Choose Your Class Placement
We are happy that you are going to take English classes at the Laney College.
Now, you will find which class level is right for you.
This placement will take about 40-60 minutes. This is not a test. Instead, we will ask you to think about what you can do in English and make the best choice for your goals. You will focus on reading and writing, but you will also answer questions about your listening, speaking, and grammar. Watch this video to see what you will do to choose your class level. When you are finished, click the button below to begin the placement.
This placement will take about 40-60 minutes. This is not a test. Instead, we will ask you to think about what you can do in English and make the best choice for your goals. You will focus on reading and writing, but you will also answer questions about your listening, speaking, and grammar. Watch this video to see what you will do to choose your class level. When you are finished, click the button below to begin the placement.
Step 1 of 8
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If you do not have a Peralta College student ID number, you will need to do the Peralta Colleges application.
Step 1. Type your name, student ID number, and email address
Make sure your student ID is the right format
Make sure your student ID is the right format
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Look at the statements about the levels. What can you can do in English?
Level 1: I can read simple directions.
Level 2: I can read stories in English. I can read a newspaper or magazine article with a dictionary.
Level 3: I can read newspaper or magazine articles without a dictionary and understand the main idea, even if I do not understand all of the details. I can read a short book written in English with a dictionary.
Level 4: I can easily read newspapers or magazines without a dictionary. I can read several fiction or nonfiction books in English.
Level 1: I can read simple directions.
Level 2: I can read stories in English. I can read a newspaper or magazine article with a dictionary.
Level 3: I can read newspaper or magazine articles without a dictionary and understand the main idea, even if I do not understand all of the details. I can read a short book written in English with a dictionary.
Level 4: I can easily read newspapers or magazines without a dictionary. I can read several fiction or nonfiction books in English.
Step 2: What is your English level?
I think my English level is:
I know a little English.
High Beginning (Level 1)
Low Intermediate (Level 2)
High Intermediate (Level 3)
Advanced (Level 4)
I do not know any English /I know a little English.
I want to take Basic English classes.
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If you cannot understand the main ideas of the article, read a lower level. If you can easily understand everything, read a higher level.
Step 3: Read this story and choose if it is too easy, too hard, or just right for you.
Click on the "too easy" and "too hard" buttons to see stories from other levels before you choose which one is just right for you.
Click on the "too easy" and "too hard" buttons to see stories from other levels before you choose which one is just right for you.
Basic English Reading
Do you ever tell a lie? Most people don’t say yes to that question, but most of us lie every day. We tell lies for many reasons.
First, we lie to make others feel good. A woman asks her husband, “Does my hair look OK?” The husband doesn’t like it, but he says something nice. He says, “You look great!” Why? He wants his wife to be happy. He doesn’t want to hurt her feelings.
Second, we lie so others don’t get angry. A child breaks a plate. His mother asks, “Who broke the plate?” The boy says, “I didn’t do it.” Why? The child did something wrong. He is afraid of the punishment. He tells a lie so he doesn’t get in trouble.
Do you ever tell a lie? Most people don’t say yes to that question, but most of us lie every day. We tell lies for many reasons.
First, we lie to make others feel good. A woman asks her husband, “Does my hair look OK?” The husband doesn’t like it, but he says something nice. He says, “You look great!” Why? He wants his wife to be happy. He doesn’t want to hurt her feelings.
Second, we lie so others don’t get angry. A child breaks a plate. His mother asks, “Who broke the plate?” The boy says, “I didn’t do it.” Why? The child did something wrong. He is afraid of the punishment. He tells a lie so he doesn’t get in trouble.
Level 1 Reading
Today is March 17th. About two and a half months ago, I said "Happy New Year!" to many of my friends. Slightly more than a month ago, I said the same thing to some other friends. In about four days, I'll give the same wishes to yet another group of friends. I'll do the same thing in July and also in September.
"How can that be?" you might be thinking.
The answer to this question depends on the calendar you use. Five common world calendars celebrate New year at five different times: The Western/international calendar celebrates on January 1st. The Chinese calendar, used in China, Korea, and a few other places, rings in the New Year sometime in late January or February. The traditional Persian calendar, used in Iran, puts the New Year on March 21st. The Islamic calendar New Year falls on a different day of the Western calendar each year, because the calendar is based on the moon. The Eastern Orthodox Church calendar and the Jewish calendar are also based on the moon, but their New Years are usually in September.
