they listen to the interviews. The test booklet provides space for examinees to take notes. There are 20 listening questions in Part 2.

Following are some sample Part 2 listening questions. On the actual test the interviews and questions are not printed in the test booklet. Examinees see only the answer choices.

1. Where is the interview taking place?
a. at the City Music Center
b. in a radio studio
c. in an area damaged by an earthquake

2. Who is the reporter interviewing?
a. a musician performing at the concert
b. an organizer of the concert
c. someone attending the concert


3. Who does the WorldAid project benefit?
a. people around the world
b. musicians around the world
c. people in New York

4. What can people find on the WorldAid website?
a. clips from the concert
b. footage of the entire concert
c. dates of future concerts
 

5. How can people learn about becoming a volunteer?
a. by making a donation
b. by attending the concert
c. by visiting the website
 

6. How do corporations help WorldAid?
a. by making donations based on visits to the website
b. by sponsoring the concert
c. by advertising at the concert
 

7. Why are all three concerts being held on the same night?
a. to continue an annual tradition
b. to increase media coverage
c. to celebrate the start of the website

Grammar

In the grammar portion of the ECCE, examinees choose the word or phrase that produces a grammatically correct sentence. Some grammar questions appear in the form of a short dialogue (see number 9 below), and some appear as a single sentence. There are 35 grammar questions in the ECCE.

1. After the earthquake, many buildings were _______ repairs.
a. need of
b. a need for
c. the need for
d. in need of

 
2. Wash the glasses carefully _______ don’t break.
a. so that they
b. that they
c. since they
d. that



3. In many countries teachers are not very well _______.
a. pay
b. paid
c. paying
d. to pay


4. Doctors say _______ for kids to play outside.
a. it is good
b. is good
c. there is good
d. that is good


5. There is no _______ to make a copy of the report just for me.
a. needing
b. need you
c. need for
d. need


6. Some people think the school day should be longer, but _______, I think it’s long enough.
a. being as a student
b. as far as a student
c. student as I am
d. as a student

 
7. _______ you decide to do, just make sure you’re  here by 6 o’clock.
a. However
b. How
c. Whatever
d. What


8. When you _______, we can leave.
a. finish eating
b. finish to eat
c. finishing eating
d. finishing to eat


9. “Did you finally meet Nancy’s mother?” “Yes, she was nicer _______ I expected her to be.”
a. as
b. than
c. that
d. from


10. Remember to turn off this light if you’re the last one _______.
a. having left
b. would leave
c. to leave
d. has left

Vocabulary

In the vocabulary portion of the ECCE, examinees choose the word or phrase that most appropriately completes the sentence. There are 35 vocabulary questions in the ECCE.

1. It’s cold in my bedroom. May I have another _______?
a. carpet
b. cushion
c. towel
d. blanket


2. Be sure to take enough money for all your travel _______.
a. expenses
b. prices
c. dues
d. amounts


3. John didn’t sleep well last night, so he’s in a bad _______ today.
a. focus
b. mood
c. expression
d. reflection


4. My flight yesterday was _______ for six hours.
a. denied
b. cancelled
c. limited
d. delayed
 

5. The mechanic _______ that he fixed my car, but it still doesn’t work.
a. managed
b. claimed
c. doubted
d. resisted


6. Susan wouldn’t take sides in the argument. She remained _______.
a. widespread
b. neutral
c. proportional
d. accurate
 

7. We had _______ to go to the beach, but since it rained, we went to a movie instead.
a. intended
b. reminded
c. pretended
d. referred


8. I took the bus because it was _______ to get a taxi.
a. impossible
b. unfortunate
c. suitable
d. effective


9. I was _______ that I found my keys.
a. released
b. relieved
c. reserved
d. sustained


10. Glenn entered a _______ and won a computer.
a. trial
b. resource
c. contest
d. sequence

Reading, Part 1


Part 1 of the reading portion of the ECCE is a reading passage followed by comprehension questions. The reading passage is typically between 200 and 250 words long. Following is a sample reading passage accompanied by comprehension questions.

    The Amish, a religious group in the United States, have wedding traditions that are different from the ones of other North Americans. When an Amish man asks a woman to marry him, he does not give her a diamond ring. Instead, he may offer her a clock or a set of china dishes. After she accepts his offer, the bride begins to sew her own wedding dress. It is usually blue or purple, rather than white, and is always plain. The bride will not use this dress only once, but for the rest of her life as her Sunday church outfit.
 
