Test 3

READING 1 hour

READING

PART ONE
Questions 1-7

• Look at the statements below and the advertisements on the opposite page.
• Which advertisement does each statement 1-7 refer to?
• For each sentence 1-7, mark one letter (A, B, C, or D) on your Answer Sheet.
• You will need to use some of the letters more than once.

Example:

0 You need to be familiar with a variety of computer software.

A B C D
=-==

1 This job involves working for a well-known company.

2 You will meet a wide variety of customers in this job.

3 This post involves responsibility for recruitment.

4 Your work should not be discussed outside the office.

5 In this job you will deal with people's investments.

6 This post has recently been established.

7 Your job description will require you to read some documents very carefully.

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 Reading

A
ILT Consultants £19,000 + benefits
Here's an exciting opportunity to combine your presentation skills and organisational
abilities, working for a team of systems analysts. You will need to have a good eye for
detail as the role involves large amounts of proof reading and checking. The job also
involves client liaison at all levels, as well as an element of research.

B
John Guild & Son £17,500 +benefits
City finance house seeks a mature person to work for the Secretariat. The post
involves: looking after customers' financial assets such as property and possessions;
database work; accounting; and organisational responsibilities. The bulk of the
workload is highly confidential. A good level and range of PC experience will secure
you an interview.

c
Hooper's £17,000
Join this household name and play a key part in supporting their Regional Operations
Director and Marketing team. This is a newly-created position within a well-established
firm and there is plenty of opportunity for you to develop your role. You will need to
be self-motivated with the ability to prioritise. Some Windows experience essential.

D
lTC Investment Consultants £18,000 +
This is an opening for a bright, part-qualified assistant to work in an investment
company's busy personnel department. You will need to have one year's experience of
interviewing job applicants, and the confidence to handle appraisals and disciplinary
actions. Further training will be offered for the right candidate. Keyboard skills are
desirable as you will manage all personal correspondence.

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Test 3

PART TWO
Questions 8-12
• Read the article below which reviews a new book on company planning.
• Choose the best sentence from the list on the opposite page to fill each of the
gaps.
• For each gap 8-12, mark one letter (A-G) on your Answer Sheet.
• Do not use any letter more than once.
• There is an example at the beginning (0).

Firms need a better way of planning

Nick Field, in his book Strategy Management, offers a new approach to help companies
map out their future.
Many companies have lost the art of strategy-making. They spend too much time looking
at process change, organisation and systems. (0) .......@.•........ They have got things out of
balance_, In many companies, the development of strategy is in crisis.
In a recent magazine poll, only six per cent of executives rated their company highly for
long-term planning skills. (8) ................... If this figure is accurate, it is not surprising that
29% of the FISE 100 companies failed to achieve real sales growth between 1992 and
1996, when take-overs are excluded from the figures.
There can be no doubt about the value of effective strategy-making. Recent research has
shown that what are described as 'visionary' companies -those with clear strategies for
the future - deliver higher shareholder returns. They are less at risk from short-term
earnings pressures because they know - and they can convince others - that they will
survive these.
(9).................. . Times have changed. The big company of today is not being defeated by
another big company but by the small companies. So how do they do it? And where do
companies that are failing in this respect turn? If a company accepts that their strategy
development is not 'the best in the class', if they acknowledge that they need to do more
to map out their future, influence rather than be influenced, shape their market instead
of being shaped by it, how should they take on this strategy-making challenge?
Field's book Strategy Management puts forward a new approach to help companies
rediscover the power of forward planning. (10) ................... The book is straightforward to
understand and use, and offers practical and specific directions. Research and empirical
testing have proved that it can be useful in all areas of industry and should be ofvalue to
any company.
The approach put forward is based on two key building blocks, the first being that any
company considering its future must have a commitment to win. (11) ................... The
second building block is competitive advantage. The author defines four prime areas that
differentiate organisations and influence purchase decisions. These are 'the performance of
the product or service, sold at the. most attractive price, with extraordinary levels of service
and strong emotional values.' It· may require only one of these areas to produce a
competitive advantage. Take Coca-Cola for example. (12) .................. .
Companies can explore how to win by building on their commitment and working
around this approach to identify which one or more of these four sources of advantage
will lead to success.