Whenever you celebrate the New Year, I hope you have a happy one!
Today is March 17th. About two and a half months ago, I said "Happy New Year!" to many of my friends. Slightly more than a month ago, I said the same thing to some other friends. In about four days, I'll give the same wishes to yet another group of friends. I'll do the same thing in July and also in September.
"How can that be?" you might be thinking.
The answer to this question depends on the calendar you use. Five common world calendars celebrate New year at five different times: The Western/international calendar celebrates on January 1st. The Chinese calendar, used in China, Korea, and a few other places, rings in the New Year sometime in late January or February. The traditional Persian calendar, used in Iran, puts the New Year on March 21st. The Islamic calendar New Year falls on a different day of the Western calendar each year, because the calendar is based on the moon. The Eastern Orthodox Church calendar and the Jewish calendar are also based on the moon, but their New Years are usually in September.
Whenever you celebrate the New Year, I hope you have a happy one!
Level 2 Reading
One of the most popular kinds of car in the United States is not really a car at all. It is a combination of a car and a truck. It is called a sports utility vehicle, or SUV. The market for SUVs continues to grow. About 22% of all cars and trucks sold in America are SUVs. One reason may be that the SUV seems like a vehicle that can do many different things. Brock Yates of Car & Driver Magazine says that parents like SUVs because they have a lot of space to transport children and food. Many Americans like the feeling they get from driving an SUV. The vehicles are larger than other cars on the road. This gives many drivers a feeling of safety.
Yet, the size of SUVs is a concern. SUVs use more fuel than passenger cars. SUVs also produce more pollution than passenger cars do. SUVs create large amounts of carbon dioxide, a gas that causes climate change. One study found that an SUV will release about two times as much carbon dioxide as a car over the life of the vehicle.
Critics say SUVs also produce more substances like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. These gases form polluted air, or smog. There is also evidence that SUVs are not as safe as many people believe. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration compared SUVs and normal cars in deadly accidents. Its study found that car passengers died in 80% of deadly accidents between cars and SUVs. Other studies showed that SUVs can turn over more easily than cars. The vehicles do not have the same safety requirements as passenger cars.
One of the most popular kinds of car in the United States is not really a car at all. It is a combination of a car and a truck. It is called a sports utility vehicle, or SUV. The market for SUVs continues to grow. About 22% of all cars and trucks sold in America are SUVs. One reason may be that the SUV seems like a vehicle that can do many different things. Brock Yates of Car & Driver Magazine says that parents like SUVs because they have a lot of space to transport children and food. Many Americans like the feeling they get from driving an SUV. The vehicles are larger than other cars on the road. This gives many drivers a feeling of safety.
Yet, the size of SUVs is a concern. SUVs use more fuel than passenger cars. SUVs also produce more pollution than passenger cars do. SUVs create large amounts of carbon dioxide, a gas that causes climate change. One study found that an SUV will release about two times as much carbon dioxide as a car over the life of the vehicle.
Critics say SUVs also produce more substances like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. These gases form polluted air, or smog. There is also evidence that SUVs are not as safe as many people believe. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration compared SUVs and normal cars in deadly accidents. Its study found that car passengers died in 80% of deadly accidents between cars and SUVs. Other studies showed that SUVs can turn over more easily than cars. The vehicles do not have the same safety requirements as passenger cars.
Level 3 Reading
Every year, Sweden publishes everyone's income tax returns. So do Finland and Norway. And nobody really cares. By contrast, U.S. law prohibits releasing anybody's tax information. Imagine the howl if the IRS put tax returns online, so co-workers, neighbors and mothers-in-law could see what someone earns. That happened in Italy earlier this year, when the outgoing government of prime minister Romano Prodi briefly posted taxpayers' incomes on the Internet, and newspapers picked up the list.
Two weeks ago, Sweden published the tax returns of ordinary wage-earners. In November or December, Swedes can see how much high-rollers made — with their income from dividends and other investments — plus how much they paid in taxes for 2007. Sweden's policy of making tax returns public — as in Finland and Norway — stems from a tradition of open records and transparency in government, except in cases of national security and some aspects of criminal investigations. "The right of public access to documents is laid down in the constitution," Graner says of Sweden's practice since the 18th century.
Making the data public demonstrates the Scandinavian belief that nobody is better than anyone else, says Veera Heinonen, spokeswoman for the Finish Embassy in London. "Finland is a very egalitarian country, and it's a very high-tax society, so it provides checks and balances," Heinonen says. She says people's earnings can be a good source of gossip. Is anybody embarrassed? "Well, maybe some chief executives," she says.
