ICAO Sample Test Outline 24 Jan 2013

CX ICAO English Proficiency Test

Introduction The ICAO English Proficiency Test assesses 6 areas of language:

Pronunciation Structure Vocabulary Fluency Comprehension Interactions Level 4 is operational level and this is the minimum mi nimum requirement for license endorsement. you’ll be assessed every every 6 Level 4 pilots are assessed every 3 years. If you achieve level 5 you’ll years and level 6s never have to be re-tested. The final score is not awarded based on an average like li ke many commercial general English tests. For the ICAO English test the final score is the lowest rating you have achieved achieved for any one of the descriptors. For example, if you were awarded: awarded: 5 for pronunciation, 4 for structure, 4 for vocabulary, 5 for fluency, 5 for comprehension and 6 for interaction, your final score would be 4. Each part of the test will be explained to you on the day o f your appointment and the test duration is 25-30 minutes. …………………………………………………………………… ………………………………… …………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………. …….

There are 5 parts to the tests. Part 1 – Warm up, general questions

Questions for AB initio cadet Can you please tell me why you have chosen to be a pilot? What are you doing to prepare for a career in aviation? What do you expect working for Cathay /Dragon Air will be like? Please explain. How do you think the pilot profession has changed in the last 40 years?

Questions for SO or FO What made you decide to become a pilot? Would you describe your job as exciting? Why? Why not? What are your best memories of pilot training? Who has most influenced your career and how?

Part 2 – Listening comprehension

For this part of the test you listen to three three dialogues. After each one you’ll explain what you heard. You’ll then be asked  some questions. You may take notes on paper paper that is provided and you may listen to each audio twice. This does not impact your score. (Listen to ‘listening 1’ included in this test sample)

Sample Test

CX ICAO English Proficiency Test

Listening 1 - This is a conversation between a passenger and a security guard. 1. If the bag was found to contain a bomb, what do you think would happen next? 2. What systems are in place at airports to identify dangerous goods and how effective do you think these systems are? 3. Why do you think there are occasional security breaches at airports? (Listen to ‘listening 2’ included in this test sample)

Listening 2 - This is a conversation between a pilot and controller. 1. Why did the pilot request a low pass? 2. What impact could this situation have on other arriving and departing aircraft? 3. What might a passenger be thinking if a pilot did a low pass instead of landing? (Listen to ‘listening 3’ included in this test sample)

Listening 3 – This is a conversation between a pilot and a controller. 1. What was the misunderstanding in the dialo gue? 2. What would a controller do if he heard an incorrect readback? 3. What may have happened if the pilot had proceeded to the runway without stopping at the holding point?

Part 3 – Picture Description

Please describe the picture giving as much detail as you can. You will then be asked some questions. No note taking is permitted.

1. Please give one possible reason for this evacuation. 2. If you were a passenger on this flight, please explain how you would have felt during and after the evacuation.

Sample Test

CX ICAO English Proficiency Test

Part 4 You are going to watch a short video. After watching, please describe what you saw in as much detail as possible. No note taking is permitted.

Play video received with this sample test Questions 1. How much experience do you think a pilot should have to operate into and out of this airport? Why? 2. What would be the challenges of landing and taking off from t his airport in icy weather conditions? Part 5 I am now going to ask you some general questions in the context of aviation. Please give detailed responses. 1. What do you consider to be the biggest challenges for airlines today? 2. Could you please suggest a solution for one of these challenges? 3. What do you think the airlines would think of your suggestion and why?

Sample Test