    All couples get married in late fall, after the harvest and before the severe winter weather arrives. The wedding is announced in church just a few days before the actual ceremony, and all members of the congregation are invited to the home of the bride’s parents for the festivities. A typical wedding day begins very early. By 8:30 a.m. the daily farm chores have already been done and the guests have arrived for the three-hour-long ceremony. The rest of the afternoon and evening are spent eating, visiting, and playing games. The next day the bride and groom have to get up early to clean the house. It is not until spring that they move to a house of their own.

1. Where does the wedding ceremony take place?
a. bride’s parents’ house
b. church
c. groom’s parents’ house
d. bride and groom’s new home


2. When are the wedding guests notified about the upcoming event?
a. in the spring
b. before the harvest
c. the Sunday preceding the ceremony
d. when the bride accepts
 

3. Where does the couple live until spring?
a. the church
b. a temporary house of their own
c. the groom’s parents’ house
d. the bride’s parents’ house


4. What time of year does the wedding ceremony take place?
a. spring
b. summer
c. fall
d. winter
 

5. What might the Amish groom give the bride as a proposal gift?
a. Sunday church outfit
b. dishes
c. ring
d. house


6. What do most North American men give as an engagement gift?
a. clock
b. dishes
c. ring
d. clothing

Reading, Part 2

Part 2 of the reading portion of the ECCE has several short texts presented as advertisements. Examinees read the questions and then skim through the advertisements for the answers. Following is a sample accompanied by advertisements on the facing page. In this sample, the short texts are advertisements for places to eat.

1. You and your coworkers are hungry at lunchtime but don’t have time to go out. Which restaurant will bring food to your office?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

2. You want to have a small party for your grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Which place could give you a private room for your party?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5


3. You are with a mixed group of people. Some are vegetarian and some want meat. Some also want to drink beer with their meal. What would be the best place for your group?    
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5

4. Where can you get breakfast at 3:00 p.m.?
a. 1
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5

5. Which restaurant is located in a historical building?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 5

6. It is summer and you want to eat outside. Which restaurant advertises that it has tables outside?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 5

7. You and your father want to play tennis and then go to lunch, but you can’t wear your tennis clothes at one of the restaurants. Which one?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5

8. It is a rainy afternoon. You would like to take your grandmother out to eat. She is in a wheelchair. Where would be the best place to go?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 4
d. 5

9. You want to pick up food to go on a picnic. According to    the    guide,    which    places    would    let    you    do    this?
a. 1 and 2
b. 1 and 4
c. 2 and 4
d. 3 and 4

10. It’s close to midnight on Saturday. You have just come from the theater and now you’re hungry. Where can you go to eat?
a. 1 and 2
b. 1 and 3
c. 2 and 3
d. 2 and 5

11. You want to spend less than ten dollars for a meal. Where can you go?
a. 1 and 3
b. 1 and 4
c. 3 and 4
d. 3 only

12. According to the guide, which places serve alcohol?
a. 1, 2, and 3
b. 2, 3, and 5
c. 2, 4, and 5
d. 3, 4, and 5

writing

The writing section of the ECCE presents a topic in a short letter or article like one that might appear in a newspaper. Following the letter or article are two writing tasks. Examinees choose one task: write either a letter or an essay. The length of the letter or essay should be about one handwritten page long. Following is a sample writing topic with accompanying tasks.

writing

The writing section is scored by specialized evaluators trained by the University of Michigan. A passing score on the writing section is a rating of C or higher on an A to E scale. The chart below summarizes examinee performance at each of the five ECCE writing score levels.

Answer Key

Listening, Part 1
1. C
2. B
3. A
4. A
5. A

Listening, Part 2
1. A
2. B
3. A
4. A
5. C
6. A
7. B

Grammar
1. D
2. A
3. B
4. A
5. D
6. D
7. C
8. A
9. B
10. C

Vocabulary
1. D
2. A
3. B
4. D
5. B
6. B
7. A
8. A
9. B
10. C

Reading, Part 1
1. A
2. C
3. D
4. C
5. B
6. C

Reading, Part 2
1. D
2. D
3. A
4. B
5. D
6. B
7. D
8. B
9. B
10. C
11. A
12. C

Reading, Part 3
1. A
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. C
6. D
7. C
8. B
9. A
10. C
11. D
12. B

ORAL EXAMINER INFORMATION

Oral examiners use the following information for stages 2–4 when they conduct the speaking test.

Form a – Help Solve a Problem
Examiner Information (Stage 2)

Elaboration Questions (Stage 4)

1. Did you (or your son/daughter or brother/sister) ever not do    your homework? Why or why not?
2. What helped to make homework more interesting for you (or him or her)?
3. Some people believe that homework is not a good idea for children. Can you think of any reasons why it
   may not be good?

Form B – Protecting Wild animals

Examiner Information (Stage 2)