dictation test

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A test in which someone reads out words or a passage and you write down what you hear, checking spelling or listening.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a dictation test' or 'dictation tests'.

   Patterns

   • take a dictation test
   • pass a dictation test

   The teacher gave us a dictation test on Friday.

   She passed the dictation test with no spelling mistakes.

   Dictation tests are used to check listening skills.

2. 2nouncountable

   A historical test, especially in Australia, in which immigrants had to write a passage in a chosen language, used to exclude people.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in the phrase 'the dictation test' when referring to this specific historical policy.

   Patterns

   • the dictation test
   • subject to a dictation test

   The dictation test was used to keep out unwanted immigrants.

   Many people failed the dictation test because it was in a language they did not know.

   The dictation test was abolished in the 1950s.

Word forms

Common combinations

take a dictation test

All new students must take a dictation test.

pass a dictation test

He was relieved to pass the dictation test.

fail a dictation test

She failed the dictation test twice.

the dictation test

The dictation test was a tool of the immigration policy.

Synonyms and how they differ

spelling test

A spelling test checks only spelling, while a dictation test also checks listening and writing from speech.

listening test

A listening test may use multiple-choice questions, but a dictation test requires writing exactly what you hear.

Word family

dictate verb

To speak words for someone to write down.

dictation noun

The activity of writing down spoken words.

Commonly confused: dictation test or diction test?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “dictation test”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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