Free Practice Questions for SQU English Placement
Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.
Loading practice questions...
Explore More Sultan Qaboos University Foundation Program Examinations (SQU CPS)
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
Key Facts: SQU English Placement Exam
65
Questions on the English Placement Test, in four sections
SQU Foundation Program Guide 2026
1 h 30 min
Time allowed for the English Placement Test
SQU Foundation Program Guide 2026
6 levels
Foundation English levels for science and bilingual colleges (four for Arabic-medium colleges)
SQU CPS Orientation page
IELTS 5.0
IELTS overall score (with at least 4.5 per skill) that exempts students from the English Placement and Exit Tests
SQU Student Guide for Placement and Exit Tests 2026/2027
The SQU English Placement Test places newly admitted Sultan Qaboos University students at a Foundation English level: six levels for science and bilingual colleges and four for Arabic-medium colleges. It has 65 questions on reading, listening, grammar and vocabulary in 1 hour 30 minutes. Level 4 or higher qualifies students for the IT Exit Test and, in science colleges, the Mathematics Exit Test. An IELTS overall 5 with at least 4.5 in each skill exempts students. CPS says students do not need to prepare because the test measures general English. This is independent general-English MCQ practice by OpenExamPrep, not an official SQU test; listening is practised through transcripts, not audio.
Sample SQU English Placement Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the SQU English Placement exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: Sultan Qaboos University ________ officially opened in 1986, when its first students enrolled.
2Choose the correct option to complete the sentence: Most students in our residence hall ________ to their morning lectures by shuttle bus.
3Choose the correct option to complete the sentence: While Dr. Al-Harthi ________ the laboratory protocol, the power suddenly went off in the science building.
4Choose the correct modal verb: Students ________ carry their official university ID card at all times when entering the campus libraries.
5Choose the correct conditional form: If a new student achieves an IELTS overall band of 5.0 with at least 4.5 in each skill, they ________ from the foundation English courses.
6Choose the correct relative pronoun: The Centre for Preparatory Studies, ________ is responsible for the foundation program, provides orientation testing for all new students.
7Choose the correct verb form: Neither the course instructor nor the department head ________ available during the public holiday.
8Choose the correct preposition: You may hand in your project on any day this week, but it must reach the office ________ Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the latest.
9Choose the correct passive structure: The new science laboratories in the College of Agriculture ________ next month by university administrators.
10Choose the correct sentence connector: Tariq studied diligently for three weeks; ________, he passed his mid-semester grammar quiz easily.
About the SQU English Placement Exam
The English Placement Test is given by the Centre for Preparatory Studies (CPS) to newly admitted Sultan Qaboos University students to decide their starting level in the Foundation Program English courses.
Exam sponsor: Sultan Qaboos University — Centre for Preparatory Studies (CPS). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
65 questions
Time Limit
1 hour 30 minutes
Passing Score
No pass mark: places students at a Foundation English level; Level 4 or higher qualifies students for the IT Exit Test and, in science colleges, the Mathematics Exit Test
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Grammar and Sentence Structure
Verb tenses, agreement, modals, conditionals, passives, and clause linking
Vocabulary and Word Usage
General and academic vocabulary, meaning in context, collocations, prefixes, and suffixes
Reading Comprehension
Short texts testing main ideas, factual details, inferences, and reference words
Listening Comprehension (Transcript-Based)
Conversations, announcements, and lecture extracts presented as written transcripts for key points, speaker purpose, and details
Preparing for the SQU English Placement Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No pass mark: places students at a Foundation English level; Level 4 or higher qualifies students for the IT Exit Test and, in science colleges, the Mathematics Exit Test
- Exam length: 65 questions
- Time limit: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Exam / certification fees: Not published Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
SQU English Placement: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SQU English Placement Test?
It is the test that newly admitted Sultan Qaboos University students take during orientation, unless they present an IELTS certificate with the required scores. The Centre for Preparatory Studies uses the result to place students in the Foundation English courses.
How many questions are on the test and what is its format?
The Foundation Program Guide describes 65 questions in four sections (Reading, Listening, Grammar and Vocabulary) with a time limit of 1 hour 30 minutes. Answers are shaded on a separate answer sheet, and students bring an HB pencil, a blue pen and an eraser.
How do exemptions work for the English Placement Test?
Students who present an IELTS certificate with an overall score of at least 5 and at least 4.5 in each skill are exempt from the English Placement Test, the English Exit Test, and the foundation English courses. The 2026/2027 student guide lists IELTS as the only certificate route.
Is this practice test an official SQU test?
No. This is an independent English-language multiple-choice study bank by OpenExamPrep for general English practice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sultan Qaboos University, it does not copy the real test, and its listening questions use written transcripts instead of audio. CPS notes that students do not need to prepare because the test measures general English level.