The Certificate of Proficiency
in English (COPE) comprises a series of tests which are described below. These
tests are designed to assess your level of proficiency in the English language
in order to demonstrate that achievement level to universities where the
language of instruction is English. COPE 2008 is currently accepted by the
University of Toronto for graduate and undergraduate admission consideration.
Transcripts can also be provided to other universities.
|
Quick Links for Frequently Asked Questions: What are ELDA/COPE, ELDA/TOP,
ELDA/TOW? What is the format of each
test? How do I prepare for
ELDA/COPE, ELDA/TOP, ELDA/TOW? What do the results mean? Choose: COPE, TOP or TOW |
Please note that the October 18, 2008 test has been
replaced with October 25, 2008 due to insufficient space. We will be
e-mailing those applicants who have applied for October 18 to ask if they can
attend on October 25 instead. If you have not heard from us please send an
email to info@copetest.com with OCT 25
as the subject stating that you can take the October 25, 2008 test, or ask
for a refund if you cannot. Receipts for the October 25,
2008 COPE Test. The next ELDA COPE Test will take place on October 25,
2008. This is the only COPE test in 2008. The next ELDA TOW Test will take place on October 25,
2008. The next TOP/TOW Test will take place on November 22, 2008. There will not
be a TOP test on October 25, 2008. 2008 Fees: ELDA / COPE: $150.00 (Late fee after the deadline is
$175.00) Please read the following
policy statements before contacting us. We will not respond to any questions
which are answered here: COPE results are displayed
on this website within 10 days of the test. Results are sent to
Admissions at the University of Toronto within 10 days of the test.
Admissions needs time to process the marks. We cannot answer questions about
their process. Transcript request forms can
take us up to two weeks to process. We cannot answer any questions on behalf
of the receiving department or institution. You cannot transfer your
application to someone else. You may register for two
tests if you wish (not more than two) but you must pay for both at once. The
test fees are NON-REFUNDABLE even if you pass the first test. We cannot combine COPE and
TOW scores into one transcript. However, Admissions will take both results
into account. |
|
|
Fast Track for Future Tests: if you have already taken a test in 2008, paid by credit card and want to take another test simply email your registration number to info@copetest.com with the desired test date and authorize us to use your credit card again and we will register you for the test of your choice. DO NOT send your credit card information online. Your registration number will be posted online under the link to the test date. |
|
|
|
Location: ELDA COPE tests normally take place at the Bahen Centre for Information Technology, located at 40 St. George Street in the St. George Campus in Toronto. The University of Toronto campus map |
Problem email accounts: We continue to experience problems with various webservers putting our messages in Junkmail. Therefore, we are not sending out receipts except for TOW. All COPE registration numbers are posted on line under the link to the test date. |
|
Frequently
used forms:
1. What are ELDA/COPE, ELDA/TOP, ELDA/TOW?
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DIAGNOSIS & ASSESSMENT (ELDA) is the name of a group of
ESL experts who develop and administer English Proficiency tests. The results
of these tests are currently accepted by the University of Toronto for graduate
and undergraduate admission consideration. Transcripts can be sent to
other institutions on request.
The ELDA Certificate of Proficiency in English (ELDA/COPE)
The ELDA Test of Oral Proficiency (ELDA/TOP)
The ELDA Test of Writing (ELDA/TOW)
2. What is the format of each test?
2a. ELDA/COPE tests three areas of language proficiency:
Reading, Writing and Listening.
The Reading Module consists of the following:
The Writing Module consists of a 35 minute essay based on a topic related to
the summary in theÊ Reading Test. The essay is written after the summary has
been collected.
The Listening Module consists of the following:
Click here for Sample Questions.
We have no other preparation materials.
2b. The ELDA Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP)
consists of a 15-20 minute interview which is analyzed by two ESL
experts. If you just taking TOP you will be given an appointment on your
receipt. If you are taking both TOP and TOW tests, you will be given an
appointment for TOP on the day of the test.
ELDA/TOP is required by the University of Toronto for consideration for
admission in the following special situations:
2c. The ELDA Test of Writing (ELDA/TOW) consists of a one-hour
summary/essay test which is marked by two ESL experts.
ELDA/TOW may be required by the University of Toronto for consideration for
admission in the following special situations:
N.B. The ELDA/TOW
cannot be used to replace the whole COPE test battery.
3. How do I prepare for the tests?
The best way to prepare for the COPE test is to take an ESL course
(particularly one that includes writing and grammar) to improve your overall
proficiency. You may find courses which combine reading and writing or speaking
and listening. Check with your local college for specific details. We do not
provide recommendations.
If you live in a situation where you use your native language most of the
time, it is very important to seek out other situations where you can practise
the English language in a real environment.
