SPERS-Sec Supplementary Placement Exercise — Information on Tests

The English and Mathematics tests will assess applicants’ English literacy, numeracy and reasoning ability.

The following sections will give you more information on the different papers applicants are required to sit for.

Mathematics Test

The Mathematics paper comprises two parts. Applicants will be given 30 minutes to complete Part 1, and 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete Part 2. The use of calculator is not allowed.

	Format	Items
Part 1	Multiple-Choice Questions	34 items
Part 2	Short-answer Questions	20 items
	Open-ended Questions	10 to 15 items

For short-answer questions, applicants have to show the method of solution (working steps) clearly and write the answer in the space provided.

Open-ended questions generally require longer and/or more complex method of solution as compared to short-answer questions. For open-ended questions, applicants have to show the method of solution (working steps) clearly and write the answer in the space provided.

English Test

The English paper comprises two parts. Applicants sitting for the English test will be given 2 hrs and 10 minutes to complete it.

• Part 1: Writing

  Two topics are set for Sec 1, and four topics are set for Sec 2 and Sec 3. Applicants choose one topic and write a composition on it.

  Sec 1 students will write 200 – 300 words.
  Sec 2 students will write 250 – 350 words.
  Sec 3 students will write 300 – 400 words.

• Part 2: Comprehension and Language Use

  • Compulsory Multiple-Choice Questions
    • Comprehension (based on two passages) – 15 items
    • Comprehension Cloze (based on two passages) – 15 items
    • Vocabulary – 10 items
    • Grammar – 10 items

Use of Optical Answer Sheet (OAS)

For multiple-choice questions, applicants are required to use a pencil to shade the answers on the Optical Answer Sheet (OAS). The OAS will be issued to applicants together with the papers. Please click on the image below for a sample of the OAS and instructions on the use of the OAS.