ESL WRITING & COMPUTERIZED ESL (Reading, Grammar, Listening) TEST - SAMPLE ITEMS

Sep 20, 2026

American River College Assessment Center provides sample items for the ESL Writing and Computerized ESL test. The writing section gives 30 minutes to respond to a prompt with specific reasons and examples, for review by ESL faculty to place students into the appropriate course level. The computerized portion includes practice via a web-based study app for grammar, listening, and reading, and outlines how the reading, grammar, and listening skills tests are structured, with sample questions and answers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

WRITING (ESSAY)

COMPUTERIZED Portion of the ESL Test

READING

GRAMMAR (LANGUAGE USE)

LISTENING

ANSWERS

AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE ASSESSMENT CENTER ESL WRITING & COMPUTERIZED ESL (Reading, Grammar, Listening) TEST SAMPLE ITEMS WRITING (ESSAY) You will have 30 minutes to write about a question given to you. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. A team of ESL faculty will read your writing sample to help decide which level of ESL writing course will work best for you. COMPUTERIZED Portion of the ESL Test The Official Web-Based Study App This Web-based study app features practice tests in ESL Language Use (Grammar), ESL Listening, or ESL Reading Skills. It’s accessible from any Internet-capable computer, and it will help you become familiar with the content and format of the ACCUPLACER test questions. To get the free Web-based app, visit [https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/student/practice](https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/student/practice)[ ](https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/student/practice)(Read the information under “Practice and Get Prepared for Test Day” and click on the link Get the free ACCUPLACER practice app. Create an account. Once logged in, open the dropdown menu named Change Test Version and choose ESL Practice Tests tests. ) The app is also available on your mobile device on IOS version 5. 0 or later, OR Android READING The ESL Reading Skills test measures your ability to read English. Specifically, it assesses your comprehension of short passages. It contains brief passages of 50 words or less and moderate length passages of 50 to 90 words. Read the information below, then choose the best answer. 1. Television has been introduced to almost every country in the world, reaching a large number of viewers onevery continent. About 600 million people saw the first person walk on the moon, anda billion people watched the twentieth Olympic Games. Television has inmanyways promoted understanding and cooperation among people. Itdoes this by showing educational and cultural programs. From this passage, areader can most reasonably conclude that the author believes that A. people spend too much time watching television B. not every country needs to have television C. television can unify people from around the world D. television is as important as schools GRAMMAR (LANGUAGE USE) | The sentence below has a blank space. Choose the word or phrase that makes a grammatically correct | | | --- | --- | | | sentence.
1. washing his sweater, Jacob hung it up to dry.
A. After
B. Before
C. By
D. Until
2. Dr. O’Harais certain that someday,men and women will to Mars. [A. travel](A. travel)
[B. travels](B. travels)
[C. traveling](C. traveling)
[D. traveled](D. traveled) | LISTENING During the test, you will listen to a recording of people talking. (Recording) Female voice: “Excuse me, which bus goes to Central Park?” Male voice: “Well, the 22 goes there, but it’s better to take the 7 express. It will be here in 10 minutes.” 1. Which bus does the man say to take? A. The 10 B. The 7 express C. The 22 express D. The 22 ANSWERS: Reading: C Grammar: A, A Listening: B Below is a link to a full version of the ESL Reading and Grammar test information and sample questions: (Scroll down to see all 5 pages of this document. ) [http://www.arc.losrios.edu/Documents/Support_Services/Assessment/ACCU_ESL_Test_Info_and_Sample_Questions.pdf](http://www.arc.losrios.edu/Documents/Support_Services/Assessment/ACCU_ESL_Test_Info_and_Sample_Questions.pdf)

FAQs

How much time do you have for the ESL writing (essay) sample?

You will have 30 minutes to write about a question given to you. The writing must include specific reasons and examples.

What does the ESL reading skills test measure?

It measures the ability to read English by assessing comprehension of short passages. The passages are 50 words or less, and moderate-length passages are 50 to 90 words.

How should test-takers prepare for the computerized portion of the ESL test?

Use the official web-based study app for practice tests in ESL grammar, listening, or reading. It is accessible from any internet-capable computer and is also available on iOS and Android.

Sep 20, 2026

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