Qualifying English Test
The Qualifying English Test (QET) is a written test conducted by the Centre for English Communication (CEC). It provides a baseline measure of English competence for freshmen of differing educational backgrounds as they enter SMU.
Students who pass the QET will be exempted from CORE 006 —Academic Writing — a compulsory course taken as a foundation course in the freshman year.
Students who are eligible for the QET but who do not register for or who fail to sit for the QET will be automatically enrolled in Academic Writing, CORE 006, classes in 2008-2009.
Who needs to take the QET?
| Student Category | Type of Entry Qualification | Automatic Exemption from CORE 006 – Academic Writing | Take Qualifying English Test (QET)* | Automatic Assignment to take CORE 006 – Academic Writing |
| A Level | New JC Curriculum, 2007-present: General Paper (GP) Knowledge & Inquiry |
|
|
|
| JC Curriculum, pre-2007: General Paper (GP) |
B3 & above in GP |
B4 in GP |
C5 & below in GP |
|
| International Baccalaureate | English A1 (SL) | 7 in English A1 (SL) | 6 in English A1 (SL)** | 5 & below in English A1 (SL) |
| English A1 (HL) | 6 & 7 in English A1 (HL) | 5 in English A1 (HL)** | 4 & below in
English A1 (HL) |
|
| English B | —— | 7 in English B** | 6 and below in English B |
|
Theory |
A in TOK | B in TOK** | C & below in TOK | |
Polytechnic
|
Polytechnic Diploma | Pass on QET or new SAT scores as with International students below |
All** | —— |
| International | Old SAT: | 660 & above for Verbal | —— | 650 & below for Verbal |
|
New SAT: | 1210 & above for combined score for Critical Reading and Writing | —— | 1200 & below for combined score for Critical Reading and Writing |
* In 2008-2009, all students who fall in the borderline categories shown in column titled Take QET must take CEC’s Qualifying English Test. Such students may register to take QET through the CEC website or will be automatically enrolled in Academic Writing if they do not take the QET. The onus is on the student to register for the QET. Details may be found on the CEC website and the Matriculation website links from SMU’s home page.
** Assessment for the waiver of QET using SAT score: Please note that the last SAT score for consideration is the SAT exam taken in the May 2008 session.
NOTE: If Polytechnic students or IB students have SAT, they may supersede other criteria with new SAT results (March 2005 onwards) only.
QET Registration
CEC will email students who are eligible for QET their assigned QET numbers from mid June 2008 onwards. Students will then log in at the QET Portal to select the test date(s). The test date and venue will be confirmed by CEC via email upon successful registration and receipt of registration fee. Registration closes on 1 July 2008 at 2pm. If you have not heard from CEC by 30 June 2008, please send an email to cec@smu.edu.sg.
Click HERE to register for the QET.
QET Test Date, Time & Venue
1) Thursday, 3 July 2008, 9.30am-11.30am
2) Thursday, 3 July 2008, 1pm-3pm
3) Saturday, 5 July 2008, 9am-11am
4) Saturday, 5 July 2008, 12noon -2pm
Venue: Seminar Rooms, Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) Building
QET Payment
A non-refundable registration fee of S$25 (inclusive of GST) will be charged for the QET.
The payment should reach the Office of Finance at least one week before the assigned test date. We accept payment by credit card and cheque only. Please do NOT mail cash.
Credit card payment: Payment can be made online when the student registers at the QET Portal by selecting the credit card option.
Cheque payment- The cheque should be crossed and made payable to: SMU
At the back of the cheque, please indicate your name, IC/Passport no., QET no. and contact no.
Please mail the cheque to:
Office of Finance – QET
Singapore Management University
Administration Building (12 th floor)
81 Victoria Street
Singapore 188065
QET Results
QET results will not be released if payment has not been made by the last date of matriculation. Students must inform the Office of Finance that they are paying for QET when they make payment for other SMU fees at matriculation. Delay in payment may affect the student's assignment to CORE 006 — Academic Writing .
Students who fail the QET will be pre-assigned to take CORE 006 — Academic Writing — in 2008-09.
Enquiries on QET
For clarification on the QET, please send an email to cec@smu.edu.sg .
For updates on the QET, please visit the CEC Website http://www.smu.edu.sg/centres/cec .
