The Michigan Test

Problems 1-20 are designed to test your listening comprehension. You will hear 20 statements and questions. Each one will be spoken just one time and will not be written out for you. After you hear a statement, read the four sentences which are printed in the test book and decided which one is closest in meaning to what you have heard. After you hear a question, decide which answer is the best response. Find the number of the problem on your answer sheet, and choose either A, B, C, or D - whichever goes with the answer you have chosen.

Example 1: You will hear: “George has just returned home from his vacation.”
You will read and select from the following:

1. George is spending his vacation at home.
2. George has just finished his vacation.
3. George is just about to begin his vacation.
4. George has decided not to take a vacation.

Example 2: You will hear: “ When are you going to New York?”
You will read and select from the following:

1. To visit my brother.
2. By plane.
3. Next Friday.
4. For three weeks.

Problems 21-50 are designed to measure your knowledge of proper grammar usage in English. In each grammar problem, you will read a short conversation between two people. The conversation is not complete. You should look at the answer choices which follow the conversation and then choose the ONE answer that correctly completes the conversation.

Example 1: “When did it begin raining?”
“It started ______ the night.”

1. during
2. by
3. from
4. at

Example 2: “What is that thing?”
“That ______ a spider.”

1. to call
2. for calling
3. be called
4. is called

Problems 51-80 are designed to measure your knowledge of the meanings and uses of English words. In each vocabulary problem, there is a sentence with a word missing. From the answer choices following the sentence, you should choose ONE word that best fits the sentence and makes it meaningful.

Example 1: I can’t _____ you his name, because I don’t know it.

1. talk
2. say
3. speak
4. tell

Example 2: Because of the storm and rough waves, it would be foolish to go out sailing today in a small _____.

1. automobile
2. house
3. boat
4. beast

Problems 81-100 are designed to test your reading comprehension skills. You will read a sentence and then answer a question about it. Choose the ONE best answer to the question, using the information in the sentence you have just read.

Example 1: John drove me to Eleanor’s house.
Who drove?

1. I did.
2. John did.
3. John and I did.
4. Eleanor did.

Answers to sample questions

Listening: Example 1 (b), Example 2 (c)
Grammar: Example 1 (a), Example 2 (d)
Vocabulary: Example 1 (d), Example 2 (c)
Reading Comprehension: Example 1 (b)

Here are the cut-off scores for each ESOL level. You may retake the test one time if you think you can do better. If your score is close to a cut-off, we recommend that you consider retesting. For example, if you score 58 on the Michigan and you feel you can do better, it is a good idea to ask to take the test again at a later time.

Level	Basic	Intermediate	Advanced	Academic
Courses	ESOL 002 ESOL 023 ESOL 024	ESOL 032 ESOL 033 ESOL 034	ESOL 042 ESOL 043 ESOL 044	ESOL 052 ESOL 054
Score	25 — 44	45 — 59	60 — 79 Writing sample required	80 — 100 Writing sample required