Module 3 - Industry Readiness

Versant Preparation
Handout

Overall:
The Versant English Placement Test conducted by Pearson is a test that checks one’s competency
in the English Language across the 4 skills- Listening, Speaking, Writing and Reading. It’s a test
whose scores are accepted globally and valid for 1 year from the date of the test. Not only does
it check language skills but also basic critical thinking.

● 50 minutes test
● Divided into 9 sections
● Maximum Marks- 80
● Each questions has a certain amount of time designated from 15 secs- 18 minutes
● You cannot go back to a question
● You cannot accumulate time and use it for another question
● It's not a speed test but an accuracy test
● Usage of pen and paper is not advisable since it distracts attention

Section 1: Read Aloud

In this section, there will be a short passage on your screen that the test taker will have to read
out in 30 seconds.

Things to Remember
● It is alright if one does not finish reading the passage
● It’s not a speed reading test
● Neither do you have to race across nor sing a lullaby
● Punctuation is used for a purpose- remember to pause
● Remember we are not robots- variable tone while reading
● Open your mouth and read- don’t mumble
● Complete your words
● Don’t drag your words (especially ‘ed’ considering the local lingo)
● In case you do not know the pronunciation of the word- do not skip it, mispronounce it
● Start reading immediately, do not first read in your mind and then aloud

How to Practice
● Do exercises that include vowel pronunciation
● Tell the difference between the pronunciation of- (w, v), (p, l)
● Practice pausing at punctuation
Section 2: Repeat

In this section, the computer generated voice will say a sentence. The test takers simply have to
repeat the sentence. They get 30 seconds to do the same.

Things to Remember-
● The sentence is said only once- it is not repeated under any circumstances
● The accent is not Indian
● Do not panic if you do not understand the sentence, else you will screw up the entire
section
● Remember after 15 seconds it will automatically move to the next sentence
● In case you understand just a few words from the entire sentence you must say those
● Do not try to copy the accent

How to Practice-
● Tell them to watch a Youtube video everyday for 30 minutes
● Use TOEIC tests on Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZmNhnJgN9U
● Ensure they open their mouths

Section 3: Sentence Builds

This section is what we know as Jumbled Sentences, however there is a catch here. The
sentences do not appear on the screen but are spoken by the computer generated voice. The
response has to be spoken.

Things to Remember
● The sentence is said only once
● The accent is not Indian
● It’s alright if you don’t understand what the computer generated voice is saying
● A little bit of guess work in this section is advisable
● Each sentence is always divided in 3 parts

How to Practice
● The biggest trick is to be able to identify the subject, verb and object
● The next step is just to put them in order- SVO
● No tools have been identified for this (if you find anything, do share)

Section 4: Conversations
In this section you will hear a short conversation between two people, about 3-4 dialogues. This
will be followed by a question based on the conversation and the test taker will be expected to
say the answer in the microphone.
Things to Remember
● The sentence is said only once
● The accent is not Indian
● Do not answer in a single word or a phrase
● Answer in a complete sentence
● Be as precise as possible while answering

How to Practice
● Play a story from Youtube, eg- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFrofLwMOac
● Pause it after every 30 seconds and ask the test takers a question based on it

Section 5: Typing
In this section you will see a short passage (about 60- 80 words) on your screen. As the name of
the section suggests, you are expected to type the passage in 60 seconds.

Things to Remember
● The passage stays on your screen for 60 seconds, while you type it out.
● Don’t be in a hurry to type the complete passage- it is ok if the test taker doesn’t finish
typing the complete passage
● It is better to make 5 mistakes in 4 lines than make 8 mistakes in 5 lines
● Accuracy is the key, speed comes later
● Do not use Ctrl C and Ctrl V
● During the 60 seconds you can edit innumerable times
● Be careful of uppercase and lowercase
● Remember to use spacebar after every punctuation
● Watch out for typos

How to Practice
● Use the link to practice- https://www.speedtypingonline.com/typing-test
● They should be able to type 40 wpm with 90% accuracy

Section 6: Sentence Completion

This section is actually Fill in the Blanks. The test takers will see a sentence on their computer
screens with one word missing. They simply have to type the answer in 25 seconds, however
there are no options.

