Cambridge English Placement Test Demo

Part 1 - LISTENING

Short listening – text answer

For this question, choose the correct answer. Read the question first. Click play to listen. You can listen twice.

You hear a school headmaster talking about notices. What is he telling the students?

A how to produce them

B when to remove them

C where to display them

Short listening – picture answer

For this question, choose the correct answer. Read the question first. Click play to listen. You can listen twice.

Where will the man leave his car tonight?

Long listening

For these questions, choose the correct answer. Read the questions first. Click play to listen. You can listen twice.

You will hear a woman giving a review of a digital camera, the Roxel DX15, on a radio programme.

The woman says that because the Roxel DX15 camera is cheap

A it has fewer features than other models.

B it is not good in some ways.

C it looks unattractive.

What does the woman dislike about the 'body' of the camera?

A It is too heavy to carry comfortably.

B It is made from weak materials.

C Its battery compartment is badly designed.

What is one problem with the camera controls?

A The buttons may be difficult to operate.

B The dials turn round too easily.

C The buttons and dials are in the wrong place.

What does the woman say about the functions that the camera offers?

A They include guidelines for composition.

B There is no face detection function.

C The functions menu is easy to use.

She thinks the picture quality this camera gives is

A worse than most phone cameras.

B better in colour than in black and white.

C consistently less than perfect.

What advice does the woman give about this camera?

A Do not choose this model.

B Spend a bit more and get a better model.

C Buy this model for generally good performance.

SENTENCE COMPLETION
Click on the gap then choose the word or phrase which best completes the sentence.

James made a great ________ to arrive on time.

a. try
b. struggle
c. aim
d. effort


MULTIPLE-CHOICE GAP FILL
Click on each gap then choose the word or phrase which you think fits best.

Birth of the movies

Moving pictures were invented by the brothers Louis and Auguste Lumière at the end of the 19th century. Movies very ___1___ became popular all over the world. In 1907 the first studios were built in a ____2_____ of Los Angeles called Hollywood. It was the perfect place, close to many kinds of natural scenery.  
___3_____ the 1920s, Hollywood was the center of the world film _____4____. To begin with, the movies had no sound. Words ____5____ on screen from time to time to explain the story.

1 
A quickly
B immediately
C fast
D early

2
A piece
B site
C location
D district

3
A To
B At
C For
D By

4
A industry
B company
C trade
D firm

5
A developed
B happened
C appeared
D displayed

OPEN CLOZE
For these questions, type the correct answer in each gap. Type only one word in each gap.

To: Silvio
From: Lars

Hi Silvio,

There's _____  to be an extra swimming competition next week and not _______ people in the team _______  free to do it. Jane _____ you to swim in six races! Is that _____  much swimming for you? What do you think?


Lars

CEPT SHORT READING TEXT
For this question, choose the correct answer.

From: Sarah 
To: David

Dear David

Hi. The attached picture shows the bridge over the dry river valley I can see from my hotel room, though the hotel's actually a 20-minute walk uphill from the bridge.

Sarah
 A Sarah's hotel looks over a river.
B Sarah's hotel is by a bridge.
C Sarah's hotel is on a hillside.

CEPT LONG READING SECTION


Making a career in musicAre you desperate to have a music career? First off, remember this - no one really knows who's going to get to the top. All those talent scouts, those so-called star-makers, are just guessing. So go into your music career knowing that there's no mystery ingredient. What you need is confidence, an appreciation of a good tune, luck and lots of charm.

In a market where there's room for songs of every kind, you have a chance of selling your music. The trick is to present yourself as the only person with a particular style or talent. And why not be a bit boastful about it? Don't be shy about networking with all sorts of people - it's surprising who can help you. Start by playing your music to the owners of local music clubs.

Prepare for poverty - you probably won't be partying with the stars for a while. Get a job, or even several jobs. Best of all, seek out music-related work. You can play at wedding parties, give music instruction, or write songs to advertise businesses on local radio. This way, you get that added bit of musical experience to boast about at your first audition or interview. 

Be professional. Take a look at your website. If it looks horrible, then it's time to rethink the design. Make it attractive, but accessible. It must be straightforward for people to find their way around the site or they'll lose interest. A record deal is no longer necessarily the first goal these days - you can build an audience online first, and then the big recording labels might take notice.

Investigate all sales options. You can sell CDs through local gift shops, bookstores or a heap of other outlets. Who knows, companies in your neighbourhood may even agree to sponsor small tours or concerts you arrange. Be inventive and try your hand at playing in streets or market places, to get your music heard.

Consider learning about the music business by getting a job with a music company for a while. The industry is dominated by a few major companies. Choose a record label you like and then contact the company asking if they will take you on, unpaid, for a few weeks' work experience. Ask them very nicely and be as polite as you know how. Make sure you enthuse about their music and show a deep knowledge of their artists. If they agree, that will be a step towards your goal.

1. The first paragraph says that anyone who wants a career in music

A is fortunate if they are discovered by talent scouts.
B must have self-assurance and an appealing personality.
C will only get to the top if they have exceptional musical skill.

2. How are musicians advised to market themselves?

A They should have a wide variety of songs to perform.
B They should show that they are different from other musicians.
C They should only contact people they know will be useful to them.

3. While musicians are waiting for their career to start, they should

A find work that will help them in their profession.
B improve their skills by having music lessons.
C learn how to make a good impression at an audition.

4. What advice is given to musicians concerning their websites?

A The website should be designed so it attracts music companies.
B An expert should be hired to design an attractive website.
C The website should be easy to use.

5. Regarding sales, the fifth paragraph suggests that musicians could

A ask local businesses to support events they organise.
B offer discounts to local shops.
C sell tickets to their concerts in streets and market places.

6. What does the final paragraph say about working for music companies?

A The companies do not pay much money to part-time workers.
B Musicians have to be respectful towards the companies.
C Employees have opportunities for meeting artists.

Check your answer here.