Every year, Sweden publishes everyone's income tax returns. So do Finland and Norway. And nobody really cares. By contrast, U.S. law prohibits releasing anybody's tax information. Imagine the howl if the IRS put tax returns online, so co-workers, neighbors and mothers-in-law could see what someone earns. That happened in Italy earlier this year, when the outgoing government of prime minister Romano Prodi briefly posted taxpayers' incomes on the Internet, and newspapers picked up the list.
Two weeks ago, Sweden published the tax returns of ordinary wage-earners. In November or December, Swedes can see how much high-rollers made — with their income from dividends and other investments — plus how much they paid in taxes for 2007. Sweden's policy of making tax returns public — as in Finland and Norway — stems from a tradition of open records and transparency in government, except in cases of national security and some aspects of criminal investigations. "The right of public access to documents is laid down in the constitution," Graner says of Sweden's practice since the 18th century.
Making the data public demonstrates the Scandinavian belief that nobody is better than anyone else, says Veera Heinonen, spokeswoman for the Finish Embassy in London. "Finland is a very egalitarian country, and it's a very high-tax society, so it provides checks and balances," Heinonen says. She says people's earnings can be a good source of gossip. Is anybody embarrassed? "Well, maybe some chief executives," she says.
Level 4 Reading
Almost a century ago, the United States decided to make high school nearly universal. Around the same time, much of Europe decided that universal high school was a waste. Not everybody, European intellectuals argued, should go to high school. It’s clear who made the right decision. The educated American masses helped create the American century, as the economists Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz have written. The new ranks of high school graduates made factories more efficient and new industries possible. Today, we are having an updated version of the same debate. Television, newspapers and blogs are filled with the case against college for the masses: It saddles students with debt; it does not guarantee a good job; it isn’t necessary for many jobs. Not everybody, the skeptics say, should go to college.
The argument has the lure of counter intuition and does have grains of truth. Too many teenagers aren’t ready to do college-level work. Ultimately, though, the case against mass education is no better than it was a century ago. The evidence is overwhelming that college is a better investment for most graduates than in the past. A new study even shows that a bachelor’s degree pays off for jobs that don’t require one: secretaries, plumbers and cashiers. And, beyond money, education seems to make people happier and healthier. “Sending more young Americans to college is not a panacea,” says David Autor, an M.I.T. economist who studies the labor market. “Not sending them to college would be a disaster.”
The most unfortunate part of the case against college is that it encourages children, parents and schools to aim low. For those families on the fence — often deciding whether a student will be the first to attend — the skepticism becomes one more reason to stop at high school. Only about 33 percent of young adults get a four-year degree today, while another 10 percent receive a two-year degree.
Almost a century ago, the United States decided to make high school nearly universal. Around the same time, much of Europe decided that universal high school was a waste. Not everybody, European intellectuals argued, should go to high school. It’s clear who made the right decision. The educated American masses helped create the American century, as the economists Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz have written. The new ranks of high school graduates made factories more efficient and new industries possible. Today, we are having an updated version of the same debate. Television, newspapers and blogs are filled with the case against college for the masses: It saddles students with debt; it does not guarantee a good job; it isn’t necessary for many jobs. Not everybody, the skeptics say, should go to college.
The argument has the lure of counter intuition and does have grains of truth. Too many teenagers aren’t ready to do college-level work. Ultimately, though, the case against mass education is no better than it was a century ago. The evidence is overwhelming that college is a better investment for most graduates than in the past. A new study even shows that a bachelor’s degree pays off for jobs that don’t require one: secretaries, plumbers and cashiers. And, beyond money, education seems to make people happier and healthier. “Sending more young Americans to college is not a panacea,” says David Autor, an M.I.T. economist who studies the labor market. “Not sending them to college would be a disaster.”
The most unfortunate part of the case against college is that it encourages children, parents and schools to aim low. For those families on the fence — often deciding whether a student will be the first to attend — the skepticism becomes one more reason to stop at high school. Only about 33 percent of young adults get a four-year degree today, while another 10 percent receive a two-year degree.
Step 4: What is your Listening and Speaking level?
Most students have the same Listening and Speaking level as their Reading level.
You chose Reading Level .
I can understand teachers when they speak slowly.
I can talk to people about what I want and ask questions.
I want to speak more quickly and easily.
