FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
** Are the Foreign Language Placement Tests and the Proficiency exams at the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year (English/Arabic) going to be conducted face-to-face or online? **
The Foreign Language Placement Tests and the Proficiency exams (English/Arabic) will be conducted face-to-face at the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year.
*** How can I learn my Student number and my ASBU student email account? ***
You can access student information system https://obs.asbu.edu.tr/ on e-Government Portal (e-devlet) and you can find your student number on the top right part of the screen. You can find your ASBU student email account on https://obs.asbu.edu.tr/ once you access your student information system.
You can learn your email password on https://asbusifre.asbu.edu.tr/ . If you have any trouble or difficulty, you can ask for support from bid@asbu.edu.tr .
1. Who are the students to study in the Preparatory program?
ASBÜ SFL English/Arabic Prep program students are the students who are accepted to the university but failed to pass or did not attend the exam or the ones who have not submitted an accepted score of the exams recognized by the university.
2. How long does the Prep program last?
SFL Prep Program lasts for at least 1 (one) academic year and at most 2 (two) academic years. The modules can last from 8 to 16 weeks depending on the level of the module. The detailed information about the modules (e.g. when they start & end) is announced at the beginning of the academic year.
3. How many modules are there in the Prep programs?
There are 4 (four) modules as Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, and Upper-Intermediate both for Arabic and English.
4. According to what criteria are the students placed in the modules?
The students who get 32 and below out of 100 are placed in the Elementary, the ones who get between 33 and 49 are placed in Pre-Intermediate, the ones who get between 50 and 59 are placed in Intermediate and the students who get 60 and above are placed in the Upper-Intermediate level. The students who have not taken Placement Test at the beginning of the academic year are directly placed in Elementary level. The administration of the Foreign Language Department can change the level of the students if necessary within the first week.
5. How is the success determined for a module? What happens, if one fails the Module?
When a student fails the module once, s/he repeats the same level. A new repeat class is not formed for the students who failed only one. These students are placed in the same class with the students taking the module for the first time. They are expected to mingle in the same class. However, if s/he fails for the second time and has to study at the same level for the third time, a new class is formed and in this class, only those repeat students are placed. If the number of these students is not enough to start a new class, then these students are allowed to study in a class one level higher.
6. Who can take the Proficiency exam?
The newly-registered students are required to get at least 60 out of 100 from the English Placement Test (ECT) in order to take the English Proficiency Exam (EPE). The students who have studied at least 1 year at the Preparatory program can directly take EPE, but still, they are required to take the EPT exam in case they fail to pass EPE, they need to be placed to a proper level. If these students do not take the EPT exam they are directly placed in Elementary Level. If they request a change in their levels, depending on the evidence they provide, ASBÜ SFL Academic Board makes a decision about which level the student will be attending and inform the student accordingly.
7. Where can I find a sample Proficiency exam (English or Arabic)?
Click the link below in order to reach a sample English Proficiency Exam (EPE).
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1v44BAIJ954KySKcF9-fTbqOiwf47xbrf
Click the link below in order to reach a sample Arabic Proficiency Exam (APE).
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1H5c0jv0tyqeFKH7eeiSnFJo7103xJhBm?usp=sharing
8. Where can I reach the information regarding the timetable, duration, and days of the lessons?
The details regarding the start and the end of the program are approved by the Senate upon the recommendation of the SFL Academic Board and implemented accordingly. These details are announced and shared on both the ASBÜ Academic Calendar and ASBÜ SFL webpage. The specific timetable of each module is later shared with the students before the lessons start on ASBÜ SFL webpage at the beginning of that academic year.
A module lasts 8 or 16 weeks depending on the level. The number of lessons and the days the lessons are conducted may differ according to the module the student is studying at. Following the week an 8-week module ends, an End of Course test (ECT) is conducted. The results are announced before the new module starts. There is no End of Course test (ECT) for the 16-week module. The student studying in the 16-week module will be eligible to take the Proficiency Test depending on his/her performance in the Module (see Question 9).
9. What are the criteria for my performance in the module?
In order to pass and be successful in the module, the minimum success percentage 75.
To pass the module (except for the Upper-level students), a student needs to get 75 out of 100 from all the assessment criteria within that same module. Below are the assessment percentages for each module
|
Percentages |
Content |
|
10% |
Assignments & projects |
|
40% |
Quizzes |
|
50% |
End of Course Test (ECT) |
|
Total: 100% |
Module Success |
In a module, there is a pre-requisite to take the End of course Test. The students need to get 60 out of 100 from the quizzes, assignments/projects. If a student fails to get 60 from the quizzes, assignments/projects, they cannot take the ECT and pass the module. The details regarding the calculation of the assessment criteria to take the ECT are given below.
The weightings of the quizzes, assignment/projects to take the ECT
|
Percentages |
Content |
|
50% |
Assignment/projects |
|
50% |
Quizzes |
10. What is expected in assignments/projects?
The content of assignment/projects are shared with the students at the beginning of the module both verbally and in writing.