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Example: A B C D E F G
c======-
A Clear guidelines are given on how to become involved with customers and build
new forms of competitive advantage.

B Through the brand name, the company has established a relationship with
customers' feelings that has made the product highly successful.

C Another survey estimated that only one in ten companies had the information
they needed to make strategic decisions.

D Lacking any debate about the future, these are typically reduced to a once-a-year
form-filling exercise.

E If this comes across forcefully enough rivals will see it and go elsewhere,
believing the market will be taken over by another.

F In the past, it was generally believed that the scale of the company was the most
significant factor.

G They do not invest enough effort in determining where they want to be in their
markets and how they are going to beat their competitors.

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Test]

PART THREE
Questions 13-18
• Read the article below about how to avoid working long hours and the questions
on the opposite page.
• For each question 13-18, mark one letter (A, B, Cor D) on your Answer Sheet,
for the answer you choose.

Morning, noon and night

The long-hours culture at work
Working an eight-hour day is a luxury for most professional people. Nowadays, the only way to
guarantee an eight-hour working day is to have the kind of job where you clock on and off. Those
professionals who have managed to limit their hours to what was, 20 years ago, the average do not
wish to identify themselves. 'I can quite easily achieve my work within a normal day, but I don't
like to draw attention to it,' says one sales manager. 'People looked at me when I left at 5 o'clock.
Now, I put paperwork in my bag. People assume I'm doing extra hours at home.'
But more typical is Mark, who works as an account manager. He says, 'My contract says I work
from 9 until 5 with extra hours as necessary. It sounds as if the extra hours are exceptional. In
fact, my job would be enough not only for me, but also for someone else part-time. The idea of an
eight-hour day makes me laugh!' He says he has thought about going freelance but realises that
this doesn't guarantee better working hours.
Professor Cary Cooper, occupational psychologist at the University of Manchester, is the author
of the annual Quality of Working Life survey. The most recent survey found that 77% of managers
in Britain work more than their contracted hours, and that this is having a damaging effect on
their health, relationships and productivity. Professor Cooper is critical of the long-hours culture.
He says that while bosses believe long hours lead to greater efficiency, there is no evidence to
support this. 'In fact, the evidence shows that long hours make you ill.'
There are, he says, steps that can be taken. One is to accept that the in-tray will never be empty.
'There are always things to do. You just have to make the rule that on certain days you go home
early.' Prioritising work and doing essential tasks first helps, he says. He also thinks it's time to
criticise bad employers and unreasonable terms of employment. 'By all means, show commitment
where necessary but when expectations are too high, people have to begin saying openly that they
have a life outside of work.'
Personal 'development coach Mo Shapiro agrees that communication is important. Staff need to
talk to managers about the working practices within a company. Both parties should feel that the
expectations are realistic and allow them to have responsibilities and interests outside work. She
recognises, however, that in many organisations the response might well be, 'If you want more
interests outside work, then find another job'.
She believes that senior staff have a duty to set an example. 'I recently worked for a firm of solicitors
where the partners started at 7 .30am. What kind of message is that to send to the staff?' She believes
there is no shame in working sensible hours- in fact quite the reverse. 'Some people might be in at
7.30 but will be doing very little. You can work really hard from 9 to 5 and achieve the same. If you
find it difficult to achieve an eight-hour day, there is, as a last resort, the old trick of leaving your
jacket on your chair and your computer switched on, even after you have left the building.'

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13 What does the writer say in the first paragraph about people who work an
eight-hour day?
A They are reluctant to admit to this.
B They are disliked by their colleagues.
C They are limited to certain professions.
D They often catch up on work in the evenings.

14 What does Mark say about his work?

A His main concern is job security.
B Too much of his time at work is wasted.
C The terms of his contract are misleading.
D H~ objects to being given other people's work.