I can understand short conversations in English when people speak slowly.
I can express my ideas in English.
I want to be able to talk to and understand English speakers.
I can usually understand most people who speak in English.
I can watch television or movies in English and understand the main idea.
I want to be able to improve my conversation skills.
I am comfortable participating in long conversations in English.
I can understand television or movies in English.
I want to improve my public speaking skills or fulfill my public speaking requirement for CSU transfer.
Most students have the same Listening and Speaking level as their Reading level.
You chose Reading Level .
Level 1
High Beginning
High Beginning
Level 2
Intermediate
Intermediate
Level 3
High Intermediate
High Intermediate
Level 4
Advanced
Advanced
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Think about the question. Write for 30 minutes about your ideas, reasons, and examples. Use all of the time and write as much as you can! You want to show yourself everything that you can do in English.
Step 5: What is your Writing level?
Read the question and write an answer. Remember, this is NOT a test.
Write as much as you can or until there is no more time, and then click "I'm finished writing."
Then you’ll be able to compare your writing to other students’ writing to find your writing level.
Read the question and write an answer. Remember, this is NOT a test.
Write as much as you can or until there is no more time, and then click "I'm finished writing."
Then you’ll be able to compare your writing to other students’ writing to find your writing level.
Question: Which do you think is a better place to live, a big city or a small town?
30:00 minutes
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It does not matter if you wrote about the same idea. Is your writing at the same level? Or is your writing higher or lower?
Level 1: Level 1: I wrote 5-10 sentences about the topic.
Level 2: I wrote 1-2 paragraphs with details about my ideas.
Level 3: I wrote 3-4 paragraphs about my opinion and wrote details and examples to explain my ideas.
Level 4: I wrote an organized 4-5 paragraph essay with clear explanations and academic language.
Level 1: Level 1: I wrote 5-10 sentences about the topic.
Level 2: I wrote 1-2 paragraphs with details about my ideas.
Level 3: I wrote 3-4 paragraphs about my opinion and wrote details and examples to explain my ideas.
Level 4: I wrote an organized 4-5 paragraph essay with clear explanations and academic language.
Step 6: Look at the answer you wrote and then read what a Level student wrote in 30 minutes. Compare your writing. Look at: • grammar • vocabulary • how much you wrote • organization.
Your writing:
Other student's writing:
Level 1
I think small town because in a small town the people are more friendly the life is more easy is less contamination in small town have a lot trees. Flowers, birds the small town is better to live than a big city. For example a big city no have many trees, have less birds is very loud. Sometimes the life is more difficult in a big city. A big reason about big city no is better to live.
I think small town because in a small town the people are more friendly the life is more easy is less contamination in small town have a lot trees. Flowers, birds the small town is better to live than a big city. For example a big city no have many trees, have less birds is very loud. Sometimes the life is more difficult in a big city. A big reason about big city no is better to live.
Level 2
For me, a big city is a better place to live. I think the traffic in a big city is more benefit than it in a small town. Because I’m young, I think the traffic is important. And, I’m a lazy guy. I don’t like to drive a long way to buy food .
I’m from Nanjing in China. Nanjing is a city that is beautiful. People that live at Nanjing are nice and friendly. Also, my best friends are there, so I like Nanjing and I like a big city.
I have been to a small town. In my opinion, a small town is peaceful. But, everything is slow at the small town. People walk, drive and work slowly there, so I can’t stand that. But, people is nice too.
For me, a big city is a better place to live. I think the traffic in a big city is more benefit than it in a small town. Because I’m young, I think the traffic is important. And, I’m a lazy guy. I don’t like to drive a long way to buy food .
I’m from Nanjing in China. Nanjing is a city that is beautiful. People that live at Nanjing are nice and friendly. Also, my best friends are there, so I like Nanjing and I like a big city.
I have been to a small town. In my opinion, a small town is peaceful. But, everything is slow at the small town. People walk, drive and work slowly there, so I can’t stand that. But, people is nice too.
Level 3
I think is better to live in a big city because I like to live in a small house or an apartment, I don’t like to be alone.
In a big city you always can see a lot of people whenever you go. I like to go shopping to the big malls, so in the city there are a lot of malls. Also, in a big city there are many places to go, you can go to any movie, theatre, museums. I can choose to go at a restaurant: a Chinese restaurant, Mexican restaurant, Italian restaurant, etc. In a big city if you are married and have children there are many options of schools where to go. There are many industries, stores, and also there are more opportunities of jobs.