Read real materials in English (newspapers, school textbooks, magazines
etc.) rather than ESL textbooks but buy a good ESL grammar book to use for
yourself. You may find some in the ESL section of the U of T bookstore.
Listen to radio broadcasts, TV documentaries etc. (particularly programs in
which the speaker is not seen). Take notes.
Ask friends and colleagues to correct your speaking errors which cause
mis-communication: normally they will not do this in case they offend you but
explain how important it is to you.
Do not depend on friends and relatives to monitor your written work. Unless
they are trained ESL teachers, they can only tell you what you have done wrong
but only a trained person can explain how to correct the mistake on a
systematic basis.
Carefully read our Sample
Questions.
a. COPE, TOP & TOW are accepted by the U of T at both
graduate and undergraduate levels & some Woodsworth College Certificate
programmes. TOW results can be used to replace TOEFL Writing scores in
some cases.
b. TOP is also accepted by OISE/UT and Woodsworth College in teacher
training programmes.
c. TOW is also accepted by OISE/UT in teacher training programmes.
Step One: Complete the appropriate registration
form online - or - print out the appropriate registration form from our website
or from the ELDA/COPE booklet or TOP/TOW booklet and mail it to COPE Testing
Ltd. Our mailing address is: COPE Testing Ltd. 7B Pleasant Boulevard, Box 957,
Toronto, Ontario, M4T 1K2. BE SURE TO USE OUR 2008
FORMS. THE 2007 FORMS NO LONGER APPLY. You may register for two tests if
you wish (not more than two) but you must pay for both at once. Please indicate
the amount paid on your registration form. Also remember that test fees are
NON-REFUNDABLE even if you pass the first test.
Step Two: Print out and complete the
Identification form from this website or complete the Identification form in
the ELDA/COPE booklet or TOP/TOW booklet. Do not use the COPE registration form
to apply for TOP & TOW or you may be sent to the wrong test.
Two recent passport size colour photos showing your head and shoulders are
required. One should be attached to Part A and signed by a Canadian Citizen
(not a relative). The second should be attached to Part B which you bring to
the test.
In each case, send your form(s) with payment to the COPE Testing Ltd.
mailbox address. Please ensure that the spelling of your name is the same on
all forms submitted.
Step Three: Payment of Fees
Fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. You may transfer your payment to the next test if
you contact us at least four days before the test and pay an additional $30.
You will need to use the Transfer
Form in that case.
|
ELDA/COPE Fee: $150.00 |
ELDA/TOP & TOW Fee: $145.00 |
|
ELDA/TOP Fee: $75.00 |
ELDA/TOW Fee: $70.00 |
Payment:
You may pay by money order, personal cheque or credit card.
Credit card details should be written on your identification statement NOT ON-LINE.
NSF cheques will incur an additional fee of $30.00 and results will be
withdrawn and not released until this fee is paid.
Deadline:
Ensure that your COPE Identification Statement and your payment are received by
us before 5 pm on the Friday that is eight days prior to the test date. If we
receive your payment late (after the deadline) we will require a further $25.00
for the COPE or $15.00 for the TOP or the TOW and $30.00 for TOP & TOW
combined. If there are still spaces available in the week before the test,
applicants may be accepted. However, any late payments will incur the
additional fee stated above and must be made by money order or by credit
card. Personal cheques will not be accepted unless they are received by the
deadline.
Your Official Registration number for the ELDA/COPE will be posted online.
You will need to write this number on your test answer sheets. We post your
registration number after we have received your registration form,
identification form and payment. We do not normally acknowledge an on-line
registration form until we receive the ID statement & fee. You must bring
this registration number on the test day OR YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE
TEST. Please write it on Part B of your identification statement.
If you have registered for more than one test, you will get a new
registration number for each one. This will not be posted until two weeks
before the test date.
Your Official Receipt for the ELDA/TOP and ELDA/TOW will be emailed to you.
It will indicate the date, time and place of your test. If you have received an
email please print it out. You must bring this receipt on the test day.
Warning: Because of filter systems used to screen out SPAM, some applicants are
having problems getting our receipts. Please adjust your email server to
recognize that COPE Testing Ltd. emails are not SPAM and look for a subject
which contains the date of your test and your registration number.
Your results will normally be sent on-line to the University of Toronto
within ten days of the test, if you requested this. Please keep a record of
your request because if you forget you will have to make another request and
pay by completing the Transcript form from our website. Please note that it
takes a few days for our information to be processed through the Admissions and
Awards system. This means that your results may not be immediately accessible
to you even though we have already sent the information.
Results from all tests will be valid for two years from the date of the
test.
A) Unofficial results will be posted to this website within ten days of the
Test - and will be identified by your registration number and date of birth.