15 What does Cary Cooper say about recent trends in the workplace?
A He believes that a long working day is counter-productive.
B He has doubts about the results of the Quality of Working Life survey.
C He says that employers should accept the link between working hours
and safety.
D He argues that further research is needed into the relationship between
work and health.

16 How does Cary Cooper think people should deal with the requirements of the
workplace?
A Obtain help in negotiating terms of employment.
B Let people know when demands are unreasonable.
C Delegate the less important work to other staff.
D Accept that the modern workplace is a competitive place.

17 What does Mo Shapiro see as a problem for employees today?

A They lack the communication skills that modern business requires.
B Many employers would not regard requests for shorter hours
favourably.
C Most employers do not want to be responsible for the professional
development of staff.
D They have difficulties adapting to the rapid changes occurring in working
practices.

18 What does Mo Shapiro think about present working hours?

A In many companies senior staff need to work a long day.
B The best staff are efficient enough to finish their work within eight hours.
C There are too many staff deceiving employers about their hours of work.
D Top executives should use their influence to change the long-hours
culture.

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Test]

PART FOUR
Questions 19-33

• Read the advice below on writing a CV.

• Choose the best word to fill each gap, from A, B, CorD on the opposite page.
• For each question 19-33, mark one letter (A, B, Cor D) on your Answer Sheet.
• There is an example at the beginning (0).

Guidelines for Writing Your CV

A well-produced CV can make all the difference when applying for a job.
It can take a reader just 30 seconds to (0) ..... JL .... a decision about a CV. So when
writing a CV, you should remember you have just half a minute to (19) ................ ..
the reader's interest, leave a clear (20) .................. of professionalism and indicate the
likely (21).................. to an employer of hiring you. To prepare a CV which is
(22) .................. will take time and possibly several drafts. Layout, presentation and a
choice of words which demonstrate both responsibility and achievement are vital
(23) .................. of any CV.

No matter how well your career background and skills (24) .................. the needs of
an employer, your efforts could (25) .................. if you make it difficult for the reader
to take in the relevant information. As your message must register quickly, make the
reader's task an easy one. (26) .................. that the print is well spaced and that the
key information is displayed clearly.

The (27) .................. of the CV is to generate interviews. Visually, you want your CV
to have a positive effect, but it is also necessary for it to {28) .................. the reader
that you are worth meeting. The style in which you present your CV is a
(29).................. of personal choice, but it is important that you use words which
(30) .................. an active and successful career.

People sometimes make the mistake of (31) .................. a CV as a rewrite of their job
description, which results in unnecessary jargon and detail. In addition, issues such as
salary and (32).. .... .. ...... .... for leaving previous employers should not be
(33) ..... :............ ; they are best discussed at the first interview stage.

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Example:

A meet B reach C arrive D contact

Io I =
A
-
B c
= =
D

19 A take B realise c gain D collect

20 A influence B impression c meaning D symbol

21 A resource B credit c benefit D asset

22 A certain B efficient c capable D effective

23 A components B sections c pieces D sectors

24 A correspond B match c coordinate D agree

25 A decline B fold c collapse D fail

Guarantee
26 A Ensure B Allow c Confirm D

motive
27 A incentive B purpose c result D

determine
28 A decide B prompt c convince D

matter
29 A subject B condition c situation D

30 A inform B suggest c appear D instruct

31 A calculating B supposing c estimating D regarding

conclusions
32 A reasons B intentions c opinions D

concerned
33 A held B contained c included D

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Test 3

PART FIVE
Questions 34-45
• Read the text below about customer loyalty.
• In most of the lines 34-45, there is one extra word. It is either grammatically
incorrect or does not fit in with the sense of the text. Some lines, however, are
correct.
• If a line is correct, write CORRECT on your Answer Sheet.
• If there is an extra word in the line, write the extra word in CAPITAL LETTERS on
your Answer Sheet.

Examples:
~~0000
DDDDDD
Increasing Customer Loyalty

0 Customers are not revolutionaries. They are attracted to the certainty of knowing that

00 what they buy it will be good value for money or will perform a particular task effectively.