Things to Remember
● The sentences are simple with even simpler answers
● The answers require basic critical thinking
● There are no options- the test taker simply types the correct answer
● There is only one correct answer
● Keep a watch on spellings while typing
How to Practice
● Have made practice sheets for the same (let me know if you want me to share them)

Section 7: Dictation
This section is exactly like the old school dictation exercise practiced in schools. The test takers
have to type the answer.

Things to Remember-
● The sentences are said only once by a computer generated voice
● The accent is not Indian
● If the test taker did not understand the entire sentence ze should type what ze has
understood
● Keep a check on uppercase and lowercase, particularly in cases of- Beginning of the
sentence, the pronoun ‘I’ in the middle of a sentence, any proper noun especially days of
the week and months of the year
● Punctuation plays a very important role, especially- full stop, comma, exclamation mark,
question mark and apostrophe
● Pay attention while hearing to differentiate between- ( I am, I’m), (You’re, You are)
● Differentiate between similar sounding words like- ( there, their), (to, two, too)
● Be extremely careful of spellings

How to Practice-
● Use TOEIC tests on Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZmNhnJgN9U
● Play the audio of a sentence, give the test takers 30 seconds to practice it and move on
● Once 15- 20 sentences have been done, project them and discuss them

Section 8: Passage Reconstruction

This section a small paragraph will appear on your screen for 30 seconds after which it will
vanish. The test taker will have to type the passage in ze own words in 90 seconds.

Things to Remember-
● The test taker should be able to both skin and read the passage in 30 seconds
● While skimming ze should be able to get the basic framework of the passage and the
while reading ze should be able to get all the details
● Write in short simple sentence- only maggi no noodles
● Write in past tense
● If there is a word whose spelling the test taker is not sure of, ze should use alternatives
rather than spell it incorrectly
● Keep a check on uppercase and lowercase, particularly in cases of- Beginning of the
sentence, the pronoun ‘I’ in the middle of a sentence, any proper noun especially days of
the week and months of the year
 ● Punctuation plays a very important role, especially- full stop, comma, exclamation mark,
question mark and apostrophe
● Remember to give space after punctuation
● Watchout for typos

How to Practice-
● Project a passage for 30 seconds and then ask the test takers to type it in their computers
(let me know if you want me to share practice sheets)
● Start with projecting a small 3-4 line passage for 60 seconds and give them 120 seconds
to paraphrase it
● Gradually reduce the time

Section 9: Summary and Opinion

This section a small article (150- 200 words) will appear on the screen and two questions are
based on it. In the first subsection the test taker will have to summarize the article in ze own
words and in the second section ze will have to express ze opinion on the topic discussed in the
article. The time given for both these writeups together is 18 minutes. (The longest section in the
50 minute test)

Things to Remember: Summary-

● The word limit is 25- 50 words, try and write between 45- 55 words.
● Write in short simple sentences
● Remember uppercase and lowercase
● Write in short sentences- Make maggi not noodles
● Take care of typos and spellings
● Spend about 3 minutes to read the passage and 6 minutes to write the summary
● The word count will be visible on the screen
● The timer will be there on the top right corner
● Do not try Ctrl+C/ Ctrl+V type commands
● Encourage them to use word substitution, pronouns
● Discourage them from using conjunctions

How to Practice: Summary-

● Project a passage on the screen for 12 minutes and ask test takers to type the summary
in their computers
● Ask them to identify the clue/ important words in each sentence and then join these
important words to form sentences
● As you move ahead, gradually reduce the time (let me know if you want me to share
practice sheets)

Things to Remember: Opinion Writing-

 ● The word limit is at least 50 words. Write in short simple sentences
● Remember uppercase and lowercase
● Write in short sentences- Make maggi not noodles
● Take care of typos and spellings
● Spend about 6 minutes to write your opinion
● The word count will be visible on the screen
● The timer will be there on the top right corner
● Do not try Ctrl+C/ Ctrl+V type commands
● Write either in favor of the topic or against the topic- do not write both in favor and
against
● Make it very clear in the first line itself- I agree/ disagree...
● It is ideal to write 4 points in 4 sentences of about 15 words each
● Do not repeat points that the author has stated
● Try to sound original

How to Practice: Summary-

● Project a passage on the screen for 12 minutes and ask test takers to type the opinion in
their computers
● As you move ahead gradually reduce the time (let me know if you want me to share
practice sheets)