VSTEP

Secrets for Taking the VSTEP A2 Exam

2024-02-12T11:41:03+07:00

If you would like to get the VSTEP A2 certificate, let's follow these test-taking secrets BIET Language Center.

Structure and Ways to do VSTEP A2 Test
In Vietnam, there are currently 3 popular types of A2 English test. That is:
• The VSTEP A2 English test is equivalent to level 2 for adults as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training.
• A2 English test according to the European Framework of Reference.
• Cambridge A2 English exam according to the European reference framework, certified by Cambridge University, UK.

03 types of VSTEP A2

Depending on the needs and different subjects, test takers will choose the test format that suits them. In this article, BIET Language Center only talks about the structure and secrets of taking the VSTEP A2 test (level 2).

Listening Skill
Total exam time for this skill is 40 minutes, including 25 questions, 5 parts with different formats.
   • Part 1: You will listen to 5 short announcements or instructions twice and answer multiple choice questions A, B, C.
   • Part 2: You will listen to 5 short conversations twice and answer multiple choice questions A, B, C.
   • Part 3: You will listen to a longer conversation twice and fill in the blanks with no more than 3 words or 1 number.
   • Part 4: You will listen to a longer conversation twice and answer the questions.
   • Part 5: You will listen to a short talk twice and fill in the blanks with no more than 3 words or 1 number.

Ways to Do the Listening Section
   • Ways to do parts 1 and 2: Read each question and 3 suggested answers and guess the story's context before listening. Then, listen and choose the correct answer.
   • Ways to do part 3: Read the entire story and based on the information provided to predict the story content and missing words. Then, listen to recognize the words that need to fill in the blanks.
   • Ways to do part 4: Read all the suggested questions and answers and predict the entire content of the story. Then, listen to recognize the correct idea and choose the correct answer.
   • Ways to do part 5: Do the same as in part 3 above.

VSTEP Listening A2

Reading Skill
Total test time for this skill is 40 minutes, including 30 questions, 4 parts with different formats.
   • Part 1: You will read a short passage and fill in the appropriate words from the suggested answers A, B, C.
   • Part 2: You will read the notices and explanations and match them accordingly.
   • Part 3: You will read advertisements and e-mails and answer questions according to the requirements of the test.
   • Part 4: You will read the article and answer multiple choice questions A, B or C.

Ways to Do the Reading Section
   • Way to do part 1: Read the entire passage and see which blanks need to be filled in from the suggested answers A, B, and C.
   • Way to do part 2: Read the notices and explanations and find the right information and connect them together.
   • Way to do part 3: Read advertisements and e-mails and find information that matches the requirements of the question.
   • Way to do part 4: Read, analyze and understand the questions and answers correctly. Then, read the whole article and find relevant information and choose the correct answer.

VSTEP Reading A2

Writting Skill
Total test time for this skill is 35 minutes, including 3 Tasks with 7 questions.
   • Task 1: Building sentences with 5 sentences including suggested words but do not change their order.
   • Task 2: Write a note with the given suggestion with at least 35 words.
   • Task 3: Write a postcard with a given topic with at least 40 words.

Ways to Do the Writing Section
   • Way to do Task 1: Identify the subject, object, adjective, adverb and tense and then write a complete sentence.
   • Way to do Task 2: Start with Dear or Hi. Then, answer the information according to the suggested Whs-.
   • Way to do Task 3: It is similar to Task 2 but arranged by Whs- as you like.

VSTEP Writing A2

Speaking Skill
Total test time for this skill is 10 minutes, including 4 parts.
   • Part 1: Greetings and introducing yourself. (1/2 minute)
   • Part 2: Social interaction: Answer the given questions. (1.5 minutes)
   • Part 3: Describe the given topic. (3 minutes and 1 minute of preparation)
   • Part 4: Discuss and give your opinion on any statement. (3 minutes and 1 minute of preparation).

Ways to Do the Speaking Section
   • Part 1: Answer questions related to individuals such as name, age, address, ...
   • Part 2: Answer questions related to family, school, friends, ...
   • Part 3: Use knowledge and experience to talk about simple topics given.
   • Part 4: Use your knowledge and experience to give your own opinion about a comment or a saying.

VSTEP Speaking A2

Scores for 04 Skills of VSTEP A2 Test

Listening skill
Part 1: 5 points.
Part 2: 5 points.
Part 3: 5 points.
Part 4: 5 points.
Part 5: 5 points.

Reading Skill
Part 1: 10 points.
Part 2: 5 points.
Part 3: 5 points.
Part 4: 5 points.

Writting skill
Part 1: 5 points.
Part 2: 10 points.
Part 3: 10 points.

Speaking skill
Part 1: 5 points.
Part 2: 5 points.
Part 3: 5 points.
Part 4: 10 points.

BIET Language Center

Add: 50 Nguyen Khuyen Street, Vinh Hai Ward, Nha Trang city.

Tel: 0258 3833 207 Hotline: 0913607081 Email: brainpower@biet.edu.vn

Website: http://biet.edu.vn and https://ngoai-ngu-tri-tue-biet.business.site

Online Learning: http://online.biet.edu.vn

All About VSTEP Certificate With BIET Center

2023-09-01T11:09:27+07:00

If you have not known anything about the VSTEP English certificate, let's learn all about it and register to study it with BIET Center!

