Reading comprehension

The Reading comprehension takes 75 minutes to complete and consists of two parts: general comprehension and search for information/scanning.

The aim is to test the reading skills and comprehension of different types of texts on:

a general level (i.e. the text as a whole, which includes understanding of main ideas and attitudes, how the ideas are related in the text and how they are developed)
a local level (i.e. within and between sentences, which includes understanding and interpreting the meaning of words, phrases, clauses and the connection between them).

Content

The reading paper consists of two parts:

Reading for general comprehension
Reading to search for information (scanning).

Reading for general comprehension

This part consists of five texts followed by 4–8 questions. They are either multiple-choice questions with three options from which you are asked to choose one, or statement questions for which you are asked to indicate true or false in response. The texts in this part include a number of non-fiction text types.

Reading to search for information

This part consists of one longer text (3–5 pages) where you must scan for relevant information and be able to respond to the questions (15 questions). This is a high-speed reading skill, and in general your answers should not be longer than one word or a short phrase.

Materials

All the exam papers are to be collected and handed in to invigilators after the exam.

Resources

No dictionaries or other means of assistance are allowed.

Test time

Reading for general comprehension: 50 min.
Reading to search for information (scanning): 25 min.

Total time: 75 minutes.

Why does the Reading comprehension have a maximum test length? (FAQ Tisus)

Scoring

You get 1 mark for each correct answer. The score necessary for passing is defined according to an established proficiency level, and may therefore fluctuate depending on the provided exam’s degree of difficulty.

Results

There are two grades: Pass (Godkänt) and Fail (Underkänt).

To pass Tisus you have to pass all three parts of the exam. Each component is equally weighted. If one of the components is graded as Underkänt you are allowed to retake that component only.