SPECIFICATION FOR ENTRANCE EXAMINATION IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR

GRADES 9 OF INTERNATIONAL BOARDING SCHOOL NAMED AFTER

AL-BERUNI
The purpose of this specification is to define the structure of the entrance examination and
outline the knowledge and skill requirements for applicants in the subject of English.
The examination tasks are designed to evaluate applicants' proficiency in English, based on the
curriculum content of Grade 9 in general secondary schools. The content areas assessed reflect
key topics covered in the English language course at these grade levels.
The entrance examination assesses skills in the following cognitive domains:
Knowing – Recall and recognition of facts, vocabulary, and basic grammatical
structures.
Applying – Use of language skills in context, including sentence formation,
comprehension, and correct usage of grammar and vocabulary.
Analyzing – Interpretation of texts, identification of patterns, comparison of ideas, and
inference-making based on given information.

Examination specification for Grade 9 (CEFR Level A2+)

This specification provides teachers, candidates, and other stakeholders with detailed
information regarding the content and structure of the Grade 9 English entrance examination. It
outlines the language competencies expected at the CEFR A2+ level and serves as a guide for
preparing for the exam.

Language Specification: Table 1

Test Knowing Applying Analysing Specific Content

category (CEFR A2+)
adjectives (feelings, opinions), daily
Text 1 2 4 2 routines; simple tenses,
direct/indirect speech
Text 2 1 6 1 opposites, context clues;
verb tenses, relative clauses
Text 3 2 5 1 phrasal verbs, synonyms;
author’s intention, present perfect
Text 4 1 6 1 emotions, achievements;
verb tenses, conjunctions
Text 5 2 3 3 definitions, subjects; text analysis,
modal verbs
Total 8 24 8 8 + 24 + 8 = 40

Language Specification: Table 2

Test Cognitive
Tasks % Tested Items
Category Level
Vocabulary 12 30% Knowing Thematic nouns (e.g., daily life,
(8 questions) travel, shopping)
 - Basic adjectives (emotions,
opinions)
- High-frequency
A2+ level opposites/synonyms
Applying Phrasal verbs & collocations
(4 questions) - Contextual word meanings
- Tenses: Present/Past/Future
Simple, Present/Past Continuous,
Present Perfect
- Modals: can/should/must
- Relative clauses:
who/which/that/where
Grammar Applying
10 25% - Conjunctions: neither...nor,
A2+ level (10 questions)
either...or, both...and
- Indefinite pronouns:
something/anything/nothing
- Quantifiers: too/too much/too
many/enough
- Direct → Indirect speech
- Identify main ideas
- Locate specific details (e.g.,
"What did X do?")
Applying - Understand reasons/actions
(14 questions) - Match headings to paragraphs
- Follow instructions (e.g.,
Reading 18 45% recipes, rules)
- Interpret maps/diagrams
- Infer author’s goal
- Compare/contrast texts
Analysing
- Determine text morals
(4 questions)
- Evaluate suggestions (e.g.,
"Why is X recommended?")
Total 40 100%

Language Specification: Table 3

Linguistic vocabulary Linguistic grammar Reading

 classroom objects  Simple tenses (Present,  Read and understand the
 sports Past, Future) topic of a text
 meals  Continuous tenses  Read and understand
 actions of daily routine (Present, Past) details
 music  Present perfect vs past  Read and understand the
 adjectives to express simple organization of a text
opinions  modal verbs  Read to compare and
 adjectives to describe  Indefinite pronouns contrast information in texts
feelings something, anything,  Read a letter, email, or
 jobs nothing message and identify specific
 working  too, too much, too many, information
 travel enough  Read and understand
 modes of transportation  Phrasal verbs information given in maps,
 furniture  Defining relative clause diagrams, or charts
 things in the home, (who, which, that, where)  Read, evaluate, and
 safety awareness  Conjunctions neither … interpret information on the
  clothing nor, either … or, (both) … internet or in books
 materials and to conjoin words,
 buying / selling phrases or clauses
 money
 shop