1. What is VSTEP English Certificate?:
• VSTEP is an acronym for the English phrase Vietnamese Standardized Test of English Proficiency. This is an English proficiency test according to the 6-level Foreign Language Competency Framework for Vietnam, equivalent to levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 of the European Framework.
• VSTEP is designed and applied at foreign language training institutions nationwide and this certificate is issued by schools authorized by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Practising VSTEP with BIET Language Center

2. Who is the VSTEP certificate suitable for?:
    • VSTEP A2 (level 2) is suitable for kindergarten or primary school teachers and professional-class civil servants.
    • VSTEP B1 (level 3) is suitable for students of Universities or Colleges and those who are preparing to study for a master's degree or those who want to take civil servant exam as a main expert .
    • VSTEP B2 (level 4) is suitable for high school teachers, or those who are about to complete a master's degree and senior professionals.
   • VSTEP C1 (level 5) is suitable for teachers specializing in teaching English at high school, non-language teachers at universities and colleges.

3. The structure of the VSTEP exam: Including 4 skills
    * Listening comprehension skills:
      • 3 parts, 35 questions with a test time of 40 minutes, including 7 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet.
      • This section tests candidates' listening comprehension skills by answering questions of difficulty level 3 to 5 after listening to short conversations, tutorials, announcements, lectures, talks, …

    * Reading comprehension skills:
      • 4 reading passages, 40 questions, ranging from 1,900 - 2,050 words with a test time of 60 minutes.
      • This section tests students' reading comprehension skills in different formats ranging from level 3 to level 5.
    * Writing skills: 60 minutes:
      • Task 1: Candidates are asked to write a letter/email with a length of about 120 words. This task accounts for 1/3 of the total score of the written test.
    • Task 2: Candidates are asked to write an essay of about 250 words on a given topic. With their knowledge and practical experience, candidates make arguments and defend their opinions. This task accounts for 2/3 of the total score of the written test.

    * Speaking skill: 12 minutes
      • Speaking part 1: Candidates are tested on their ability of describing and explaining and socializing.
     • Speaking part 2: Candidates are given a given situation with 3 solutions. Candidates must come up with the best solution, defend their argument and counter other opinions.
     • Speaking part 3: The candidats asr given a given topic and can use the ideas provided to develop a complete speech. Then, candidates discuss with the examiner some questions about the above topic.

4. The method of taking the VSTEP:
• When registering to study and practice this certificate at BIET Center, candidates will be guided by the teacher on how to do each skill one by one to get high scores.

5. How long is the VSTEP certificate valid?:
• The certificate does not specify the expiration date because this depends on the requirements of the agency, business, ... where the candidate applies.
• The units that do not specifically require this VSTEP certificate are considered valid forever.

6. VSTEP exam score scale:
• Each VSTEP test from level 3 to level 5 is scored on a 10-point scale for each skill, and is rounded to 0.5 points. Rounding points of 4 skills are used to calculate 3 levels respectively B1, B2, C1.

From 4.0 - 5.5/10: B1 certificate.
From 6.0 - 8.0/10: B2 certificate.
From 8.5 to 10/10: C1 certificate

• Particularly, the VSTEP A2 test only assesses 1 level of English A2. Scores are calculated on a 100-point scale to 10. Each skill accounts for 25% of the total score. Candidates achieve English level A2 if they score 6.5/10.

7. Convert VSTEP to IELTS and other certificates:

Level                   TOEIC        IELTS          CEFR         TOEFL ITP         TOEFL iBT         Cambridge Tests
Level 3 VSTEP   450          4.5 -5.0           B1                450                       45                      70-89 PET
45 - 59 FCE
Level 4 VSTEP   600          5.5 -6.0           B2                550                       61                       90 -100 PET
60 - 79 FCE
Level 5 VSTEP   780          6.5 -8.0           C1                550                       80                       80 -100 FCE
60 - 79 CAE
Level 6 VSTEP   900          8.5 -9.0           C2                625                      107                      80 -100 CAE
45 - 59 CPE

8. How much is the VSTEP exam fee?:
• VSTEP exam fee is regulated by each school, but the exam fee usually fluctuates from 1,500,000 to 1,800,000 VND/ 1 candidate/ 1 test time.

9. The requirements for the file for VSTEP exam: All relevant documents must be notarized
     • Application form with 3×4 photo sticker (photo must be taken no longer than 6 months, clear, sharp).
     • 3 4×6 photos with full name and date of birth on the back.
     • 1 copy of ID or 1 of the candidate's other identification documents such as driver's license, passport.
     • 1 copy of student card, student, graduate, civil servant, official (if any).

10. Exam format:
• The exam format of VSTEP is computer-based or paper-based. No matter the format, the exam is the same.

BIET Language Center

Add: 50 Nguyen Khuyen Street, Vinh Hai Ward, Nha Trang city.

Tel: 0258 3833 207 Hotline: 0913607081 Email: brainpower@biet.edu.vn

Website: http://biet.edu.vn and https://ngoai-ngu-tri-tue-biet.business.site

Online Learning: http://online.biet.edu.vn