[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-506301-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-506301-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","samples-of-tests-critical-skills-seminar","Samples of Tests - Critical Skills Seminar","","Collection of practice reading-and-writing tasks for the “Test of Critical Skills Seminar,” emphasizing critical thinking, information gathering and processing, and attentive interpretation of writing prompts. Includes guidance that effective language proficiency matters, alongside holistic performance across the full test process rather than only writing. 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In general, we find that applicants need to work on the skills of gathering and processing information, including paying attention to what the proposition asks you to do. Applicants also must have a certain level of technical proficiency with language (i.e, writing skills that communicate effectively), but we encourage you to think of the whole process, not one aspect in isolation (i.e., working only on writing skills may not help your performance on the Test of Critical Skills.)  \nSAMPLE 1: The Reading Task: Read the passage below critically before proceeding to the writing task. Use your thoughts about this passage to help you think critically about the writing task.  \nAlternative medical practices, including naturopathy, herbal medicine, and homeopathy are growing in popularity, and there is increasing pressure to allow them to be covered by public health insurance plans such as that of Saskatchewan Health. According to their adherents, these forms of treatment are more natural and more holistic approaches to health than conventional therapies using modern drugs; according to many physicians, on the other hand, they are simply scams, offering remedies which are placebos at best, potential poisons at worst. Each side accuses the other of failing to live up to the Hippocratic imperative: “Do no harm.” In spite of this controversy, an estimated 20% of Canadians now make use of some form of alternative medicine.  \nSAMPLE 1: The Writing Task: Consider the proposition given below in italics, and write a formal, persuasive essay of 300-500 words arguing for or against it. Use your analysis of the reading to trigger and add depth to your thinking about the proposition.  \nIndividuals have the right to decide for themselves what sort of medical treatment best suits their needs and the right to have that treatment paid for by public health insurance plans.  \nSAMPLE 2: The Reading Task: Read the passage below critically before proceeding to the writing task. Use your thoughts about this passage to help you think critically about the writing task.  \nThere are those who argue that the multicultural mosaic of Canada is threatened by the continued unfair dominance of French and English as the only official languages. They assert that all the children of Canada have a right to maintain their cultural heritage and that right is best protected by providing for the teaching of other langauges in Canadian school systems. In 1981, the Ontario Public School Men Teachers Association presented an article in its publication To Herald a Child expressing this opinion. The following is an excerpt from that article:  \nA child has the inalienable right to his mother tongue and to his cultural heritage, which not only determines who he is, but also who he will be. No school system, therefore, must be allowed to interfere with that right. The opposite is also true; everything must be done to encourage the child’s awareness of his heritage and to develop the language skills of his mother tongue. Without these provisions we will merely be paying lip service to the multicultural reality of Canada.  \nSample 2: The Writing Task: Consider the proposition given below in italics, and write a formal, persuasive essay of 300-500 words arguing for or against it. Use your analysis of the reading to trigger and add depth to your thinking about the proposition.  \nBecause everyone has an inalienable right to maintain his/her mother tongue and cultural heritage, Canadian school systems are responsible for providing every child in Canada with an education conducted in that child’smother tongue and reflecting the values of that child’s cultural heritage at the Canadian taxpayers’ expense.  \nSAMPLE 3: The Reading Task: Read the passage below critically before proceeding to the writing task. Use your thoughts about this passage to help you","cbCaiawpieOb46Lg","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiawpieOb46Lg","pdf",20330,"English","# SAMPLE 1\n## The Reading Task\n## The Writing Task\n# SAMPLE 2\n## The Reading Task\n## The Writing Task\n# SAMPLE 3\n## The Reading Task","[{\"question\":\"What skills does the Test of Critical Skills Seminar emphasize?\",\"answer\":\"It emphasizes gathering and processing information, carefully following what the writing proposition asks, and maintaining effective technical language proficiency for clear communication.\"},{\"question\":\"How should candidates use the reading passage when writing the essay?\",\"answer\":\"Candidates should use their analysis of the reading to add depth to their thinking about the proposition, and then argue for or against it in a formal persuasive essay.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the required length for the persuasive writing task?\",\"answer\":\"The essay should be 300–500 words.\"}]","Samples of Tests - Critical Skills Seminar | PDF",1791162540]