11. What happens if I submit my assignments/projects late?
At the beginning of each module, when and how you will do your assignments/projects and when and how you will submit them will be shared with you. You are expected to act, as you are informed. If you submit them without a proper formal excuse, your assignments/projects will not be evaluated and/or assessed. The students who are excused by the University or who submit a medical report are given a 3-workday extension. They are not given an additional extension; they should turn them in within the given time. If they submit later than that, their assignments/projects are not evaluated and/or assessed.
12. What happens, if I miss the quizzes or in-class assessments?
The student is not given another chance to take the Quiz or do the in-class assessment. If the students are excused by the ASBÜ Rectorate, then the average of the former quizzes and/or assignments are calculated and then inputted in the system. The students who are not excused by the ASBÜ Rectorate cannot benefit from this regulation.
13. What are the details regarding the exams or tests in the Preparatory Program?
English or Arabic Placement Test: It is a test that determines the level of the student and it is used to place the student in a proper module. It includes grammar, vocabulary, reading, and listening questions. It includes a total of 80 questions ordered from easy to difficult.
English or Arabic Proficiency Test: It is a B2 level exam prepared according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Quiz: It is a short exam to assess and evaluate the content of the program applied in the classrooms.
End of Course Test (ECT): It is a test conducted at the end of the Module.
14. What are the details regarding the Placement Test? When is it conducted? Who takes it?
Placement Test is conducted at the beginning of each Academic year (generally in September). The students who will be studying in a program the medium of instruction is in the target language (English and Arabic) and who have not submitted an equivalency document. The exam includes Grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing.
15. Can I take the exam without my ID card?
The students are required to take the exam with their valid ID cards and related documents and be where they are supposed to be on the announced date and hour as is announced on the SFL webpage before the exam. The students are expected to have learned the rules and regulations and other details about the exam that are shared with the students both on the webpage and announced on the exam date.
16. What are the criteria to be successful in the Proficiency Exam?
In order to pass ASBÜ Foreign Language Proficiency Exam, 75 out of 100 is required. While calculating the total score, reading part 25%, listening part %25, writing part %25, and speaking part %25 contribute to the total score equally.
17. What are the pre-requisites and/or requirements to take the Proficiency exam? What kind of exam is the Proficiency exam? When is it conducted? Who can take the exam?
The Proficiency exam (both Arabic and English) is conducted 3 times a year under normal circumstances as at the beginning of each Academic year and at the end of each semester (Fall and Spring Semester).
In order to take the Proficiency Exam at the beginning of the Academic Year, the newly registered student needs to take at least 60 from the Placement Test. The students who have studied for one year in the ASBU Prep School can take the Proficiency Exam. In order to take the Proficiency Exam which is conducted at the end of each semester, the students need to take at least 60 out of 100 from the Module assessment. No matter what their levels are, the newly registered students who take 60 can take the Proficiency Exam. However, 5 workdays prior to the exam, the students need to inform the related Prep program administration that they want to take the exam.
The conditions in order to take the Proficiency exam for all levels are as follows:
|
The conditions that should be met in order to take the Proficiency Exam for the Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, and Intermediate Levels. |
|
|
Percentage |
Content |
|
10% |
Assignments/Projects |
|
40% |
Quizzes |
|
50% |
End of Course Test |
|
TOTAL: 100% |
|
|
The conditions that should be met in order to take the Proficiency Exam for the Upper-Intermediate Levels. |
|
|
Percentage |
Content |
|
50% |
Assignments/Projects |
|
50% |
Quizzes |
|
TOTAL: 100% |
|
*** The students who have studied in ASBÜ Preparatory Program can take all the Proficiency Exams conducted within the Academic Year.
18. Is being successful in the ASBÜ Proficiency Exam the only way that I can prove my proficiency level to pass? Are there any other equivalent exams that are accepted by ASBÜ?
In order to start studying in their departments, the students need to pass either ASBÜ Proficiency Exam or submit the announced results of the exams specified in the table below. The tests should be taken in the centers at state universities or abroad. The scores taken from any other center will not be accepted.
|
The scores of the exams in order to be exempted are given below. (For English) |
||||
|
ASBU - YYS |
IBT |
CAE |
CPE |
PTE |
|
75 |
84 |
C |
C |
59 |
*** In order to be exempted from the Arabic Program, the students need to take the Arabic Proficiency Exam. There is no other accepted Arabic Proficiency Exam that can be taken for exemption.
19. Do I need to attend the lessons regularly?
The students need to attend 85% of the lessons. No excuses are accepted if the student fails to attend. If the student exceeds the attendance limit, he or she fails the module and needs to repeat the same level.
20. Is the limit announced at the beginning of each module for the whole academic year or for each module? If it is for only one module, can I transfer them to the next module?
The attendance limit is calculated separately for each level and announced both verbally and in writing. The students need to attend 85% of the lessons for each module separately. It is not possible to transfer the number of lessons.