B) Results can also be sent to the University of Toronto within ten days
without charge IF YOU REQUESTED THIS ON YOUR REGISTRATION FORM. If you make
this request AFTER you have received your results, you must complete the
Transcript Form by down loading it from the website & mailing it to us with
a $10.00 fee. Transcript form
C) After you have received your results, if you then want an official
transcript SENT BY MAIL to you home address, please complete the Transcript
Form by down loading it from the website & mailing it to us with a $10.00
fee.
D) Results can be sent to additional institutions after the test if you
complete the Transcript Form by down loading it from the website & mailing
it to us with a $20.00 fee.
Please note that Transcript Forms may take up to two weeks to process and
more by the receiving institutions.
ELDA/TOP & TOW tests
When you register for TOP and TOW (and you have applied, or intend to apply,
for Additional Qualifications for Teachers, or for the Bachelor of Education
courses at OISE/UT) we recommend that you checkmark the selection To OISE/UT on
the registration form. When you do this your results will be reported
electronically direct to the University of Toronto, and an official transcript,
bearing the seal of Cope Testing Ltd., will be mailed to you and also delivered
to OISE/UT. Please let us know whether you want your results sent to Additional
Qualifications OR to the B.Ed programme or we cannot guarantee delivery.
TOP results required by the Woodsworth College TESL Certificate Program will
be sent there if you request it on your registration form. TOW can also be used
by applicants to replace the TOEFL writing test if approved by Admissions &
Awards.
8. What do the results mean?
Please note that ELDA does not provide individual discussion of any of our
tests.
AS OF 2008, ELDA/COPE RESULTS ARE REPORTED NUMERICALLY RATHER THAN AS
LEVELS. Those of you who have taken our tests before can check the
equivalences.
00 – 21 (Level 0); 22 – 31 (Level 1); 32 – 45 (Level 2); 46 – 60 (Level 3).
Undergraduate applicants to the University of Toronto must achieve a minimum
total of 86. Your writing score must be at
least 32 and your Reading and Listening
scores must be at least 22.
Graduate students should check with their departments.
If you feel that your mark does not reflect your proficiency, you have the
following options:
Complete a Recheck/Rescore
Form and mail it to our mailbox address with the appropriate fee.
A recheck of the COPE test costs $20 (refundable if we made a clerical
error) and each score on the test is double-checked in case of any mistake in
compiling or recording your results.
A rescore of the COPE Test costs $50 and an ESL expert reads all your
answers and decides whether or not the original score was fair. If the total
mark changes, the new mark will be sent to the University of Toronto
Admissions and Awards (whether it is higher or lower). There is no refund of
this fee under any circumstances. If changes are made, you will receive
an amended transcript which will become your new official transcript.
Extra transcripts can be requested for two years from the date of your test.
They can be sent to an institution of your choice for a fee of $20.00 per
transcript (complete Transcript
form)
There is no limit on the number of times you may attempt COPE tests in one
academic year (September to August), but, as significant progress requires
time, we advise you to take appropriate ESL courses before trying again.
The ELDA/TOP is scored using a banding system which is reproduced for you
below.
OISE/UT and Woodsworth College candidates are expected to reach at least level
7.
Oral Proficiency Assessment Bands for non-native speakers of English
|
7+ Approaches bilingual competence. |
|
7 Presents complex ideas clearly and without help. Interacts effectively and easily. Can independently and fluently expand and develop the point being discussed. Mis-pronunciation and minor language errors do not interfere with communication. Speakers in this band are still perceived as non-native speakers of English. |
|
6 Expresses complex ideas comprehensively and without major difficulty despite some stumbling and hesitation. Is able to maintain a complex discussion with some fluency, but may need some prodding. Mis-pronunciation, errors and inappropriate language are noticeable, but do not significantly impede communication. |
|
5 Expresses simple ideas well but has difficulty coping with complex discussions without a great deal of help. Beyond a simple discussion may need to ask for repetition or clarification, and similarly be asked to clarify or repeat. Interviewer must make an effort to maintain relevance or flow of discussion. Mis-pronunciation and errors are obvious. |
|
4 Cannot cope with complex discussions but expresses simple ideas comprehensibly. Can maintain a simple discussion with some help, but hesitation, errors and inappropriate language are obvious. Has difficulty following English at normal speed. Demonstrates major problems with grammar or pronunciation. |
|
3 Has difficulty coping with simple discussions. Cannot express simple ideas without help. All dialogue is a struggle punctuated with hesitations and severe misunderstandings. Comprehends fragments of normal speech only and has difficulty communicating ideas comprehensibly. |
|
2 Cannot cope with simple discussions. Uses single words or stock phrases. Little ability with normal speech. |
|
1 Cannot communicate in English at all. |
8c. ELDA/TOW Writing Assessment for non-native speakers of
English.
|
Papers that score between 46 and 60
demonstrate a superior ability to communicate effectively: |
|
Papers that score
between 32 and 45 demonstrate a clear ability to communicate effectively: |
|
Papers that score
between 22 and 31 demonstrate some ability to communicate effectively: |
|
Papers that score
between 0 and 21 demonstrate little ability to communicate effectively: |
Remember to bring the following to the test:
- your passport (if your passport is out of date, we may allow a driving
licence plus health card with recent photos but you must check with us before
the test).
