State of Israel

Ministry of Education
Pedagogical Secretariat
Language Department
English Language Education and
Diplomacy and International Communication in English

1. Table of Specifications for Each Module - September 2015

The following are the revised Table of Specifications for exams for those students who are in
the 11th grade (September 2015). Students who are in the 12th grade will be taking the same
format of exams that were given last year.

Module A - One and Three Point Examinations

Time Allotted: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Access to Information from Spoken Texts

# of # of # of Suggested Text Suggested Task

Length Benchmarks
pts texts questions Types Types

30 1 400 6 Foundation Intermediate advice column multiple-

words description choice
understand the general understand the general interview open-ended
4 minutes
meaning, main ideas, meaning, main ideas report questions
and the sequence of and supporting details sentence
events in a text, and in a text, and use this completion
use this knowledge as knowledge as needed
needed

identify facts, feelings

and explicit opinions
in a text
 Module A - One and Three Point Examinations (continued)

Access to Information from Written Texts

# of # of # of Suggested Text Suggested Task

Length B en ch mark s Types Types
pts texts questions
Foundation Intermediate
70 1 250-300 7-10 advertisement fill-ins
understand the general understand the article matching
meaning, main ideas, general meaning, description multiple-
and the sequence of main ideas and letter/email choice
events in a text, and use supporting details in a
report open-ended
this knowledge as text, and use this
questions
needed knowledge as needed
sentence
identify different text use information tools completion
types and use this such as a dictionary
knowledge as needed
identify facts, feelings
and explicit opinions in
a text

locate relevant
information for a
specific purpose

2
 Module B External Students (Registered September 2015)
Time Allotted: 1 hour 30 minutes

Access to Information from Written Texts

# of # of # of B en ch mark s Suggested Text Suggested Task

Length
pts texts questions Types Types
Foundation Intermediate
60 1 Up to 8-10 descript multip
300 understand the general understand the ive texts such le-choice
words meaning, main ideas, general meaning, as personal open-
and the sequence of main ideas and account/human ended
events in a text, and use supporting details in interest article sentenc
this knowledge as a text, and use this informa e completion
needed knowledge as needed tive texts such
as
identify different text identify the features advertisement,
types and use this of different text types advice column,
knowledge as needed and use this brochure,
knowledge as needed newsletter
identify facts, feelings intervie
and explicit opinions in use information tools, ws
a text such as a dictionary letters
such as
locate relevant
personal letter,
information for a
letter to the
specific purpose
editor
reviews
such as books,
films
surveys

3
 Module B External Students Only (continued)

Appreciation of Literature

# of # of Item Suggested Task

questions B en ch mark s Higher-Order Thinking Ski
pts Description Types
Foundation Intermediate
40 Up to 5 Students answer multipl The following is a list of the
identify and describe events, setting questions on one e-choice possible HOTS to be taught:
and main characters in literary texts, short story. sentenc Classifying
using lower-order thinking skills e completion Comparing and
analyze and interpret literary texts, open- contrasting
using higher-order thinking skills ended Distinguishing differe
perspectives
Evaluating
Explaining cause and
effect
Explaining patterns
Generating possibilitie
Identifying parts and
whole
Inferring
Making connections
Predicting
Problem solving
Sequencing
Synthesizing
Uncovering motives

4
 Module C Three and Four Point Examinations
Time Allotted: 1 hour 30 minutes

Access to Information from Written Texts

# of # of # of Suggested Text Suggested Task

Length
pts texts questions Benchmarks Types Types
Foundation Intermediate
70 1 Up to 8-10 article graphic
300 understand the general understand the descript organizers
words meaning, main ideas, general meaning, ive texts such such as time
and the sequence of main ideas and as personal lines, tables
events in a text, and use supporting details in account/ multipl
this knowledge as a text, and use this human interest e-choice
needed knowledge as needed article open-
informa ended
identify different text identify the features tive texts sentenc
types and use this of different text types report e completion
knowledge as needed and use this
reviews
knowledge as needed
identify facts, feelings such as books,
and explicit opinions in use information tools, films
a text such as a dictionary

locate relevant
information for a
specific purpose

Written Social Interaction / Presentation

# # Suggested Task Types

Length B en ch mark s
pts tasks
Foundation Intermediate
30 1 70 90 forms
words express feelings, likes and dislikes express and elaborate on description
describing people, places, things and personal wishes and informal
events opinions letter
present information on limited content

5
 Module D Four Point Examination
(for students in the 12th grade September 2015)
Time Allotted: 1 hour 45 minutes

Appreciation of Literature

Part A

Possible Item
# of Questions # of Points Item Description Assessment Criteria
Types

