Orientation

Basic Grammar Test (TL1V19002) English Language and Culture

Knowledge of grammar and grammatical concepts

In order for you to be able to successfully participate in your BA programme English Language and Culture, you will require some basic knowledge of grammatical concepts and some basic competence in sentence analysis. It is important that all students start out with sufficient familiarity with linguistic concepts, so as to be able to communicate about language and linguistic expressions at a sufficiently sophisticated analytic level. However, it is our experience that not all students arrive with the same level of background knowledge in these areas. This divergence in the level of prior acquaintance with grammatical concepts and linguistic analysis tends to cause delays in the programme.

Obligatory grammar test

In order to avoid such problems, all first-year students English Language and Culture are required to take a basic grammar test. The purpose of the test is to assess your knowledge of basic grammatical concepts and your competence in linguistic analysis. Because this is an entry-level test, no ECTS are awarded for this test. However, the test is an obligatory part of the programme for all students pursuing a BA degree. You are required to pass the test in order to pass your BA exam.

Language of the test

As a student English Language and Culture you are required to take the test in English. You should bear in mind, however, that the questions on the test are not only stated in English, the test also deals with grammatical concepts from the Anglo-Saxon tradition, which differ from those in the Dutch traditional grammar tradition that you may be familiar with if you arrive here from a Dutch-speaking school system. And of course, the test will require you to analyse English linguistic expressions, not Dutch ones. We advise you to assess on the basis of the practice materials available in Blackboard how familiar you are with  the concepts tested, and to take sufficient time to practice.

Preparation

It is important to review how familiar you are with the grammatical concepts as we test them, as you may have been taught slightly different uses for some of the terms. We provide a list of all concepts tested, with example sentences, in Blackboard. Select the Blackboard course for 'Basic Grammar Test (TL1V19002)' -> Course content -> Course materials for Basic Grammar Test -> Grammatical terms, example sentences and further reading.

If you find that some of the concepts do not seem entirely familiar, look them up in one of the online books and resources on English grammar listed in the document. You can also access lists with translations of grammatical terms in Dutch, English and various other languages in the course materials folder.

Practice materials for the test are also available on the Blackboard site. Navigate to 'Assignments' and choose the 'Practice assignments' folder. It is important to prepare well for the test during the first weeks of block 1. The practice assignments are at the same level as the assignments on the test. Please refer back to the recommended reading if you find that you have trouble arriving at the correct answers in the practice materials.

Taking the test

The test will be administered in block 1, probably in week 4 or 5 of the block. The definitive place and time will be announced as soon as possible via Blackboard (look under Announcements). The test is not administered in Blackboard but with dedicated test software (Remindo). You pass the test if you answer at least 70 out of 100 questions correctly. If you fail to do so, you will need to take a resit exam later in the year.

Taking the resit exam

If you are prevented from attending the test due to illness or other circumstances, you are required to inform the course administrator (dr. E.G. Ruys) via grammaticatoetsMT.gw@uu.nl.

If you cannot participate in the test, or if you do participate but obtain a failing grade, you need to take the resit exam. You will be informed of this via Blackboard. Of course, students who fail the test are urged to read up on difficult concepts and practice with the practice assignments available on Blackboard.

For those students who fail the resit exam as well, we will organize an extra instruction session – the so-called remedial seminar – in December or January, followed by a final resit exam. If you do not attend the remedial seminar, you will not be eligible to take part in this second resit exam.

In the unlikely event that you should fail both resit exams, you will need to take the test again next year. In this case, you need to register for the course Basic Grammar Test (TL1V19002) in block 1 of the following year, via Osiris, during the regular enrolment period for blocks 1 and 2. In this case, you can take the test and resit exams again in the following year.

Students with a contract for teaching provisions (contract Onderwijsvoorzieningen)

If you are entitled to extra exam time or other provisions because of a disability or chronic illness, you are required to inform the course administrator (dr. E.G. Ruys) via grammaticatoetsMT.gw@uu.nl, at the beginning of block 1. If you are late in informing the administrator, it may not be possible to organise the necessary provisions.

Questions?

Should you have any questions, please contact course administrator dr. E.G. Ruys via grammaticatoetsMT.gw@uu.nl. Please state your name, student registration number and programme, as well as the year in which you started the programme.

Importance of passing the test in block 1

Finally, we want to stress again that it is important that you pass the test as soon as possible, preferably during block 1, because this will benefit the quality of your contribution to courses focusing on language acquisition, linguistics and literature, and the quality of these courses as a whole. It will also make these courses easier for you.

The BSA at the end of the first year determines whether you may continue with your studies. The BSA is a decision by the Board of Examiners about the continuation of your studies, based on your study progress.

Due to the corona crisis, the BSA standard for the 2021-2022 academic year has been lowered from 45 EC to 37.5 EC. This also applies to students who previously received a deferred BSA.

The BSA this year is determined as follows:

• positive BSA: at least 37,5 EC at the end of the academic year. Credits associated with exemptions or courses from previous years do not count.
• negative BSA: less than 37,5 EC at the end of the academic year.

You will also receive a positive BSA if you have completed the first-year program of your study at the end of this year. Both previously obtained results and exemptions are taken into account.

You will receive your BSA at the end of July at your students.uu.nl e-mailadress.

Negative BSA

If your binding study recommendation comes back negative, you may not enrol in the degree programme again for another four years.

Interim study recommendation

At an earlier point during the academic year, you will receive what is called the 'interim study recommendation'. This recommendation is not binding. It is issued in December or January of the first year of study, and is based on the results of the first study period. You will receive:

•  a positive interim recommendation for 15 EC or more;
• a progress warning for 7.5 EC;
•  a negative interim recommendation for 0 EC.

Terminating your enrolment before February 1st

If you want to drop out of your current degree programme and you terminate your enrolment before February 1st (through Studielink), you will not receive a binding study advice and will be able to make a fresh start with the degree programme next year. Please note that this only applies in the first year that you are registered for your current degree programme.