April 17the TSE

[penny]

Hi everybody:

I took my TSE today.
I got exactly the same set as Tomek said.
I had to record my voice with a microphone n head set.

The picture was really stupid and I coudn't Make up a good story at all.
I was unable to complete the story.

One of friends who took her test in Chicago got completely other set of questions than mine or Ming's set.

Its good to know that few people did well on the test.

I have a doubt. It would be pleasure if anyone could answer this.

I ran out of time for few questions, will that affect my score in any way ?
Any feedback on this is Greatly Appreciated.

Thanks.
bye

Penny.[:X]

[knok]

It was really stupid pictures! Although it used to be in the test sometimes last year of mine. I still could not explain it. The questions does not make sense at all. When I asked my American friends to answer the question 2, they just said " It does not make sense at all to ask a question like this."

Comparingly, our sitaution is like " A cat is trying to catch a mouse in a small house." We don't know any reason why a mouse runs on that way. For any reasons, we must follow it." We all are in the same big boat. One day, you may have a story to tell your grandchildren..ha..ha..

[lindabo]

I took the test yesterday too.

I found that for the opinion questions, I have not used the whole 60 seconds. But I have 5-6 sentences already.

Will that affect my score?

[Lotus]

Hi Penny,

I also had to take my test using head sets. I found it comfortable as it was sound proof and all the people were shouting at the top of their voices.

I took the test at 8.30 am at SFO.
I did fumble twice. So I have to take the test again. I`ve registered for the june 4 TSE.

How about you.....was this your first attempt?

Best of luck for your results.

-Lotus

[ming]

I was at the SanFo center too!

I did notice some people really shouting as if they are very angry and tense. One lady was trying so hard to explain something she sounds to be almost in tears because of her tension and loud voice.

There was one was talking so loud the whole room seems reverberating with her voice. I think that is not good. The mics are close enough to record your voice. Just talk clearly and relax.

Im sorry to hear that some people received relatively weird questions and was caught by surprise and shock with unusual situations/pictures.

But like what Jim of ESL seminars said for Q1, just describe what your eyes see. You dont have to come up with a storyline and connect each panel with each other and over analyze. (Thats what I did before and failed) Go to each panel and describe what you see. Jim said we are graded for our VOICE - clarity and pronounciation. Not for content. Thats why we need not to come up with clever answers which make us stammer looking for the right words. Jim said it doesnt matter if what we said made sense. As long as it was said clearly.

On the graph question, read the title, read the data on the horizontal and vertical axes then describe the graph. Dont over analyze. They are grading your voice, not content.

Thats why speaking slowly and clearly and using short sentences is best. I find this effective because short sentences keeps your train of thought. Giving long sentences and explanations tends to drift your thoughts and makes your sentence seem endless. When your done with that long sentence, you feel like you're drained of any ideas for your next sentence. That makes you tense and panic for more words.
Then afterwards because you are tense, you answer and speak fast.

Short sentences makes you pause and relax and then you'll be able to come up with another thought to add and will turn out spontaneous.

While I was listening to Jim's (vicki's husband) audio CD, at first I had reservations because it seems not to make sense how ETS scores our speech. Its not about content. I listen to him over and over again (while ironing clothes, before sleeping etc) till I absorb the manner he speaks - slowly and clearly. Its also good to listen over an AM radio station or an audio book. It conditions your mind to speak clearly.

Test of SPOKEN English - its a test of how english is spoken. No intelligent words here. Its true giving elementary answers if its spoken clearly is better than a clever answer thats hard and fast to listen to.

This I believed in. Why am I sounding confident that i'll make it this past exam? Bec. I know the difference of how I fared the last time scoring 45 to this one. I stammered and fumbled looking for a clever answer till I ran out of words. This time I did my best to relax, speak slowly and making short simple sentences. These tips I followed from previous passers and to all who were helpful in this forum.

Practice speaking slowly (not too slow, you know) and clearly. We may sound different if we do that. But that's what ETS is looking for.

Let's try to learn from our mistakes and see the difference it makes. Try to change your practicing habits and exercises if it didnt work the first time. At least we now know how the test looks like.

Good luck to us all!

[knok]

I listened to Jim's CD so often that when my son got into the car. "Mom!, please, I am bored of these CDs.( I have all kinds of preparation test CDs). I want to listen to the music. He puts his headphone on and listens to the music whenever he is in the car.".,,

[penny]

hi lotus:

I got different set than yours.
I feel that your questions are much easier than ours.

So I guess who all got that set must have done better.

Yes this was my 1st attempt but I have many friends in Bay area who took the test earlier.

Only 1 of my friend got through, others failed to score 50 or more.

So did you register for another test?

I am also thinking to do so.

Bye Penny.

[Lotus]

Hi Penny,

Yes I have already registered for the june 4 the test. I was late to register for may 15 th.

Anyways, now I have more time to prepare.

Bye
Lotus

[penny]

Hi lotus,

Good luck for your next tse exam.
Did you register for the same center or different one for june exam?
i am thinking to go for another one.
thanks for your qucik reply

bye
penny.[^]

[Lotus]

Hi penny,

I have registered at the same center as there are only 2 centers for june test in northern CA.

So I have opted for both.
John adams....
san francisco, SFO(idk which center is this). Are you aware of it?

Which center have you selected?
-Lotus