Test Information Guide

Field 30: Italian
Linguistics and Language Structures

The following materials contain:

Sample Test Directions for the Linguistics and Language Structures Assignments

Part 1: Passage

This portion of the Linguistics and Language Structures section of the test consists of a passage to be completed by providing the grammatically correct word in the target language for each numbered space. Directions are provided before the passage. Your final responses to the passage must be typed in the response box provided for the passage.

You may use the erasable notebooklet to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your responses. However, your final responses must be typed in the response box provided for the assignment.

Please note that special characters (such as letters with accents or other diacritical marks) cannot be entered using the keyboard but are available for insertion in the on-screen response box. To access these characters, click on the ash button that appears in the upper left corner of the screen. Using the mouse, click on the character you wish to include in your response and then select "Insert." The character will be inserted where the cursor is positioned in the response box.

Select the Next button to continue.

Part 2: Short-Answer Questions

This portion of the Linguistics and Language Structures section of the test consists of six short answer questions. Directions are provided before each question. Your final responses to the exercises must be typed in the response box provided for each exercise.

You may use the erasable notebooklet to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your responses. However, your final responses must be typed in the response box provided for each exercise.

Please note that special characters (such as letters with accents or other diacritical marks) cannot be entered using the keyboard but are available for insertion in the on-screen response box. To access these characters, click on the ash button that appears in the upper left corner of the screen. Using the mouse, click on the character you wish to include in your response and then select "Insert." The character will be inserted where the cursor is positioned in the response box.

Select the Next button to continue.

Description of the Linguistics and Language Structures Open-Response Items

This section of the test consists of exercises that require the candidate to demonstrate command of the grammatical structure of the language. The first part consists of a cloze passage with twelve blanks to be filled in according to specific directions. The words or phrases to be filled in may include verb forms, pronouns, modifiers requiring agreement, inflected noun forms, or other important elements of syntax and usage. The second part consists of six short-answer questions. The first three require transformation of one or more sentences according to specific directions (e.g., from one tense or voice to another, from singular to plural, or from an informal to a formal language style). The second three short-answer questions require candidates to rewrite in correct form one or more sentences containing grammatical errors. In the scoring of this section of the test, all grammatically correct answers consistent with the directions will be accepted.

Sample questions are provided in the Italian sample items PDF.

Scoring Rubric