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 2009 is currently accepted
by the University of Toronto for graduate and undergraduate admission
consideration. Transcripts can also be provided to other universities.
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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 |
NOTICE: YOU MUST USE 2009
FORMS ONLY. Earlier application forms will not be processed. ELDA COPE TEST DATES FOR
2009 Receipts
for the January 10, 2009 COPE Test STAGE ONE*: January 10,
February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2 STAGE TWO*: January 24,
February 21, March 21, April 18, May 23. [* Please check Section 2
for an explanation of test format] You may register for Stage
One only. You cannot register for Stage Two. Read Sections 5 and 7 for an
explanation of the registration process. ELDA COPE tests normally
take place at the Bahen Centre for Information Technology, 40 St. George
Street. Please arrive at 8.45 am on the test date. The University of Toronto campus map ELDA TOW TEST DATES FOR
2009 January 24, February 21,
March 21, April 18, May 23. ELDA TOP tests are arranged
by appointment on the following dates: February 21, April 18. Fees for 2009: ELDA COPE
Stage One: $100.00; Stage Two: $75.00 ELDA TOW: $75.00; ELDA
TOP: $70.00; ELDA TOP/TOW: $145.00 THERE IS NO REFUND FOR ANY
REASON Please read the following
policy statements before contacting us. We will not respond to questions
answered here. Also, use the links on the
left to read our explanations and instructions. We will not explain these to
you in individual emails. Stage One results will be
displayed on the website within ONE WEEK of the test. WE DO NOT SEND OUT
RESULTS IN INDIVIDUAL EMAILS. Stage Two results will be
sent to Admissions at the University of Toronto within ONE WEEK of the test.
Admissions needs time to process the marks. We cannot answer questions about
their process. Transcript request forms
can take us two weeks to process. We cannot answer questions on behalf of the
receiving department or institution. You cannot transfer your
application to anyone else and you cannot request a refund. You can transfer your
application to a future Stage One test but must do so at least 4 days before
the test date. We cannot combine COPE and TOW scores into one transcript. However, Admissions will take both results onto account. |
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)
2a. What is the format of
each test?
What is the format of each
test? PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY.
ELDA COPE tests three areas
of language proficiency: Reading, Writing and Listening.
The Stage One consists of
Reading Text 1 (fact-based) of approximately 850 words followed by a
comprehension free response question worth 10 marks and multiple choice
questions worth 10 marks. There is also Reading Text 2 in which words have been
deleted. Students must choose or add the missing words. This part is worth 15
marks.
In addition, there is a
Listening module which involves a series of short monologues and dialogues
followed by multiple choice or fill in the blank questions. This is designed to
test the student’s understanding of informal communication in an academic
setting. This is worth 15 marks.
The Stage Two consists of,
first, Reading Text 3 (opinion based) of approximately 450 words where students
must state the main idea and supporting arguments in a brief summary. This is
worth 10 marks. The Writing Test follows, a 40 minute essay based on a topic
related to the ideas in Reading Text 3. The essay is written after the summary
has been collected. It is scored out of 45. The final part of Stage Two is a
fact-based lecture in which comprehension questions are inserted. This is worth
30 marks.
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 just taking TOP, 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.
Our mailing address is: COPE Testing Ltd. 7B Pleasant Boulevard, Box 957,
Toronto, Ontario, M4T 1K2. We no longer accept hand written forms.
You may register for two Stage One 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 2009 Identification form
which you can download from this website. 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 $30.00. You will need to use the Transfer Form in that case.
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ELDA/COPE Fee: $100.00 for Stage One |
ELDA/TOP & TOW Fee: $145.00 |
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ELDA/TOP Fee: $70.00 |
ELDA/TOW Fee: $75.00 |
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. We do not send individual receipts. 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.
You will keep the same
registration number for all 2009 tests. You must use it each time you apply.
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.
7. When do I get my results?
7a. Results of the Stage One ELDA/COPE test
will be posted online within one week of the test. Check your registration
number and birthdate. If you score 30/50 or more you will be eligible to proceed
to stage two. If you have scored less than 30/50, you will not be eligible to
take Stage Two. This means you will have to take Stage One again until you
reach that score.
Your total final score on
the COPE TEST, the score that we send to the University, consists of your
scores on both Stage One and Stage Two. We do not send your Stage One scores to
anyone because the Stage One score is designed to determine whether you are
ready to attempt Stage Two.
If you have scored at least
30/50, you are eligible to take stage two (see test dates on the first page).
Please follow the instructions below in 7b.
Stage Two applicants (those
who have scored at least 30/50 do not have to register again. We will expect you to attend the
following Stage Two test. Please email us if you would rather take Stage Two at
a later date, or if you do not intend to complete ELDA/COPE.
7b. Otherwise, email us to
say whether you want us to use your credit card details again, or you can pay
at the test with a money order or cash (no cheques). There will be no time to
mail your fee.
Your results for the whole test (Stage One
plus Stage Two) will normally be sent online to the University of Toronto
within one week of the Stage Two test. 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.
After you have received your whole COPE test
results, if you then want an official transcript sent by mail to your home
address, please complete the Transcript Form by downloading it from the website & mailing it to
us with a $10.00 fee.
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 us
up to two weeks to process. We have no control over or information about how
long the receiving institutions take to process the transcripts.
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.
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 – within 30 days of the test
date.
A recheck of the STAGE ONE
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 STAGE TWO
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
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7+ Approaches bilingual competence. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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2 Cannot cope with simple discussions. Uses single
words or stock phrases. Little ability with normal speech. |
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1 Cannot communicate in English at all. |
8c. ELDA/TOW Writing
Assessment for non-native speakers of English.
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Papers
that score between 46 and 60 demonstrate a superior ability to communicate
effectively: |
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Papers that score between 32 and 45 demonstrate a
clear ability to communicate effectively: |
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Papers that score between 22 and 31 demonstrate some
ability to communicate effectively: |
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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?
Stage One: Registration begins 45 minutes
before the test time indicated on the website. Test room numbers will be
displayed in the front hall of the Bahen Centre.
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. There will be no breaks during the test.
Stage Two: In addition to the above
procedures, photographs will be taken of all Stage Two candidates for security
reasons.
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. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TEST
YOU AS PART OF A SMALL GROUP AS THIS TELLS US MORE ABOUT YOUR ABILITY TO
COMMUNICATE.
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?
Test room numbers will be sent by email or
displayed in the front hall of the Bahen Centre. 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 at
8:45 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 30
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 Supervisor’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.
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Information line
416-962-2673. Please do not leave a message as we are unable to reply. |
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