You have better medical services than a small town. In the city, there are big and good hospital where you can go, be healthy. It is very important, if you are healthy you can do everything you want.
In a big city you can use different kinds of transport: bus, car, train, etc. so you can go everywhere, and there are airports to go to other cities or countries, and that’s good for me because I like to travel and meet other countries, other people, foods, etc.
In a small town you can live maybe without stress but you can not have the opportunities that you can have in a big city. I suppose it depends how you are and what do you like to choose to live in a big city or small town.
I think is better to live in a big city because I like to live in a small house or an apartment, I don’t like to be alone.
In a big city you always can see a lot of people whenever you go. I like to go shopping to the big malls, so in the city there are a lot of malls. Also, in a big city there are many places to go, you can go to any movie, theatre, museums. I can choose to go at a restaurant: a Chinese restaurant, Mexican restaurant, Italian restaurant, etc. In a big city if you are married and have children there are many options of schools where to go. There are many industries, stores, and also there are more opportunities of jobs.
You have better medical services than a small town. In the city, there are big and good hospital where you can go, be healthy. It is very important, if you are healthy you can do everything you want.
In a big city you can use different kinds of transport: bus, car, train, etc. so you can go everywhere, and there are airports to go to other cities or countries, and that’s good for me because I like to travel and meet other countries, other people, foods, etc.
In a small town you can live maybe without stress but you can not have the opportunities that you can have in a big city. I suppose it depends how you are and what do you like to choose to live in a big city or small town.
Level 4
I prefer living in a big city to living in a small town because a big city has better schools, hospitals, and job opportunities than those of a small town.
Firstly, education is very important to me. I can easily find more modern schools with better teachers in a big city than in a small town. This is because there are more schools and teachers may be better paid. I can choose the school that is the best fit for me.
Secondly, health is also an important matter to me. There are much more modern hospitals with best doctors and devices in a big city than those in a small town. In case i have serious sickness, doctors who work in modern hospitals in a big city are able to save my life better than those who work in small hospitals in a small town.
Last but not least, job opportunities in a big city are better than those in a small town because there are more business facilities such as banks, travel agencies, insurance agencies, hospitals, schools, factories and so on located in a big city. These businesses recruit thousands of people every year. If I live in a small town, job opportunities are limited because business facilities rarely locate in such places.
For all the above mentioned reasons, I prefer living in a big city to a small town.
I prefer living in a big city to living in a small town because a big city has better schools, hospitals, and job opportunities than those of a small town.
Firstly, education is very important to me. I can easily find more modern schools with better teachers in a big city than in a small town. This is because there are more schools and teachers may be better paid. I can choose the school that is the best fit for me.
Secondly, health is also an important matter to me. There are much more modern hospitals with best doctors and devices in a big city than those in a small town. In case i have serious sickness, doctors who work in modern hospitals in a big city are able to save my life better than those who work in small hospitals in a small town.
Last but not least, job opportunities in a big city are better than those in a small town because there are more business facilities such as banks, travel agencies, insurance agencies, hospitals, schools, factories and so on located in a big city. These businesses recruit thousands of people every year. If I live in a small town, job opportunities are limited because business facilities rarely locate in such places.
For all the above mentioned reasons, I prefer living in a big city to a small town.
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We also have other classes at Laney College that can help you reach your goals. Answer these questions to find out what classes we recommend for you!
Step 7: Answer the questions to see some other classes that might help you.
After you answer the questions, click the yellow button to finish the class placement.
After you answer the questions, click the yellow button to finish the class placement.
Tutoring and support
Is this your first academic writing class?
Have you been out of school for a long time?
Are you worried that your writing class might be difficult for you?
Is it very important to you to get a high grade in this class?
Grammar
Is your grammar level higher than your reading level?
English for technology
Do you need to learn more about computers for school and homework?
English for work communication
Do you want to improve your English for your job?
Is this your first academic writing class?
Have you been out of school for a long time?
Are you worried that your writing class might be difficult for you?
Is it very important to you to get a high grade in this class?
Grammar
Is your grammar level higher than your reading level?
English for technology
Do you need to learn more about computers for school and homework?
English for work communication
Do you want to improve your English for your job?
CLASS LIST:
Reading and Writing - required for students who plan to transfer or get an AA degree
Listening and Speaking
ESOL 534A - English for Technology
ESOL 287 Customer Service or ESOL 286 Workplace Communication
