8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
1/31
8/11/2011 1BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
2/31
Purpose of Readingy Reading
y The meeting of the mind of the author with the mind of the
readery Written text contains
y Facts, ideas and values of society along with
y the level of maturity of the mind of the author
y Writers ability to reflect upon a problem and bring out itsrelevance for him and for the readers
y reflected in the process of systematization,
y in the form and style of writing
8/11/2011 2BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
3/31
Knowledge transmission
y Radio, TV, Films, telephone etc.
y Emergence of audio-visual and multi-media technology,
y Written text is a permanent document
y One may agree / disagree with a given text.
y Opinion of a reader is subject to verification by any
reader
8/11/2011 3BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
4/31
Knowledge transmission contd
y The process is called-
y the method ofadvancement of learning
y which leads to the growth ofeducation and
enlightenment.y Preservation of written texts - all civilized societies
y In civilized societies, great libraries have always existed
y In short
y The more you read, the better you become in reading
and learn more
Good reading habit is the hall-mark of a cultured person
8/11/2011 4BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
5/31
The Process of Effective Reading (ER)
y ER is an important skill
y demands conscious and sustained cultivation of good
reading materials.y It is the end result of a complex mental process that
comprises
1. Recognition of words
2. Perception
3. Comprehension
4. Association
8/11/2011 5BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
6/31
WORDS
RecognitionOf
symbol
Perception Comprehension Association
Writes
ideas
facts
Goodknowledge of
vocabulary
Translation
of symbols
into
meanings
Understanding
Meaning.
Putting It incontext
Reconstruct the
whole Idea
presented by the
writer
Referring to
present
Knowledge.Fusing new ideas &
knowledge with the
old for better
understanding &
Good recall
Literal
What is actually
said on the page?
What are the facts,
how do they relate?
Interpretive
Reading between
the Lines
Is author saying
what he means
Is he saying more
than written
Awareness of
grammar
The Process of Reading
8/11/2011 6BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
7/31
Eye Movements
y The mental process of readingrequires coordination
y with the physical process ofreading.
y We generally perceive that oureyes move smoothly
y across the page from left to righteach line and back again.
y Fact is we do not move our eyes
smoothly along the printed lines,y but in an irregular sequence of
rapid jerksFixation
Saccade
8/11/2011 7BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
8/31
y Jumps are called saccades
y The focuses as fixations
y At the points of fixation the eyeball is almost stationaryy for approximately sec for adults
y The saccades / jerks from one point to another are rapid andy the eye spends 90% of the time fixated
y A reader is not aware of this irregularity in motion andy the time taken for any one saccadic leap is not under his/her control.
y The time fixated on points in the printed page can be reducedy by training
Fixation
Saccade
8/11/2011 8BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
9/31
2 difficulties in readingy Problem of feedback
y i.e. difficulties in understanding, arising from
y
poor vocabulary ory lack of familiarity with the material (pg 26)
y Regression and visual wandering
y i.e. slow and faulty eye movements
8/11/2011 9BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
10/31
8/11/2011 10BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
11/31
Reading Strategies
y How do we read texts?
y Use different approaches to read different texts.
y
Can read quickly or slowlyy skimming for the general ideas or scanning for a specific point.
y How we read depends on the text
y its length, its type and
y our purpose in reading it
y for information, for the general idea, etc.
8/11/2011 11BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
12/31
What to identify?
y BEC Preliminary Reading paper - you need to identify
y the text type and
y the purpose of the task and
y to apply the appropriate approach.
8/11/2011 12BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
13/31
Am I successful?
y Our relative success as readers is showny in the outcome of our reading.
y Do we -y find the information we want, or
y understand the general idea?
y Success depends ony applying different reading strategies to different types of text.
y The range of tasks and text types in the BEC Preliminary
Reading paper requiresy you to apply these different strategies effectively.
8/11/2011 13BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
14/31
E.g. of situations to apply different approaches to
reading:
8/11/2011 14BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
Most important
Reading for gist
Reading for detailedunderstanding
Travelling on a bus
Reading for mainpoints
Instructionmanual
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
15/31
Examples contd
8/11/2011 15BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
2 product brochures
Specific information
Complete a form
Sign board
Guess / deduce the meaning
Accuracy
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
16/31
8/11/2011 16BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
17/31
What aspects of reading are tested?
y On your ability to understand
y gist, detail and the text structure
y to identify main points andy specific information
y vocabulary and
y understanding discourse features.
8/11/2011 17BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
18/31
How long should I spend on each part?
y No time limit for each task;
y Some tasks may take longer than others
y You should be aware of how long you need for differenttasks.
y Keep in mind
y some tasks have more items and
y therefore worth more marks.
8/11/2011 18BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
19/31
How to answer the Reading part of the paper?
y In this paper, put the answers on an answer sheet by -
y filling in a lozenge (a kind of box) or
y by writing a word (use CAPITALS)y a short phrase or (use CAPITALS)
y a number onto the answer sheet in pencil.