For one text: Total = 85 Students answer questions on multiple-choice Content 90%
two literary texts: a short
3 Basic 4 Basic Understanding story or poem. For each text,
sentence Coherence
Understanding questions worth 6 pts completion
students: Relevance
2 Analysis and each (4x6= 24) open-ended
answer three or four Supporting
Interpretation 3 Basic Understanding Basic Understanding extended information
questions worth 7 pts questions answer
For one text: each (3x7=21) Accuracy of
4 Basic answer one Analysis reporting
Total: 45 pts
Understanding and Interpretation question
that may include Language 10%
1 Analysis and
1 Analysis and understanding of literary
Interpretation question Grammar
Interpretation terms.
worth 10 pts a. Name the HOTS they
chose to answer the
Total # of 2 Analysis and question form the list of
questions: Interpretation questions HOTS in the appendix.
worth 15 pts each They can use any
7 Basic
(15x2=30) HOTS from the list in
Understanding
the Handbook.
3 Analysis and The 15 points consist of:
b. Answer the question
Interpretation 10 points for showing appropriate
the answer to the evidence of the use of
question the chosen thinking
skill.
5 points for using the For one of the texts, students
chosen HOTS answer an additional Analysis
appropriately in the and Interpretation question
answer that may include
understanding of literary
terms.

Benchmarks Higher-Order Thinking Skills

identify and describe events, setting and Teachers must teach the six HOTS that appear on the exam (in bold):
main characters in literary texts, using lower-
order thinking skills Classifying Generating possibilities
analyze and interpret literary texts, using Comparing and Identifying parts and whole
higher-order thinking skills contrasting Inferring
recognize the use of basic literary Distinguishing Making connections
techniques in a text, such as repetition, different perspectives Predicting
personification, rhythm, and rhyme Evaluating Problem solving
Explaining cause Sequencing
and effect Synthesizing
Explaining Uncovering motives
patterns

6
 Part B

# of # of Possible Item
Benchmarks Item Description Assessment Criteri
Questions points Types

1 15 understand Students are given new extended answer Content: 90%

connections background information (paragraph)
about a literary text studied Coherence
understand the
historical, social and/or in class. Accurate and
cultural contexts of the Students explain how the explicit connection
text and its author and background information is between the literary te
explain how these are connected to an aspect of and the new informati
reflected in the text or the text.
how they have Supporting deta
influenced the writing (Recommended length: from the text.
of the text 60 - 80 words.)
Language 10%
Grammar

7
 Module E - Four and Five Point Examinations
Time Allotted: 1 hour 15 minutes

Access to Information from Spoken Texts

# of # of Suggested Text Suggested Task

Length B en ch mark s
pts txts Types Types
Intermediate Proficiency
30 1 passage advice fill-ins
is about understand the general identify and infer the column multipl
four meaning, main ideas and attitudes of the speaker and convers e-choice
minutes supporting details in a text, draw conclusions ations with open-
long and use this knowledge as listeners ended
needed intervie sentenc
draw inferences in order to w e completion
identify the points of view in lecture
a text, distinguishing fact news
from opinion broadcast
report
speech

8
 Module E - Four and Five Point Examinations (continued)

Access to Information from Written Texts

# #
Length B en ch ma rk s Suggested Text Suggested Task
pts txts Types Types
Intermediate Proficiency
70 1 up to article grap
380 understand the general identify and infer the attitudes informati hic
words meaning, main ideas and of the writer and draw ve texts such as organizers
supporting details in a text, and conclusions advertisement, such as
use this knowledge as needed advice column, time lines,
transfer information extracted brochure, tables
from visual data, such as newsletter multip
identify the features of
diagrams intervi le-choice
different text types and use this
knowledge as needed ews open-
letters ended
draw inferences in order to such as letter senten
identify the points of view in a to the editor, ce
text, distinguishing fact from letter of completion
opinion complaint t/f
report with
interpret information from review justification
visual data, such as graphs, s such as
diagrams, and maps extracting books, films
relevant information for a texts
specific purpose such as
personal
use information tools such as account/
dictionary human
interest article

9
 Module F Five Point Examination
(for students in the 12th grade September 2015)

Time Allotted: 1 hour 45 minutes

Appreciation of Literature

Part A

Possible Item Assessment

# of Questions # of points Item Description
Types Criteria

Short Total = 80 Students answer questions on (a) a multiple-choice Content 80%

story/poem: short story or poem and (b) a play
4 Basic Understanding or novel. For each text, students:
sentence Coherence
2 Basic questions worth 5 pts completion
Understanding answer two Basic Relevance
each (5x4=20) open-ended
Understanding questions Supporting
2 Analysis 3 Analysis and extended answer information
and answer one (for short story or
Interpretation questions
Interpretation poem) or two (for play or novel) Accuracy of
= worth 10 pts each Analysis and Interpretation reporting
(10x3=30) question that may include
understanding of literary terms.
Play or Novel: 2 Analysis and Language 20%
Interpretation questions answer one Analysis and
2 Basic Interpretation question that may Grammar
worth 15 pts (15x2=30)
Understanding include understanding of literary Spelling
terms where they:
3 Analysis The 15 points consist of: a. Name the HOTS they Punctuation
and chose to answer the
10 points for the
Interpretation question from the list of
answer to the question
HOTS in the appendix.
Total # of 5 points for using the They can use any HOTS
questions: chosen HOTS from the list in the
appropriately in the Handbook.
4 Basic b. Answer the question
Understanding answer
showing evidence of the
appropriate use of the
5 Analysis and chosen thinking skill.
Interpretation