34 They are cautious but their loyalty, without once achieved, is the key to business success.

35 Brands can help to create customer loyalty by providing us a signpost to certainty and

36 safety. Ideally, when a customer sees a product, it leads to a range of positive thoughts

37 so that the product is bought. Unfortunately, only a small number of products have

38 reached to this level. While everyone in business is aware of the need to attract and

39 retain customers, that they often overlook the second, more important, half of the

40 equation. In the excitement of beating against the competition and securing orders,

41 managers often fail to ensure that the customer remains a customer. It has been

42 estimated that since the average company loses between 10 and 30% of its customers

43 every year and this only recently have organisations started to wake up to these lost

44 opportunities and to calculate the financial implications. Established customers often buy

45 lot more and, and in addition, they may also provide free word-of-mouth advertising.

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 Writing

WRITING 45 minutes

WRITING

PART ONE

• You are a manager in a company which manufactures office furniture. Next

month you are going to London to discuss an important contract.
• Write a note to your assistant:
• saying when you want to leave and return
• asking him to book flights
• telling him which hotel to book.
• Write 40-50 words on a separate sheet.

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Test 3

PART TWO
• You recently attended a one-day training course on health and safety. You were
disappointed with the course and you have decided to write a letter of complaint
to the training company.
• Read the advertisement below, which gives details of the course. You have
already made some notes on the advertisement.
• Then, using all your handwritten notes, write your letter to Moira Geddings at
GBG Certification Services.
• Do not include postal addresses.
• Write 120-140 words a separate sheet.

GBG Certification Services

Good for business, good for you.

Regardless of whether you are in a manufacturing or service industry, you are

required by law to operate your business in a manner which is safe and healthy for
your workforce. Our courses will help you provide a safe and legally sound working
environment for your staff.

Our one-day courses include: trainer was sick -

replacement poor

• Experienced and highly-qualified trainers

• High-quality information packs

• Small groups (maximmn 8 people) ~

Price includes lunch and refreshments -4-------1 explain what was
wrong with lunch

All one-day courses run Monday-Friday from 9.30-17.00.

For more information contact:

Moira Geddings
GBG House
Summerfield Road
Oxford OX8 4DN

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 Listening

LISTENING 40 minutes (including

10 minutes' transfer time)

LISTENING

PART ONE

Questions 1-12

• You will hear three telephone conversations or messages.

• Write one or two words or a number in the numbered spaces on the notes or
forms below.
• After you have listened once, replay each recording.

Conversation One (Questions 1-4)

• Look at the note below.

• You will hear a man making a call about a delivery.

Telephone Message

To: John White

Date: 19/10/00

Patrick Fisher rang to say our new (1) .............................................................. would be

delivered tomorrow. You need to tell Sarah Robbins, the (2) ·······································'
where to (3) ................................................................ them.

Please phone Mr Fisher on (4) ................................................................. if there are any

problems.

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Test3

Conversation Two (Questions 5-8)

• Look at the note below.
• You will hear a man telephoning his personnel officer.

Message

Date: 12 November 00

From: Roshan Singh, (5) .......................................................... Department.

Message: He has received an interesting (6) ................................................... .

and wants to discuss (7) .................................................................. .

He has to reply by (8) ..........................................................................

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 Listening

Conversation Three (Questions 9-12)

• Look at the note below.
• You will hear a woman calling a company about a possible order.

TELEPHONE ENQUIRY RECORD

Caller: Julie Ventnor from Polareach Ltd

She's interested in our (9) ...............................................................

Requires details of our (10) .................................................................. .

Total monthly order: approx. (11) £ ............................................................................. .

Meeting on: (12) .......................................................................................... .

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Test3

PART TWO
Questions 13-22

Section One
(Questions 13-17)
• You will hear five short recordings. Each speaker is saying what a manager must
do to achieve success.
• For each recording, decide which is the most important action for that speaker.
• Write one letter (A-H) next to the number of the recording.
• Do not use any letter more than once.
• After you have listened once, replay each recording.