- Section B of the ID statement.
You will not be admitted to the test without
these documents and no refund will be given.
9a. What happens at the COPE?
Registration begins 45 minutes before the test time on your receipt.
You will be divided into alphabetical or numerical groups which are
displayed outside the test room. You will then be sent to registration officers
inside the room where you show your official identification documents. You will
be asked to leave coats and bags at the back of the room. Mobile phones must be
switched off. We cannot accept responsibility for lost or stolen items.
A monitor will then show you to a seat in the test room. When everyone is
ready, the Test Supervisor will explain the order of the test: Reading, Writing
& Listening. There will be a short lunch break after the Writing Test.
9b. What happens at the TOP?
The interview will be recorded, (you will notice a tape recorder between you
and the interviewer) so that another ESL expert can listen later and give you a
second mark. The interviewer will begin by asking you some informal questions
before going on to a more detailed discussion.
There is no pre-planned topic for discussion. Based on the introductory
questions, the interviewer leads you into a discussion that becomes more
complex or academic. Throughout the discussion, the tester encourages you to
develop and support your ideas.
Do:
Try to ignore the tape recorder: look at the tester, not the tape recorder.
Try to answer with more than 'yes' or 'no'. Remember that this is a talking
test; you need to develop your ideas with details and / or examples.
Feel free to ask the interviewer to explain a question in different words if
you don't understand the question.
Do Not:
Do not memorize a prepared speech. If you do, the tester will interrupt you.
Do not bring a dictionary or any notes into the room to help you.
Do not worry about the time. You will be informed when the interview is over.
9c. What happens at the TOW?
Go to the room location and enter it if the room supervisor allows it.
You will be called to the front desk to register. This normally takes place
after 9.30 am.
After reading an opinion-based one page text you are expected to summarize
the main argument. This is meant to stimulate your thinking so that you can
write a better essay. The writing test consists of an essay which is related to
the ideas in the summary text. Your notes and text will be collected before you
receive your essay topic. You will spend 20 minutes on this part of the test.
Your essay is meant to be an argument for or against a statement of opinion.
You may take either side, or even argue for both sides as long as you come to a
conclusion. Aim for an essay of 4-5 paragraphs, and take time to read through
your essay and make changes and corrections. Such corrections are treated as
evidence of language development, not as errors. You will be allowed 40 minutes
to complete your essay.
The topics in ELDA/TOW are all related to current trends in society which
can affect us all. The topic will take a stand for or against these trends, but
you should make up your own mind and support your own argument.
Sample topic:
Write a brief (4-5 paragraph) essay on the following topic. Time: 40 minutes.
North Americans are encouraged to spend too much on personal automobiles,
and not enough on supporting public transport systems. Do you agree or disagree
with this opinion? You should support your answer with your own ideas and
information. You can also use examples from the summary text if you wish.
10. Important advice and warnings
Do not bring translation aids, dictionaries or other printed or electronic
aids into the test room.
All communication devices must be switched off while in the test room. If they
are not switched off and disturb the test, you will be asked to leave the test
and will not receive a result for that test module.
When the test begins, listen carefully to the Room Supervisorâ s instructions.
You will be given time to scan the whole test paper before you begin. Read the
instructions and times carefully.
There are no choices in the test. You will be expected to complete each part.
Use pencils rather than pens and bring an eraser.
Behave quietly in the test room so no other candidates are disturbed.
At the end of the test, stop writing immediately the supervisor instructs you
to do so. Otherwise you will be asked to leave the test and receive no refund
or results.
N.B. CHEATING IS A SERIOUS OFFENCE. IT CAN INVOLVE IMPERSONATION, COPYING
FROM ANOTHER CANDIDATE, OR BRINGING MATERIALS OR AIDS INTO THE TEST ROOM.
ANYONE CAUGHT CHEATING WILL RECEIVE NO RESULTS OR REFUND. FURTHER, THE OFFENCE
MAY BE REPORTED TO THE ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENTS OF ALL CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES.
|
Our telephone answer
machine is 416-962-2673. |
|