Benchmarks Higher-Order Thinking Skills

identify and describe events, setting and main Teachers must teach the six HOTS that appear on the exam (in bold):
characters in literary texts, using lower-order
thinking skills Classifying Generating
Comparing and possibilities
analyze and interpret literary texts, using higher-
contrasting Identifying parts and
order thinking skills
Distinguishing whole
recognize and explain the use of literary different perspectives Inferring
techniques in a text, such as imagery, irony, Evaluating Making connections
metaphor Explaining cause and Predicting
effect Problem solving
Explaining patterns Sequencing
Synthesizing

10
 Uncovering motives

11
 Module F Five Point Examination (continued)

Part B

# of # of Possible Item
Benchmarks Item Description Assessment Criteria
Questions points Types

1 20 understand the Students are given new extended answer Content: 80%
historical, social and/or background information about a (paragraph)
literary text studied in class. Coherence
cultural contexts of the text
and its author and explain Students explain how the Accurate and
how these are reflected in background information is explicit connection
the text or how they have connected to an aspect of the text. between the literary
influenced the writing of text and the new
the text information.
(Recommended length: 80-100
words.) Supporting details
from the text.
Language 20%
Grammar
Spelling
Punctuation

12
 Module G - Five Point Examination

Time Allotted: 1 hour 45 minutes

Access to Information from Written Texts

# of # of Length B en ch ma rk s Suggested Text Suggested

pts txts Types Task Types
Intermediate Proficiency
60 1 450-500 article graphic
words understand the general identify and infer the informative organizers
meaning, main ideas and attitudes of the writer and texts such as such as time
supporting details in a text, draw conclusions advertisement, lines, tables
and use this knowledge as advice column,
needed transfer information extracted multiple-
brochure,
from visual data, such as choice
newsletter
identify the features of diagrams interviews open-
different text types and use letters such ended
this knowledge as needed
as letter to the
sentence
editor, letter
draw inferences in order to completion
of complaint
identify the points of view in
report t/f with
a text, distinguishing fact
from opinion reviews justification
such as
interpret information from books, films
visual data, such as graphs, texts such
diagrams, and maps as personal
extracting relevant account/
information for a specific human
purpose interest article

use information tools such as

a dictionary

Written Presentation

# #
Length B en ch mark s Suggested Task Types
pts tasks
Intermediate Proficiency
40 1 120 - formal letter
140 react to the content of present an argument for review
words something read using the or against a particular composition
appropriate higher-order point of view
thinking skills
express ideas and opinions
about general topics using
main and supporting ideas

13
 Three Point Oral Examination - 20%
Social Interaction / Presentation

Part One: Interview

# #
Length B en ch ma rk s Task
tasks pts
Foundation Intermediate
1 40 2 -3 interview
minutes engage in short conversations by express and elaborate on personal
asking and answering simple wishes and opinions
questions about familiar topics and
everyday situations, such as engage in conversations about
family, school, and personal general topics, such as current
interests events, and future plans

express feelings, likes and dislikes

Part Two: Project Presentation and Interaction

# #
Length B en ch ma rk s Task
tasks pts
Foundation Intermediate
2 20 3 -5 project
minutes present information on limited presentation
content

20 accuracy

20 3 -5 engage in short conversation project

minutes interaction:
question and
answer
discussion on
project

14
 Four and Five Point Oral Examinations - 20%
Social Interaction / Presentation

Part One: Extended Interview

# #
Length B en ch ma rk s Task
tasks pts
Intermediate Proficiency
1 40 2 -3 interview
minutes express and elaborate on express ideas and opinions,
personal wishes and opinions providing in-depth explanations

engage in conversations about engage in conversations on a

general topics, such as current wide range of general topics,
events, and future plans, using such as social and global issues,
language to suit context, using language to suit context,
audience and purpose audience, and purpose

express ideas and opinions about

general topics using main and
supporting ideas

Part Two: Project Presentation and Interaction

# #
Length B en ch mark s Task
tasks pts
Intermediate Proficiency
2 20 3 -5 project
minutes summarize and present presentation
information from a limited
range of sources
report on the results and
conclusions using appropriate
higher-order thinking skills for
this level

20 accuracy

20 3 -5 interact for a wide variety of project

minutes purposes interaction:
engage in conversations question and
answer discussion
on project

15