McGraw Hill Placement Test

This test has 3 sections (A, B and C) and is designed to take 30–35 minutes to complete.

Section A. Use of English [36 questions]

This section tests your grammar and vocabulary skills.
You can choose to move on to the next section of the Placement Test when items in this
section become too difficult.

1. The student...................working in the library.

A are
B be
C is

2. I.................a new coat.

A do
B can
C have

3. I catch a...........................every day.

A school
B bus
C ticket

4. The film starts...................7.15.

A at
B in
C on

5...................a cup of tea, please.

A I‘m liking
B I‘d like
C I like
6. She...................dinner at eight o’clock every day.
A eat
B eats
C eating

7..................is your sister talking to?

A Where
B When
C Who

8. I bought..................apples yesterday.
A some
B any
C every

9. I didn’t go to college today....................I wasn’t feeling well.

A but
B because
C if

10. I think that is your bag. This one’s …………. .

A my
B mine
C me

11. Do you need a post box? I think..........................is one in the next street.
A it
B there
C this
12. The football match today is...................France and South Africa.
A between
B from
C of

13. If you are interested.....................space travel, there’s a really good event on at the science
museum tomorrow.
A for
B in
C with

14. The teacher....................her students about the new class.

A told
B said
C talked

15. You don’t have a pen........................like to borrow mine?

A would you
B do you
C will you

16. I can’t see you this weekend as I really........................to study.

A must

B should

C need

17. I need to...................out when my course begins next month.

A find
B look
C watch
18. I don’t need any more information for my report. I’ve got.......................already.
A so many
B not enough
C too much

19. The building...................we normally have our lectures is being repaired.

A where
B which
C that

20. If you don’t know an answer, the best way is often to.........................it up online.
A see
B look
C find

21. So that I can send you the correct reading list, please tell me what course you’re
………… this term.
A making
B having

C doing

22. I’m expecting you to spend.....................five hours on this project because there’s a lot to
cover.

A extra
B above
C at least

23. My brother arrived home wearing wet clothes and explained that he............................in the river!
A had fallen
B was falling
C having fallen
24. If you want to take part in the competition, you need to register at least two months in
………… .
A case
B time

C advance

25. I can’t buy a car....................I don’t have enough money.

A since
B although
C unless

26. Take an extra sweater in case it...........................cold later on.

A is
B will be
C might be

27. Research suggests that women............................to be better drivers than men.

A tend
B show
C succeed

28. All students on this course are...........................to hand in their assignments on time.
A intended
B expected
C considered

29. I enjoyed the lecture.....................finding the topic quite hard.

A except
B despite
C however
30. At the event, students will be able to find out more about what is...........................in studying
engineering at university.
A involved
B consisted

C arranged

31. If Harry..................here earlier, he could have helped us prepare for our project.
A arrives
B had arrived
C arrived

32. By the time I finish school, I....................studying Spanish for seven years!
A have been
B am going to be
C will have been

33. Scientists are....................experiments to see how plants can be used to solve the
problems of pollution.
A implementing
B conducting

C handling

34. I.................remember our tutor saying the deadline was next week!
A directly
B distinctly
C deliberately

35. Having examined the likely costs and practical challenges involved in the proposal, we
concluded that it wasn’t ………… .
A feasible B
functional
C compatible
36. When applying for any position of responsibility, it is important not to.........................any
pertinent information.
A withhold
B stifle

C curb
Section B. Listening [12 questions]
This section tests your listening skills. You will hear each extract twice.
You can choose to move on to the next section of the Placement Test when items in this
section become too difficult.

37. [Read audio transcript for question 37]

You will hear a teacher talking about going to a museum. When does the bus arrive at the
museum?
A 9.00
B 9.15
C 10.45
D 5.30

38. [Read audio transcript for question 38]

What will the woman say next? A

I’m from Turkey.
B In a student hostel.
C It’s great, thanks.
D I’m doing medicine.

