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Michigan Test Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Question: What is the Michigan?
    Answer: The Michigan is the test given to all students whose first language is not English—U.S. citizens and residents as well as international students—to determine English, ESL or reading placement and assessment levels.

  2. Question: Who should take the Michigan?
    Answer: Students who have learned English as their second or subsequent language.

  3. Question: Why do only non-native speakers of English take the Michigan?
    Answer: The Michigan is designed for students who learned English after already speaking at least one other language. It produces accurate results for these students.

  4. Question: I graduated from a high school in the United States, isn't that enough proof that I speak English?
    Answer: The Michigan and Accuplacer tests are used to assure that all degree seeking IPFW students have adequate English language skills to succeed academically. The tests are not used to see whether a student “speaks English,” but whether the student is academically prepared in English for college level courses.

  5. Question: When should I take the Michigan?
    Answer: You should take the exam as soon as you begin thinking about attending IPFW. Registration begins very early each semester, and many classes fill quickly. Waiting to take the Michigan may cause you to miss your opportunity to study for an entire semester.

Sample Test Questions

This test contains 100 questions divided as follows:

  • 40 Grammar
  • 40 Vocabulary
  • 20 Reading

The time limit for the test is 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes). For each question, there are four answer choices. Only one is correct; choose the best answer. If you are not sure about an answer, you should guess.

Here are examples of each type of question.

Grammar

Choose the word or phrase that correctly completes the conversation.

Example 1
“What is that thing?”
“That _____ a spider.”
a. to call
b. for calling
c. be called
d. is called

Vocabulary

In the first type of vocabulary question, you are given a sentence with an underlined word or phrase. You should choose the word or phrase that is a synonym for (means about the same thing as) the underlined word or phrase. In the second type of vocabulary question, you will read a sentence with a word missing. You should choose the word, from the 4 answer choices given, that best fits the sentence in meaning.

Example 2
When the boat left, everyone was very joyful.
a. sad
b. tired
c. angry
d. happy

Example 3
Don’t leave by this door; take the other _____.
a. departure
b. relay
c. exit
d. outline

Reading

Read the passage, then answer comprehension questions about it. All the information to answer the questions will be in the passage.
While I was getting ready to go to town one morning last week, my wife handed me a little piece of red cloth and asked if I would have time during the day to buy her two yards of cloth like that. I told her I would be glad to do it. And putting the piece of cloth into my pocket, I took the train to town.

Example 4
The person telling the story is . . .
a. a married lady.
b. an unmarried lady.
c. a married man.
d. an unmarried man.

Answers

1. d
2. d
3. c
4. c

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