CX ICAO English Proficiency Test

Sample Test

Introduction
The ICAO English Proficiency Test assesses 6 areas of language:

Pronunciation
Structure
Vocabulary
Fluency
Comprehension
Interactions

Level 4 is operational level and this is the minimum requirement for license endorsement.
Level 4 pilots are assessed every 3 years. If you achieve level 5 youll be assessed every 6
years and level 6s never have to be re-tested.

The final score is not awarded based on an average like many commercial general English
tests. For the ICAO English test the final score is the lowest rating you have achieved for any
one of the descriptors. For example, if you were awarded: 5 for pronunciation, 4 for
structure, 4 for vocabulary, 5 for fluency, 5 for comprehension and 6 for interaction, your
final score would be 4.

Each part of the test will be explained to you on the day of your appointment and the test
duration is 25-30 minutes.

.

There are 5 parts to the tests.

Part 1 Warm up, general questions

Questions for AB initio cadet Questions for SO or FO
Can you please tell me why you have chosen
to be a pilot?

What are you doing to prepare for a career
in aviation?

What do you expect working for Cathay
/Dragon Air will be like? Please explain.

How do you think the pilot profession has
changed in the last 40 years?
What made you decide to become a pilot?

Would you describe your job as exciting?
Why? Why not?

What are your best memories of pilot
training?

Who has most influenced your career and
how?



Part 2 Listening comprehension

For this part of the test you listen to three dialogues. After each one youll explain what you
heard. Youll then be asked some questions. You may take notes on paper that is provided
and you may listen to each audio twice. This does not impact your score.

(Listen to listening 1 included in this test sample)

CX ICAO English Proficiency Test
Sample Test

Listening 1 - This is a conversation between a passenger and a security guard.

1. If the bag was found to contain a bomb, what do you think would happen next?
2. What systems are in place at airports to identify dangerous goods and how effective
do you think these systems are?
3. Why do you think there are occasional security breaches at airports?

(Listen to listening 2 included in this test sample)

Listening 2 - This is a conversation between a pilot and controller.

1. Why did the pilot request a low pass?
2. What impact could this situation have on other arriving and departing aircraft?
3. What might a passenger be thinking if a pilot did a low pass instead of landing?

(Listen to listening 3 included in this test sample)

Listening 3 This is a conversation between a pilot and a controller.

1. What was the misunderstanding in the dialogue?
2. What would a controller do if he heard an incorrect readback?
3. What may have happened if the pilot had proceeded to the runway without
stopping at the holding point?


Part 3 Picture Description

Please describe the picture giving as much detail as you can. You will then be asked some
questions. No note taking is permitted.



1. Please give one possible reason for this evacuation.
2. If you were a passenger on this flight, please explain how you would have felt during
and after the evacuation.

CX ICAO English Proficiency Test
Sample Test

Part 4
You are going to watch a short video. After watching, please describe what you saw in as
much detail as possible. No note taking is permitted.

Play video received with this sample test

Questions
1. How much experience do you think a pilot should have to operate into and out of
this airport? Why?
2. What would be the challenges of landing and taking off from this airport in icy
weather conditions?
Part 5

I am now going to ask you some general questions in the context of aviation. Please give
detailed responses.

1. What do you consider to be the biggest challenges for airlines today?

2. Could you please suggest a solution for one of these challenges?

3. What do you think the airlines would think of your suggestion and why?