39. [Read audio transcript for question 39]

You will hear a man asking a question to his friend Sara. What answer will Sara give? A
I don’t think so.
B I want to see.
C I’m not sure.
D I know it is.
40. [Read audio transcript for question 40]

Listen a teacher talking to her class. What must the students do at home? A
read a book
B watch a film
C find information
D write a story

41. [Read audio transcript for question 41]

Listen to a tutor talking to a group of new university students. What must they bring tomorrow?
A their library card
B their student ID
C a textbook
D a worksheet

42. [Read audio transcript for question 42]

You will hear two friends talking about a science class. What do they agree will help them with
their science class?
A going to extra lessons B
talking to their teacher C
looking online
D using a library book

43. [Read audio transcript for question 43]

Listen to a man leaving a voicemail message for a classmate. Why did the man miss class today?
A He had a problem with his bike. B
He had an appointment.
C He felt ill.
D He was asleep.
44. [Read audio transcript for question 44]

Listen to a student talking about online videos. What is he doing? A

describing an event
B giving reasons for his behaviour C
explaining his point of view
D making a comparison

45. [Read audio transcript for question 45]

Listen to a speaker giving a talk about children and mobile phones. What does the speaker say next?
A They argue they need one because all their friends have one. B
They know children use their phones mainly to watch videos. C They
believe it encourages a permanent sense of anxiety.
D They point out that it can be a useful educational tool.

46. [Read audio transcript for question 46]

You will hear two students talking. What is the girl going to do first? A
confirm a deadline
B attend a lecture

C work on an assignment D
help a friend

47. [Read audio transcript for question 47]

Listen to a geography tutor talking to a group of students about a field trip. What does she do?
A warn of a potential issue B
postpone an arrangement
C suggest an alternative course of action D
explain a benefit of the expedition
48. [Read audio transcript for question 48]

You will hear a lecturer delivering a study skills session to students. During the session, the lecturer
A explains how students get extra support as required. B
advises against discounting sources too quickly.
C evaluates methods for keeping notes.
D recommends a tool for planning workloads.
Section C. Reading [12 questions]
This section tests your reading skills.
You can choose to move on to the next section of the Placement Test when items in this
section become too difficult.

49. 49.
International Bookshop
The bookshop is open every morning:

Monday to Wednesday 08.30 – 11.00

Thursday to Saturday 08.00 – 10.00.

Sunday 09.30 – 11.30

What time does the bookshop open on Tuesday?

A 08.00
B 08.30
C 09.30
D 10.00
50. Read the notice and answer the question.

Rose Café

Open every day 7.30 a.m. – 11 p.m. (Sat 8 a.m.- midnight) Hot and

cold drinks

Delicious snacks and hot meals

Sit and eat indoors or outdoors in our pretty garden

The Rose Café

A doesn’t sell hot food.
B is only open six days a week. C
has tables outside.
D is closed in the evenings.

51.
Dan
I’m having lunch in the park now. Do you want to come and play football, and then I can drive you
home. Maybe you are studying today – I hope not!

Harry

Harry is asking Dan to

A do some work.
B play some sport.

C have some food.

D drive to the park.
52.

Hi Lee and Jan!

Hope you’ll enjoy staying in our house while we’re on holiday. Please make yourselves at home.

Could you please water the plants in the living room every two or three days?

If you need the key to the back door, you’ll find it in the cupboard next to the fridge.

If you have any questions or problems, the very nice neighbours (at number 8) are always helpful. Or
just text me, of course.

See you in two weeks.

Sam

What is Sam asking Lee and Jan to do? A

talk to his neighbours
B look after his plants
C try to find a key
D keep his home clean

53.
Tamara is in her final year at school. She has always wanted to become a doctor like her parents.
They both work in a big hospital and love helping people to get better after an illness or an
operation. . If she does well in them, she will
go to medical school next year.

Which sentence goes in the gap?

A Tamara’s parents met when they were both medical students. B
Tamara is one of their three daughters.
C In her free time Tamara loves playing tennis with them.

D Next month Tamara is going to take some important exams.

54. Read the notice and answer the question.

Oakfield College Library

 Our staff are always happy to help you locate the books you need

 You may not borrow books or journals from the library – you must read them here

 Please do not return books to the shelves – leave them at the information desk

 If you want to talk to another student, please go to one of the special ‘talking areas’

 Do not bring food or drink into the library – there is a café on the top floor

 Thank you for your cooperation

What is the notice doing?

A suggesting how students can benefit from the library B

describing some special features of the library
C telling students how to behave in the library D
explaining the reasons for the library’s rules

55.

Many people have a pet at home. In the UK, for example, there are now about 12 million pet cats and
13 million dogs. Almost half of all adults in the UK have a pet of some kind.
Keeping a cat or dog is not cheap. So, what makes people choose to have one?
.

