Information & Registration
For more information about the Qualifying English Test (QET) and how to register for it click here.
What is the QET?
The QET is an English Language test set by the Centre for English Language Communication. It must be taken by students who do not possess the necessary English Language qualifications when they enter the university.
The purposes of the QET are to:
- determine which students will benefit from the Foundation Academic English course (ES1000) before proceeding to the English for Academic Purposes course (ES1103),
- determine which students will benefit from the English for Academic Purposes course (ES1103) and
- identify which students may be exempted from taking either of the above-mentioned courses.
The QET will be conducted in digital format using Examplify.
It is compulsory for students to attend at least one session of the QET/Examplify briefing before taking QET. Please ensure that you have an active NUSNET ID and password before registering for the briefing. Students who are unable to attend QET briefing will not be allowed to sit for the QET.
A sample QET paper will be available at the QET/Examplify briefing. Students should register for one briefing session from this list. Registrations for the QET briefing will start from 31 October 2022. Students are required to bring their own laptop for the QET/Examplify briefing.
Preparation for the QET
Though there is no specific recommended preparation for the QET, students should ensure that they are familiar with the format of the QET. Students are required to read a text and then respond to the question prompt. They need to show that they can use English accurately to write an argumentative essay. The essay will be assessed for its content, organisation and language.
- Content:
- fulfillment of task
- sophistication and sufficiency of ideas
- analysis and use of information from the reading texts to support ideas
- Organisation:
- clarity of overall structure
- logical development of ideas
- Language:
- accuracy – grammar, mechanics, cohesive devices
- fluency – communicative quality, vocabulary use and register
What do the QET results mean?
- Students who obtain Band 1 will have to take ES1000 followed by ES1103.
- Students who obtain Band 2 will have to take ES1103.
- Students who obtain Band 3 are exempted from these English modules.
Students required to do ES1000 or ES1103 will participate in the Online Module Registration (EduRec). Please refer to the Registrar Office’s website for updates from July 2022.
For more information on the modules, ES1000 and ES1103, please refer to the Undergraduate Modules page on CELC website.