This blog is aimed to train students who are about to take the SABER
PRO exam, by providing them with examples and exercises focused on the
competences of English language, as one of the modules evaluated within
the exam. Throughout the content, you could find information and
practical exercises which give you an idea and prepare you to feel more
comfortable during the test.
WHAT IS SABER PRO EXAM?
It is a compulsory standard test that is applied by the ICFES and must be
submitted by all candidates to graduate from universities in
Colombia.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TAKE THIS TEST
Saber Pro Examination in Colombia is a national test that seeks to
measure the quality of higher education, being a standardized instrument
administered by the Colombian Institute for the Evaluation of Higher
Education (ICFES) and available to the national government to examine,
inspect and monitor the quality of higher education service.
STANDARDIZED TEST RESULTS: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH PROGRAM
IMPROVEMENT
Establishing a relationship between a language curriculum and students’
performance on national standardized tests is not a common research topic
in Colombia. However, more and more frequently, national standardized
tests are becoming an important tool to measure program accountability,
and even to evaluate the quality of education in this country. Given this
new reality, both public and private universities have started to look
carefully at the results obtained by their students on these tests in
order to identify areas in need of improvement.
Being bilingual has become relevant in these times. As Sánchez (2013)
explains: “The linguistics abilities are one of the key factors for the
development of society (p. 3)” leading to the establishment of public
foreign language policies. English has stepped in as the chosen language
for these policies. In that sense, Graddol (2006) says that “English is
the global lingua franca and it has a great impact on the ecomomic
growth of society (p. 58-63).” Furthermore, Sánchez (2013) points out
that English is important in education as the best universities of the
world are located in English-speaking countries. He adds that “English
is one of the official languages for the United Nations and for the
International Monetary Fund (p. 4).” [authors’ translation].
WHAT IS IT EVALUATED IN SABER PRO TEST ENGLISH SECTION?
The English test assesses the communicative competence in English
language on students in their last year of the university with the
purpose to know their capacities in the language according Common
European Framework (CEFR) through grammar, reading and lexical
activities. In the test, there are different questions which are organized in
sections: ads, vocabulary, short conversations, texts with blank spaces
and reading comprehension.
Taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rca4WJK7cDs
According to the results, the student is located in a level according
CEFR Imagen (A1, A2, B1, B2)
A1 · Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases
aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.
-
Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions
about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows
and things he/she has.
-
Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly
and clearly and is prepared to help.
A2 ·
Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas
of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family
information, shopping, local geography, employment).
-
Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and
direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
-
Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background,
immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
B1 Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar
matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
-
Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in
an area where the language is spoken.
-
Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of
personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes
& ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions
and plans.
B2 · Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and
abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of
specialization.
-
Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes
regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain
for either party.
- Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
SUGGESTIONS TO GET A GOOD GRADE IN SABER PRO TEST
- to have a previously preparation and do the exercises as you find in this
blog.
-To get familiarized with the Saber Pro structure and the time for each
section
-To ask some people who already did the test about their
experience.