21. What happens if I fail due to attendance problems?
If you fail due to attendance problems – if you exceed the limit, you need to repeat the same level. The students who fail due to attendance problems cannot take the End of Course Test.
22. What happens if I am late for the lessons?
The students have to be on time for their lessons. If the student is late for the lesson, he or she is allowed to come into the classroom, but they are marked as absent.
23. If I cannot attend the classes regularly?
The students who do not attend the lessons regularly and exceed the level have to repeat the level, but they can continue to come to classes since it is their right to attend. If the module is the one just before the Proficiency Exam, the newly registered students are not allowed to take the Proficiency exam. In order to take the Proficiency exam conducted at the end of each semester, the newly registered students need to attend the modules regularly.
24. Do I have to attend the classes in my second academic year if I fail to pass the proficiency exam?
The students who are to repeat the Preparatory Program in their second Academic Year can either continue to attend in the ASBU Prep program for the third and the fourth semester, or they can study on their own and take the Proficiency exam(s) conducted throughout the Academic year. However, the students who will not continue to attend the lessons in the Prep Program are required to submit a petition expressing that they will not continue to come to lessons in the Prep Program before the lessons start.
25. Can I raise any objections to my exam?
The student can object to his or her exam/test scores within 3 workdays following the announcement of the exam by filling in the ‘A request for an Exam Review’ form. The form should be submitted to the ASBU-SFL administration. If the student fails to submit the form within the 3 workdays, the petition is not accepted.
26. Is it possible for me to send the petition via email?
The petition cannot be sent via email. If it is sent via email, it cannot be accepted. The petitions need to be submitted in person or sent via fax.
27. Is there a template to ask for a review or to object to my score?
Yes. There is a petition template both in Turkish and in English and the template should be used. Below are the links to both. They can be reached on the Testing and Assessment Unit page on our webpage.
Score Review Form (English):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e30MHWq4bv9EgyH8K1wBye8vUVuHOIeE/view?usp=sharing
Score Review Form: (Turkish)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gafeLheOLUPG1W2X9rDsArxivNOEPX-P/view?usp=sharing
28. When will I be informed about the result of my Score Review Petition?
Following the request for a review, necessary steps are taken and when the review is finalized, the results are shared with the students via their ASBU Student email accounts within 3 workdays.
29. My English/Arabic is still not good enough and I could not do much about this. At this point, is it possible for me to learn English/Arabic within one Academic year, and is it possible for me to pass the proficiency exam in one year?
To start with, your first aim should not be passing the Proficiency exam, but it must be all about learning the language. If you set short-term and long-term goals for yourself in your learning journey, for sure, it is possible for you to learn the language and pass the exam. However, you should always keep in mind that you should put the language in the center of your life during this learning period. Please keep in mind that learning a language is not like learning another subject matter. We strongly recommend you come up with your own learning strategies with the help of your advisors and/or instructors and have a road map that you will follow. You should be persistent and resilient.
30. Is there a place that I can use specifically while studying language?
We have a Self-Access Center geared for your needs while learning a language along with the library and study rooms. You can benefit from the Self-Access Center since it is specifically designed for language learning. You can find a variety of materials, activities, and support groups for your different needs.
31. I do not know where to start. What can I do?
Without losing any time, please seek assistance from the instructors that are currently teaching in your classrooms and talk to advisors in the Self–Access Center.
32. When can I study in the Self-Access Center (SAC)?
Self-Access Center is open both on weekdays and on weekends between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. except for the official holidays.
33. How can I learn details about my Department?
In order to be informed about your department and program, you need to go to the Students Affairs or go directly to your Department depending on the subject.
34. What should I do while learning a language?
Put First Things First…
The medium of instruction is Arabic (30%) in the Faculty of Islamic Studies, and the medium of instruction is 100% in English in all departments except for Law (which is 30%) and Turkish Language and Literature. That is why you need to prioritize your learning the language and arrange your life accordingly. You will be expected to learn the target language in the Preparatory program so that you can follow the lessons in your departments, read, listen to, understand and interpret what you read and hear, and express yourself both in academic and daily topics in different environments. Learning a language is not an easy journey; it requires an enormous devotion.
- Find an environment where you can actively use the target language and make use of every single opportunity.
- Do not just be a passive listener in the classrooms; participate in the activities actively and try to use the newly learned structure and the vocabulary. Do this on purpose.
- Review and repeat what you have learned in the classrooms at regular intervals and make plans and set goals that you can follow your own process and improvement.
- Take responsibility. The way you learn and how fast this happens is unique to the individual. Do not compare yourself to others. Try to get to know yourself as a language learner and see what kind of a learner you are. Make plans accordingly and do not hesitate to ask for help.
- Make the social media tools and programs you are currently using a part of your learning. Follow at least two or three foreign news channels so that you can both be informed about the current changes in the world, and improve the language you are learning.
- Watch movies, TV series, documentaries, and programs in the target language
- Listen to sounds in the target language.
- Exchange ideas with the people whose sense of responsibility and goals as clear as yours in relation to your language learning targets. Spend time together with such people and help each other.