Welcome to your iTEP "dress rehearsal." In the previous lessons, you learned about the structure and content of each section of the iTEP Academic-Plus exam. Today, you'll put that knowledge into practice with a guided mini-test. The goal isn't to get a perfect score, but to get a firsthand sense of the exam's pacing, the challenge of switching between different skills under pressure, and the overall experience. This will help you consolidate your understanding and identify areas where you can build effective strategies. Pay close attention to how you manage your time and how you feel as you transition from one section to the next.
The Mini-Test
Your instructor will now lead you through a timed mini-test that simulates the iTEP experience in a condensed format. Remember, the focus is on experiencing the test's flow, not on achieving a high score. Follow your instructor's directions closely as you move through each section.
The mini-test will include:
- Grammar: 10 questions (4 minutes)
- Listening: 1 short conversation and 1 mini-lecture (approx. 8 minutes)
- Reading: 1 short passage with 4 questions (8 minutes)
- Writing: 1 short note task (5 minutes)
- Speaking: 1 personal experience prompt (30 seconds prep, 45 seconds speak)
Teacher's Note
The teacher should assign the iTEP Mini-Test now.
The Debrief
Immediately after the mini-test, we will have a class discussion to debrief the experience. This is a crucial step to help you process the challenges of the exam and begin thinking about effective strategies. We will reflect on the pacing, the difficulty of transitioning between sections, and any techniques that you found helpful.
Example Debrief
Instructor: Alright everyone, take a deep breath. Let's discuss how that felt.
Student 1: That was intense! The time went by so quickly.
Instructor: It's designed to be fast-paced. Let's break it down. Which section felt the most rushed for you all?
Student 2: Definitely the writing section. Five minutes is not a lot of time to read, think, and write, even for a short note.
Instructor: That's a very common feeling. It tests your ability to be concise and direct. What about the transition between skills? For example, what was difficult about switching from the listening lecture to the reading passage?
Student 3: My brain was still trying to process the information from the lecture when I had to suddenly focus on a dense reading passage. It was a jarring shift in topic and required a quick mental reset.
Instructor: An excellent point. That cognitive flexibility is crucial. Did anyone use a strategy that they felt worked well?
Student 1: For the reading, I tried reading the questions first. It helped me focus on looking for specific information, which saved some time.
Instructor: Great strategy. As we move forward in this course, we will dedicate time to developing robust strategies for each of these sections. Today's experience gives us a baseline and a clear understanding of the challenges ahead.