13 ..............................................
A sort out staff disagreements
14 .............................................. B delegate tasks fairly
C obtain all the facts
15 ·············································· D develop a range of strategies
E establish clear goals
16 ·············································· F carry out regular planning
G clarify all job descriptions
17 ·············································· H act immediately

Section Two
(Questions 18-22)

• You will hear another five short recordings. Each speaker is talking about a
visitor to the office.
• For each recording, decide which visitor the speaker is talking about.
• Write one letter (A-H) next to the number of the recording.
• Do not use any letter more than once.
• After you have listened once, replay each recording.

18 ··············································
A a health and safety official
19 ·············································· B an estate agent
C an insurance broker
20 ·············································· D a journalist
E a foreign buyer
21 .............................................. F a lawyer
G a marketing consultant
22 ............................................. . H a travel agent

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 Listening

PART THREE
Questions 23-30

• You will hear a radio interview with Richard Wood, the founder of Bookstore, a
company that sells books on the internet.
• For each question 23-30 mark one letter {A, B or C) for the correct answer.
• After you have listened once, replay the recording.

23 Richard Wood started the internet company, Bookstore, because he felt

A he was earning very little in his job.

B he had reached the age for a career change.
C he had to respond to a business opportunity.

24 What did Richard Wood consider when choosing his product?

A whether the suppliers could respond quickly to demand
B whether customers would be worried about the price
C whether the product could be distributed around the world easily

25 Why did Richard Wood decide on books and not CDs as his product?
A The demand for books is more international.
B People with computers buy many books.
C There is a greater range of book titles available.

26 According to Richard Wood, what has been an important element in

Bookstore's success?
A attracting good personnel
B the many new ideas that were generated
C his knowledge of computer software

27 What was Bookstore's sales revenue at the end of 1997?

A $120 million
B $230 million
C $310 million

28 Bookstore's profits are low because of

A money spent on promotion.
B fluctuations in the stock market.
C changes in the management structure.

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29 Why is Bookstore's customer service so successful?

A The company is able to offer any book title in print.
B The company deals with complaints in a positive way.
C The company gives priority to orders from regular customers.

30 Bookstore can perform better than its competitors because

A its distribution network is more efficient.
B it has a wider share of the international market.
C its staff have a personal investment in the company.

You now have 10 minutes to transfer your answers to your Answer Sheet.

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 Spee1:king

SPEAKING 14 minutes

SAMPLE SPEAKING TASKS

PART 1
The interview- about 3 minutes
In this part the interlocutor asks questions to each of the candidates in turn. You
have to give information about yourself and express personal opinions.

PART2
'Mini presentation'- about 6 minutes
In this part of the test you are asked to give a short talk on a business topic. You
have to choose one of the topics from the three below and then talk for about one
minute. You have one minute to prepare your ideas.

A WHAT IS IMPORTANT'WHEN ... ?

ATTENDING AN INTERVIEW
• APPEARANCE OF APPLICANT
• APPLICANT'S KNOWLEDGE OF
COMPANY
•

B WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ... ?

PLANNING MARKET RESEARCH

• TYPES OF QUESTIONS
• TYPE OF PEOPLE
•

C WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ... ?

PREDICTING PROFITS

• CURRENT SALES FIGURES

• MARKET TRENDS
•

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Test]

PART3
Discussion- about 5 minutes

In this part of the test you are given a discussion topic. You. have 30 seconds to
look at the prompt card, an example of which is below, and then about 3 minutes
to discuss the topic with your partner. After that the examiner will ask you more
questions related to the topic.

For two candidates

Promotion Video

Your company is planning to produce a short video to promote itself

abroad. You have been asked to help plan the contents of the video.

Discuss the situation together, and decide:

• who the target audience will be, and how to make the video interesting
and informative for them
• which aspects of the company you will need to include on the video

For three candidates

Promotion Video

Your company is planning to produce a short video to promote itself

abroad. You have been asked to help plan the contents of the video.

Discuss the situation together, and decide:

• who the target audience will be, and how to make the video interesting
and informative for them
• which aspects of the company you will need to include on the video
• which employees should appear on the video and how to encourage them
to participate

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