ELAE (Face to Face) 

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ELAE (Face to Face) 

The School of Languages (SL) is responsible for ensuring that all incoming Freshman students possess the necessary level of English proficiency and the academic skills essential for success at SU. This is evaluated through the SL’s English Language Assessment Exam (ELAE), a proficiency exam with a predetermined standard of achievement. The ELAE consists of two stages administered on separate days.

Stage I serves as a placement exam, and passing it is a prerequisite for eligibility to take Stage II. Students who receive a “UL” grade in Stage I are assigned to the appropriate route within the SL FDY program based on their scores. Those who receive an “SL” grade proceed to take the Stage II exam. Students who successfully pass the Stage II exam are directly enrolled in Freshman Year courses.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ELAE

Who takes the English Language Assessment Exam? 
All newly admitted students are required to take the ELAE at the beginning of the academic year for which they are enrolling. Students who pass the exam are directly enrolled in Freshman Year courses, while those who do not achieve a passing score are placed in the appropriate route of the SL FDY English program based on their results.

When is the ELAE? 
The ELAE is administered several times a year; in January, at the end of the academic year (June/July), and prior to the beginning of the academic year (August/September). For the ELAE exam dates, please see the relevant academic calendar.

How do I register for the Exam?
Once students are accepted by the University, they are automatically registered for the August/September English Language Assessment Exam. An information packet detailing the examination arrangements will be provided to all registered students.

If I get a very high grade from the ELAE, can I be considered exempt from Freshman English courses?
No.

How many sections are there in the ELAE Stage I exam? How many questions are there? 

The ELAE Stage I exam comprises three main sections: grammar, vocabulary, and writing. Students are allocated 60 minutes to complete the grammar and vocabulary sections, followed by 30 minutes for the writing section. Only students who successfully pass Stage I are eligible to take Stage II.

For sample questions, please see below.

How many sections are there in the Stage II exam? How much is each section worth? What do I need to get in order to pass the exam?

The Stage II exam consists of three sections: Writing, Listening, and Reading (please refer to the sample exam for Stage II). Both the Writing and Listening sections are worth 30% each, while the Reading section accounts for 40%. To pass the exam, students must achieve an overall minimum grade of 70 out of 100.

Is there a make-up for the ELAE?

No.

What happens if I fail the ELAE?
Please refer to the 'SL handbook’ on the SL website as well as the Foundations Development Year Instruction Letter (Temel Geliştirme Yılı Yönetmeliği) located in the main SU website.

What if I already have an internationally recognized English language certificate? 

Students who can provide proof of passing a national or international English language examination at a level determined by the University will be eligible to begin their undergraduate programs. For more details, please refer to the relevant guidelines provided on the university website.

(Read more at the following link: https://www.sabanciuniv.edu/en/exemption-fdy)

How can I prepare for the ELAE? 

  • Study Vocabulary: Focus on building your vocabulary using the following word lists as a foundation:

K1 - first thousand words

K2 - second thousand words

K3 - third thousand words

K4 - fourth thousand words

K5 - fifth thousand words

New Academic Word list 

 

  • You can access these lists at the following link:

https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/lals/resources/paul-nations-resources/vocabulary-lists

  • Familiarize Yourself with Exam Components: Understand the components and task types of the ELAE. Sample tasks for both Stage I and Stage II can be found at the following link:

https://sl.sabanciuniv.edu/en/sabanci-university-school-languages-english-language-assessment-exam-0#overlay-context=students/elae/assessment-exam

  • Practice Tests: Access additional practice tests for ELAE Stage II at this link for further preparation: https://sl.sabanciuniv.edu/en/more-elae-practice-sets

 

Why the ELAE?

The English Language Assessment Exam (ELAE) is distinct from international proficiency exams such as the PTE and TOEFL because it has been specifically designed for the context of academic study at Sabancı University. It was developed based on a thorough analysis of the skills and competencies students will need during their Freshman year at the university. The ELAE was created in collaboration with international language testing experts and input from instructors at the School of Languages.

Because the ELAE is tailored for students enrolled in the FDY university courses at SU, it offers several significant advantages over more general tests. The exam materials closely align with the content students will encounter in their Nature of Science (NS), Social and Political Sciences (SPS), and Mathematics courses during their Freshman year, addressing:

  • The themes/subjects covered.
  • The types of texts (lectures, textbook readings, etc.).
  • Greater length of texts.
  • The specific academic language, including grammar and course-specific vocabulary.
  • Authentic listening, reading and writing tasks involving skills/strategies required to perform successfully in SU university courses.
  • Situations students may encounter in their faculty studies, such as skimming large volumes of text to quickly identify main ideas or listening to dialogue in a tutorial or seminar setting.
  • The grading distribution across skills, which reflects their importance in students' future studies.

