TPS LPI Practice & Tips
I have provided this page as a way of getting the advice and tips from more reputable websites and YouTube videos for those who prefer more audio means of studying. As well, I will give a couple textbooks that students trust and seem to be useful. Continue to use Google for a good many more sites but be careful not to overload things and try to keep the information manageable.
As well, I will post a new tip every week and archive them. You can also go to my LPI blog, which is new and will archive new posts. You are welcome to make your own posts or just post a question for others.
As well, I will post a new tip every week and archive them. You can also go to my LPI blog, which is new and will archive new posts. You are welcome to make your own posts or just post a question for others.
Free LPI Websites and Blogs
There unfortunately isn't a lot offered for free on the LPI exam but you can get enough to get a broad idea of the exam. There are four important LPI websites that seem to give credible information and give you a lot of detail on the test itself. The first one is the official LPI website which gives great information about the test but unfortunately does not give any free samples.
The second is the CELPIP site which does offer free samples of the CELPIP Academic sections of reading and writing part, which are identical to the LPI exam.
The third is a website called speak-read-write and it has a section on the LPI. Basically this is just a page of advice. Another one is provided by School District 38 which just gives information on up to date times and locations. If you want to get a good summary of the scoring try an old PDF by Ares, a now defunct UBC site that once gave practice. There are not many blogs but one is a Chinese cyber website called Loyaukee that has discussed the trials and tribulations of LPI and add some advice. Another forums is one by Chinese students from Langara called Langara find forum and administered by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA).
The second is the CELPIP site which does offer free samples of the CELPIP Academic sections of reading and writing part, which are identical to the LPI exam.
The third is a website called speak-read-write and it has a section on the LPI. Basically this is just a page of advice. Another one is provided by School District 38 which just gives information on up to date times and locations. If you want to get a good summary of the scoring try an old PDF by Ares, a now defunct UBC site that once gave practice. There are not many blogs but one is a Chinese cyber website called Loyaukee that has discussed the trials and tribulations of LPI and add some advice. Another forums is one by Chinese students from Langara called Langara find forum and administered by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA).
Textbooks
The standard textbooks for LPI are those listed in the Paragon site. Another one you could add to that list is Common Sentence Structure Mistakes at LPI by Richard Lee and another is Columbia Common English Usage Mistakes at LPI by the same author. Both these can be ordered on Amazon quite cheaply but are really only for the Sentence structure and English usage sections.
Tip #4: Writing the Body of Your Essay
The Body section is designed to persuade a reader of your point of view based on your predetermined structure. Usually you can structure your view around reasons. So a good approach is to list your reasons for your point of view before you begin the essay
For Example
Should the minimum driving age be raised?
Yes
Reason 1: Lack of maturity
Reason 2: Give more time to train
Reason 3: Encourage public transport habits
Take the reason and make it the basis for the paragraph
Typically your body structure will be:
Topic opener
Reason
Support 1
Support 2
Support 3 (if necessary)
Support 4 (If necessary)
What are some forms of support?
Here are a few:
1. Chain arguments
a. based on condition/consequences (If we do A, we can B) (If A, B will result)
b. based on cause and effect (When A happens, B occurs Whenever A, B results)
C. based on paired occurances (The more A, the more B)
2. Counterarguments
a. Contradict other side's argument (Some say it will A ,but I think it will B)
b. Acknowledge truth but de-emphasize (While A may be true, it is more important to B
3. Examples
a. Personal experiences
b. Other cases
c. Hypothetical examples (If a person does A, he/she may B)
4. Appeals to fairness
a. Analogies (Since we don't allow A why should we allow B)
b. Rights statements (No A has the right to B)
The key issue is to try a good variety of support strategies rather than just rush to examples. One common mistake is overemphasizing the reason and over elaborating it. You are not an expert on the topic in terms of facts, you are expected to be a good persuader
Example:
Do you believe that younger children should never be given homework?
1. Topic Opener
Socializing is an important life skill and one that is often made harder in today's rushed world
2. Reason
Consequently, the first reason I think that children should not have homework is it will make their social lives worse.
3. If…then…
If students have too much homework, they may not have time to enjoy their lives, causing/making their social skills worse, which is a strong ingredient for success.
4. Cause & Effect
Whenever, a teacher gives homework it is a sign that he or she has not planned his or her lesson time management well
4. Counterargument
Some say that giving children no homework makes them lazy, but I think too much homework kills a child’s interest.
5. Example
I have a personal experience that can illustrate this point. When I was 8 years old I was given too much homework in math and I have never enjoyed math since then. This proves that homework can kill interest.
6. Fairness Analogy
Since we do not like to receive overtime work from our bosses, why should we give overtime to students
7. Rights argument
Student's have the right to enjoy their time off of school
............................[more on this ] ...............................................[click to keep readinhile this is continued on LPI Blog along with other tips]
For Example
Should the minimum driving age be raised?
Yes
Reason 1: Lack of maturity
Reason 2: Give more time to train
Reason 3: Encourage public transport habits
Take the reason and make it the basis for the paragraph
Typically your body structure will be:
Topic opener
Reason
Support 1
Support 2
Support 3 (if necessary)
Support 4 (If necessary)
What are some forms of support?
Here are a few:
1. Chain arguments
a. based on condition/consequences (If we do A, we can B) (If A, B will result)
b. based on cause and effect (When A happens, B occurs Whenever A, B results)
C. based on paired occurances (The more A, the more B)
2. Counterarguments
a. Contradict other side's argument (Some say it will A ,but I think it will B)
b. Acknowledge truth but de-emphasize (While A may be true, it is more important to B
3. Examples
a. Personal experiences
b. Other cases
c. Hypothetical examples (If a person does A, he/she may B)
4. Appeals to fairness
a. Analogies (Since we don't allow A why should we allow B)
b. Rights statements (No A has the right to B)
The key issue is to try a good variety of support strategies rather than just rush to examples. One common mistake is overemphasizing the reason and over elaborating it. You are not an expert on the topic in terms of facts, you are expected to be a good persuader
Example:
Do you believe that younger children should never be given homework?
1. Topic Opener
Socializing is an important life skill and one that is often made harder in today's rushed world
2. Reason
Consequently, the first reason I think that children should not have homework is it will make their social lives worse.
3. If…then…
If students have too much homework, they may not have time to enjoy their lives, causing/making their social skills worse, which is a strong ingredient for success.
4. Cause & Effect
Whenever, a teacher gives homework it is a sign that he or she has not planned his or her lesson time management well
4. Counterargument
Some say that giving children no homework makes them lazy, but I think too much homework kills a child’s interest.
5. Example
I have a personal experience that can illustrate this point. When I was 8 years old I was given too much homework in math and I have never enjoyed math since then. This proves that homework can kill interest.
6. Fairness Analogy
Since we do not like to receive overtime work from our bosses, why should we give overtime to students
7. Rights argument
Student's have the right to enjoy their time off of school
............................[more on this ] ...............................................[click to keep readinhile this is continued on LPI Blog along with other tips]
