VSTEP (Vietnamese Standardized Test of English Proficiency) is a proficiency test in line with the Six-level framework for foreign language proficiency in Vietnam (VNFLPF), equivalent to the CEFR, issued by the MOET dated March 3, 2015. Among the four skills tested, writing is the one which many students hope to achieve the best scores so that they can make up for the total result in case of lower listening or reading results. This article is to describe and critically analyze how and why students need to understand writing questions in order to improve their writing score.
How is VSTEP writing assessed?
VSTEP Writing Test consists of two tasks: Task 1 asks test takers to write a correspondence of at least 120 words for an intended purpose that is described in the task; Task 2 asks test takers to write an essay of at least 250 words about a given topic. The test is 60 minutes long, with the recommended time allowance for Task 1 of 20 minutes and Task 2 of 40 minutes.
Each task of the test was rated separately with a four-subscale analytic rubric: task fulfillment, organization, vocabulary and grammar. To achieve task fulfillment, examinees need to answer all the task requirements in the questions up to the word limits (at least 120 words for task 1 and 250 words for task 2) and also, they need to present their writing in the appropriate email style or essay formats. This article will focus on discussing how questions’ analysis help students to achieve task fulfillment criteria.
Why do VSTEP test takers need to understand questions before writing?
Understanding the question is the first and most important step when starting your writing tasks, as it means you can keep writing focused and on the right track. Identifying and understanding the different elements of your writing questions will allow you to answer them confidently, directly and fully. You could write an excellent email or essay, but if it does not answer the question asked or satisfy the outcome, it will not get the grade it deserves.
Some of my students recently had great grammar and vocabulary but always failed to read and analyze the question properly and therefore didn’t understand the question. They often went straight into writing without really thinking about what the examiner wanted them to write and thus, they should have got at least a 7 or 8 but ended up with a 6 writing band score instead.
Why do some students failed to get the scores they deserved?
Some students think that analyzing the question will take up too much time, but they normally don’t do as well as they should. The examiner is actually looking to see if you have understood the question properly, and a failure to take the time to do so could result in you dropping down a few band scores.
Some following reasons are the main factors to lower your writing band scores:
- Failure to take the time to actually read the question
- Writing about the topic generally and not answering the specific question
- Failing to recognize the kind of question being asked, leading to wrong email style or essay type
- Misunderstanding the question
How do VSTEP contestants analyze the writing questions?
Luckily, there are simple but useful steps you can take in the exam that will save you time and help you understand and analyze the question effectively, boosting your band score.
Analyzing task 1 question:
In task 1 writing, you are often given a written email/ letter text /advertisement and you need to write a response to that piece of information. When you approach task 1 writing, beside remembering the word count (at least 120 words) and time limit (within 20 minutes) you need to answer five following questions:
| Questions to answer | Purpose |
| 1. What is the context?
2. What is the main idea of the given email/ letter/text…? |
To acknowledge the context / main idea in your reply
|
| 3. What is the main writing task? | To identify the proper email type and use appropriate language in your reply: thank-you/ complaining/ requesting/ advising/ apologizing … language in your reply |
| 4. What three points should the response include? | To cover all three main points to achieve task fulfillment |
| 5. Who are you writing to and what is your relationship to this person? | To choose the correct writing style: informal or formal email |
Analyzing task 2 question:
In task 2 writing, you are required to write an essay to discuss a specific issue and you need to include reasons and any relevant examples to support your answer. When you approach task 2 writing, apart from some reminders about the word count (at least 250 words) and time limit (within 40 minutes) you should answer the following questions:
| Questions to answer | Purpose |
| 1.What is the general topic? | To raise the readers’ awareness / give some background information about the general problem >>> Sentence number 1 of the general statements in the introductory paragraph |
| 2. What is question’s statement? | To identify the focus of the general topic that you need to explain and develop more in your body paragraphs |
| 3. What is the main writing task? | To achieve task fulfillment criteria and to get the correct essay format: Opinion / Discursive / Account Essay? |
| 4. What are the key words in the question? | To find the synonyms of these word >>> paraphrase later in your essay |
It is a good idea to have a look at the different types of task 1 and task 2 questions that normally come up in VSTEP examination and you will be much more confident in the exam. The more you practice, the quicker you can get at analyzing questions; the better you understand what the examiner wants you to do with the question and the higher your writing band scores will be. All in all, three to five minutes spent to thoroughly understand what you are supposed to do in your writing is really a worthy time investment if you hope to boost VSTEP writing band score.