8/11/2011 19BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
20/31
The Paper Format
8/11/2011 20BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
21/31
8/11/2011 BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology 21
BEC (P) BEC (V) BEC (H)
Paper format parts 5 parts 6 parts
Length of texts 750 900 words overall;
20 400 words per text
1500 1950 words overall;
150-500 words per text
2050 2300 words overall;
200 600 words per text
Questions 45 45 52
Text types Business related texts
from newspaper &
magazine articles,
business letters, product
descriptions, reports,
minutes, ads, notices,
timetables, leaflets &
messages
Business related from
newspapers, magazine,
article, book review,
notices, annual reports, co.
literature, letters, books on
management,
advertisements and
messages
Business related from
newspapers, magazine,
article, book review,
notices, annual reports, co.
literature, letters, books on
management,
advertisements and
messages
Task types Multiple choice,
matching, Right / wrong
/ doesnt say; form
filling, note completion
Matching, multiple choice
& proof reading
Matching, multiple-choice,
rational deletion, proof
reading
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
22/31
8/11/2011 22BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
BEC (P) BEC (V) BEC (H)
Task focus Understand gist & global
meaning, detailed
comprehension of factual
material, interpreting
visual information,
grammatical accuracy,
transferring information
Understand gist & global
meaning, Structure &
detail, Opinion &
inference. Lexical &
collocation knowledge, &
error identification
Understand gist & global
meaning, Structure &
detail, Opinion &
inference. Lexical &
collocation knowledge, &
error identification
Answer
format
Parts 1 to 6 shade
lozenges on answer sheet.
Part 7 write a one or
two answer or number
onto answer sheet
Parts 1 to 4 shade
lozenges on answer
sheet.
Part 5 write one word
onto the answer sheet
Parts 1 to 4 shade
lozenges on answer
sheet.
Part 5 & 6 write one
word onto the answer
sheet
Time 1hr 30 mins (including
writing)
One Hour One Hour
Marks Each item carries 1 mark.
Scores weighted to 30.Worth 25% of total exam
Each item carries 1 mark.
Scores weighted to 30.
Worth 25% of total exam
Each item carries 1 mark.
Scores weighted to 30.
Worth 25% of total exam
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
23/31
PART Task type and format Task focus Number of
questions
1 Multiple choice
There are five short texts. Each text is followed by a three-option
multiple-choice task.
Reading for gist and global
meaning.
5
2 Matching
One text with five questions. Candidates match the questions to a part
of the text labelled A H. Three of the parts A H are
redundant.
Reading for vocabulary and
meaning.
5
3 Matching
There are eight graphs or charts (or one graphic with 8 distinct parts)
and five questions. Candidates match the questions to their
corresponding graphs which are labelled A H. Three of thegraphs or parts of the graph are redundant.
Interpreting visual information. 5
4 Right / Wrong / Doesn't say
A single text with seven, 3-option multiple-choice statements.
Candidates indicate whether the statement is A Right, B Wrong
or C Doesn't say.
Reading for detailed, factual
information.
7
5 Multiple choice
A single text with six, 3-option multiple-choice statements or
questions. Candidates have to choose the correct option.
Reading for gist and specific
meaning.
6
6 3-option multiple-choice cloze
A single text. Candidates have to select the correct word from three
options to complete twelve gaps.
Reading for grammatical accuracy
and understanding sentence
structure.
12
7 Form-filling, note completion
Two short texts providing information. Candidates have to complete
five gaps in a form based on this information.
Reading and information transfer. 5
BEC (P) Reading
8/11/2011 23BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
24/31
BEC (P) answer sheet
8/11/2011 24BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
25/31
BEC (V)
8/11/2011 25BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
Part Task type and format Task focus Number of questions
1 Matching
There could be a single text or four related shorter texts. The
text/texts are preceded by seven statements which can be
matched with only one of the texts.
Reading for gist and globalmeaning
7
2 Matching
A gapped text with five sentence-length gaps.
Reading for structure and
detail
5
3 4-option multiple-choice
A longer text based on authentic source material. The multiple-
choice item may be a question or incomplete sentence.
Candidates must choose the correct option. The sentences test
opinion and inference not straightforward facts.
Understanding general
points and specific details
6
4 4-option multiple-choice clozeA single business-related gapped text mainly to test
vocabulary. Candidates have to choose the correct option from
a choice of four words.
- vocabulary and structure 15
5 Proof reading
A short text. Candidates have to identify additional
unnecessary words in the text.
- understanding sentence
structure; error identification
12
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
26/31
BEC (H) Reading
8/11/2011 26BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
Part ask t and f r at ask f s r fsti ns
1 Mat hing
There could be a single text or five related shorter texts. The
text/texts are preceded by eight statements which can be matched
with only one of the texts.
Reading for gist and
global meaning.
8
2 Mat hing
A gapped text with six sentence-length gaps.
Reading for structure
and detail.
6
3 4- tin
lti l - h iA longer text based on authentic source material. The multiple-
choice item may be a question or incomplete sentence. Candidates
must choose the correct option. The sentences test opinion and
inference not straightforward facts.
Understanding generalpoints and specific
details
6
4 4- ti n lti l - h i l z
A single business-related gapped text mainly to test vocabulary.
Candidates have to choose the correct option from a choice of four
words.
- vocabulary and
structure
10
5 Rati nal deleti n with en l ze
A single business-related text with structure and discourse gaps.
Candidates have to supply a word to fill each gap.
- structure and
discourse features
10
6 Pr f reading
A short text. Candidates have to identify additional unnecessarywords in the text.
- understanding
sentence structure;error identification
12
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
27/31
Thanks.
8/11/2011 27BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
28/31
y
8/11/2011 28BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
29/31
y
8/11/2011 29BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
30/31
y
8/11/2011 30BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology
8/6/2019 BEC (Reading)
31/31
y
8/11/2011 31BCA, Birla Institute of Management Technology