 

Other notable features of the ELAE include:

  • Most questions in the reading and listening sections are open-ended, requiring short written responses of just a few words.
  • Candidates pass the exam if they achieve an overall score of 70% or higher; there is no predetermined number of examinees who must pass or fail each year.
  • The content and skills tested in the ELAE reflect the objectives of the courses offered at the School of Languages.

As a result, both students and faculty can be confident that those who succeed in the ELAE have a level of English proficiency suitable for handling Freshman studies at Sabancı University.

In contrast, international proficiency exams aim to be universal and serve a diverse range of individuals and institutions, which presents certain challenges:

  • They cannot be suited to the differences between individual universities.
  • They may use tasks which are not relevant to academic study.
  • The topics used may be completely unrelated to SU Freshman studies.
  • They may include language which is not relevant to academic study at SU.
  • The grade given to a candidate may depend on the overall ability of the other people who take the test. In other words, the same performance could receive different grades from exam to exam according to the level of the other candidates.

Consequently, preparatory courses for international exams may include material that is less relevant to the specific needs of Freshman students at Sabancı University.

 

"Memorised” ELAE essays: 

For the ELAE and other exams, some candidates receive advice from individuals outside of Sabancı University to memorize a “formula” for structuring their essays. This approach involves using predefined paragraphs, sentences, and phrases, which candidates then mix with words taken from the essay prompt, alongside a few original sentences expressing their own thoughts and ideas.

An example of this type of essay is provided here. In this sample, the portions that appear to be memorized as a “formula” are underlined, and they constitute about half of the essay. This implies that only the remaining half represents the candidate’s original work. However, it is crucial to emphasize that this strategy is not an effective means of addressing the ELAE essay question. As a result, the sample essay would likely receive a failing grade according to the ELAE evaluation criteria.

Issues with Memorized ELAE Essays

Essays that rely on memorized formulas often exhibit several significant problems, rendering them inadequate responses to the ELAE essay question:

  • Overgeneralized Introductions and Conclusions: These sections tend to lack relevance to the specific essay topic, making them ineffective in setting up or summarizing the argument.
  • Grammar Issues: When candidates attempt to "fill in the blanks" within the formula, it can lead to grammatical errors, resulting in sentences that do not flow well or maintain coherence.
  • Mismatch in Vocabulary: The language used in the memorized formula and the candidate’s original contributions often do not align, which can undermine the overall quality of the essay.
  • Repetition of Phrases: The use of a formula can lead to excessive repetition of certain phrases, making the essay sound redundant and unoriginal.
  • Incompatibility with Essay Topics: The formula may not be appropriate for specific prompts, particularly those that require a nuanced discussion, such as “controversial issues.”
  • Insufficient Original Material: These essays typically contain minimal original content from the writer, which is often inadequate to effectively address the question posed.
  • Unverified References: Candidates may refer to experts or statistics without naming them, or these references may not be factual, which can diminish the credibility of the argument presented.

These issues highlight the importance of developing a nuanced understanding of the essay prompt and constructing original responses rather than relying on memorized structures. Such an approach leads to more effective writing and a greater likelihood of achieving a passing grade on the ELAE.

 

Here are some important points to consider for the ELAE writing section:

  • Relevance to the Question: Ensure that all parts of your essay are clearly connected to the essay prompt. Each point you make should address the question directly.
  • Development of Ideas: It is crucial to elaborate on relevant points with clear explanations and examples. This helps to strengthen your argument and demonstrates your understanding of the topic.
  • Coherent Information: The information presented in the essay should fit together logically. While there is no strict format required, well-organized essays tend to have clearer arguments. Features like introductions and conclusions can aid organization but are not essential if the content is cohesively structured in other ways.
  • Overall Organization: The organization of the essay as a whole is important. Grades are not awarded based solely on the use of specific components such as topic sentences or thesis statements. Focus on constructing a well-structured response that flows smoothly and presents your ideas clearly.

By keeping these points in mind, you can enhance the quality of your writing for the ELAE and improve your chances of achieving a passing grade.

A copy of the criteria used to grade the ELAE writing section can be found here

Click here for more strategies.

 

*Sabancı University reserves the right to make changes to Stage I and Stage II of the English Language Assessment Exam without prior notice.