Which sentence comes next?

A They need to look after their cats or dogs well. B
It’s often just because they love animals.
C Pet food is becoming very expensive for them.
D Well, it’s important to know which animal is right for them.
56.

Dear Ms Nelson

I am pleased to offer you a place on our Science Foundation course starting 1 st September. Thank you
for sending copies of your qualifications; please note that we will need the original certificates at least
two weeks in advance of your start date. On your first day, you will have a photo taken for our files.

Please email or call our admissions department office if you require any further information,
including details of financial support available to students for general study costs, such as materials
and course books.

We wish you every success on your course,

Maria White

College Admissions

What does Ms Nelson need to do before she begins her course? A

contact the college office
B provide some documents C
send in a photo
D pay a course fee
57.
Communication Technology

In terms of technology, our world is constantly changing as increasingly sophisticated forms of

communication become more readily available. But is this having a negative effect on our brains,
specifically with regard to how successfully we are able to focus on the task in hand, and how well
we remember things? After all, why go to the trouble of trying to memorise information when it can
easily be stored and retrieved on our smartphone? Perhaps it’s worth considering, however, that even
in ancient Greece, the philosopher Socrates was said to have expressed regret that writing had been
invented. He claimed it would result in people becoming unable to remember facts, since they would
simply rely on a written record instead. And in more recent times, there has been the suggestion that
the many distractions typically present when we use various forms of digital technology can affect
how well we concentrate. While this idea is certainly the subject of on-going research, the concerns
that were raised with regard to the dangers of writing appear not to have been justified.

What point is made in the text by the writer?

A People in the past were not exposed to the volume of data that we are today. B Our
brains cannot keep pace with the changes demanded by new technology.
C Having to remember increasing amounts of information is making our brains develop in
different ways.
D The view that systems for recording and communicating information might cause issues
is not new.
Answer: D
58.
To: First year art students
From: Alisa Clarke
I’m giving out the title for your first major project soon, and in preparation I’m thinking about
running an optional extra session. This will cover working to deadlines, researching the topic area,
and so on. Let me know as soon as possible if this would be useful and if there’s enough interest I’ll
go ahead and confirm a time.

Alisa Clarke is emailing her students to

A ask for their opinion about receiving some support. B
explain how they can contact her if they need to.
C give them details about a project deadline.
D offer them some suggestions for project topics.

59.

Read the article and answer the question.

Cities are usually the hottest place to be during a heatwave. Urbanization usually means an increase
in paved areas and a decrease in greenery. Concrete and asphalt roads, and other built materials
readily absorb, store and release heat, raising city temperatures, a phenomenon called the urban heat
island. Scientists have shown that by planting trees and establishing other green spaces the effect of
the urban heat island can be reduced. Even pocket-sized green spaces, such as yards, rooftops and
parcels of undeveloped land, can make impressive contributions to lowering urban heat. City
authorities rarely have the opportunity to create large parks which would help counter the effects of
heatwaves.
However, encouraging smaller vegetated areas is more likely to be feasible and can still
meaningfully decrease local land temperatures.

Which sentence best summarises this article?

A People should, where possible, avoid city centres during a heatwave and head to the nearest
forest or other green area.
B Urban planners should promote the development of green spaces, however tiny, as this has
a positive impact on city temperatures.
C When new cities are being planned, the effects of climate change should be taken into
account and as many trees as possible should be planted.
D Encouraging green spaces in urban areas is important both for citizens’ physical and mental
well-being and for nature.
60.

On the whole, we are inclined to trust first impressions. They somehow just feel right, and a quick
glance is often enough for us to make an instant decision about a person. The trouble with these
superficial judgements is that they are not an accurate means of assessing someone’s character.
Nevertheless, many of us are convinced of our ability to be able to spot almost immediately who we
will get on with and who we won’t. The idea of digging a little deeper to find out if our assessments
are accurate, however, is rarely entertained.
. And in so doing, we unwittingly reveal far more about our
own biases than about the character of the person we’re forming judgments about.

Which sentence goes in the gap?

A Actually, it is a worthwhile pursuit, as it can save a great deal of trouble in the long run.
B We are far more interested in looking for confirming evidence to back up our
preconceptions.
C It is often the case that a combination of instinct and natural caution is a sensible
approach.
D We know that genuine bonds can be formed out of friendships resulting from chance
encounters.