Examination Overview: Table 4

Test Cognitive
Topic Can-do statement
category level
Can understand vocabulary related
to daily routines, hobbies, family,
Vocabulary Knowing
friends, shopping, travel, and work,
etc.… in context.
Can understand vocabulary related
to daily routines, hobbies, family,
Vocabulary Knowing
friends, shopping, travel, and work,
etc.… in context.
Grammar Applying Can use correct verb tense.
Text 1 Grammar Applying
Can convert direct speech into
indirect one.
Reading Can identify specific reasons for
Applying
comprehension actions in the text.
Reading Can infer character traits or actions
Applying
comprehension from the text.
Can identify changes in emotions or
Grammar Analysing
attitudes.
Reading Can extract the lesson or moral of
Analysing
comprehension the text
Can identifying the opposite of a
Vocabulary Knowing
given word
Can locate specific information in
Grammar Applying
the text
Can identify the usage of the word
Grammar Applying
in context.
Reading
Applying Can identify reasons for preferences
Text 2 comprehension
Reading Can draw conclusions about
Applying
comprehension character habits
Grammar Applying Can use correct verb tense.
Reading Can understand reasons for
Applying
comprehension behavior
Reading
Analysing Can locate specific event details
comprehension
Text 3 Can identify specific items
Vocabulary Knowing
mentioned in the text
Can identifying the opposite of a
Vocabulary Knowing
given word
Can match phrasal verbs to
Vocabulary Applying
synonyms
Reading Applying Can identify conveniences
comprehension described
 Grammar Applying Can use correct verb tense.
Reading Can locate specific issue mentioned
Applying
comprehension in the context
Grammar Applying Can determine author's intention
Reading Can determine the primary goal of
Analysing
comprehension the text
Can identify specific achievements
Vocabulary Knowing
mentioned
Can select describing word related
Vocabulary Applying
to emotions
Reading Can identify specific description
Applying
comprehension mentioned
Grammar Applying Can use correct verb tense.
Text 4 Reading Can locate specific information
Applying
comprehension mentioned in the context
Reading Can locate specific information
Applying
comprehension mentioned in the context
Vocabulary Applying Can match synonyms in context
Reading Can understand what the text
Analysing
comprehension suggests
Can identify specific subjects
Vocabulary Knowing
mentioned in the text
Can identify specific things
Vocabulary Knowing
mentioned in the text
Reading Can identify specific actions
Applying
comprehension mentioned
Reading Can locate specific information
Applying
comprehension mentioned in the context
Text 5 Can match phrases to their
Vocabulary Applying
definitions
Reading Can determine the primary goal of
Analysing
comprehension the text
Can understand what the text
Grammar Analysing
suggests
Reading Can understand what the text
Analysing
comprehension suggests

Note:

Based on test results and scientific analysis, adjustments may be made to the test parameters
listed above, including the number of questions, test types, time allocation, scoring, level of
difficulty, and certification thresholds.

Evaluation criteria for English language exam tasks (all grades)

a) Each exam task is evaluated using specific criteria based on the type of question.
b) The scoring system is as follows:

 8 Knowing questions: 1 point for each correct answer

 24 Applying questions: 1.25 points for each correct answer

  8 Analysing questions: 1.5 points for each correct answer

 No points are awarded for incorrect answers.

List of references recommended for use in English language

1. Kauffman, D., Buckley, E., and Bullock, L. (2010). Oxford Picture Dictionary for the
Content Areas. Oxford University Press.
2. Reed, S. and Bentley, K. (2021). Guess What Student’s Book – 5. Cambridge University
Press.
3. Reed, S. and Bentley, K. (2021). Guess What Student’s Book – 6. Cambridge University
Press.
4. Kosta, J. and Williams, M. (2021). Prepare Grade 7. Cambridge University Press.
5. Kosta, J. and Williams, M. (2021). Prepare Grade 8. Cambridge University Press.
6. Mann, M. and Taylore-Knowles, S. (2008). Destination B1: Grammar & Vocabulary.
Oxford: Macmillan Education.
7. McCarthy, M. and O’Dell, F. (2017). English Vocabulary in Use. Elementary.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
8. McCarthy, M. and O'Dell, F. (2010). Test Your English Vocabulary in Use. Elementary.
Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press.
9. Murphy, R. (2019). English Grammar in Use (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
10. Murphy, R. and Naylor, H. (2008). Essential Grammar in Use: A Self-Study Reference
and Practice Book for Elementary Students of English; With Answers. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
11. Redman, S. (2015). English Vocabulary in Use. Pre-intermediate and Intermediate: With
Answers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
12. Reed, S. and Bentley, K. (2021). Guess What Student’s Book – 5. Cambridge University
Press.
13. Reed, S. and Bentley, K. (2021). Guess What Student’s Book – 6. Cambridge University
Press.
14. Swan, M., & Walter, C. (2007). The good grammar book: a grammar practice book for
elementary to lower-intermediate students of English. Oxford University Press.
15. Swan, M. and Walter, C. (2019). Oxford English Grammar Course: Intermediate. Oxford
University Press.