Evaluate the pros and cons of corporate psychometric screening while mastering C2 causative, agentless, and reporting passives.
C2 Score
0 / 11
1. Reading & Evaluation: Psychometric Testing
Psychology & Employment
Read the continuation of the article below, then classify each argument as either In Favour (Pro) or Against (Con) psychometric testing:
"Once the preserve of military recruitment, psychometric testing is now routinely deployed by corporate HR departments eager to have applicants' cognitive agility and emotional resilience quantified before a single interview takes place. Proponents maintain that standardised testing strips away unconscious interviewer bias, allowing introverted yet highly capable candidates to be evaluated on an equal footing. Furthermore, longitudinal data suggests that staff turnover can be significantly reduced when personality profiles are matched to company culture.
Yet sceptics remain unconvinced. Not only can seasoned applicants get themselves coached to manipulate multiple-choice personality inventories, but rigid algorithmic filtering also risks screening out neurodivergent or unconventional thinkers whose creativity resists neat categorisation. Worse still, when complex human temperament is reduced to an arbitrary percentile, hiring managers may belulled into a false sense of scientific certainty."
2. Four Pillars of C2 Passive & Causative Grammar
Grammar Reference
1. Uses of HAVE and GET
Both form causatives (have/get something done), but differ in active agency and register:
• Have sb do sth (authority): The board had the consultant sign an NDA.
• Get sb to do sth (persuasion): She got her referee to submit the form early.
2. Passives with "HAVE" (Experiencer)
Can describe either a planned service OR an unwanted event that happens to the subject:
• He had his application rejected without explanation. (Unwanted experience — he didn't arrange it!)
3. The Passive with "GET"
More dynamic and emphatic than be; used for unplanned actions or overcoming difficulty (avoid in very formal essays):
• Over 500 candidates got shortlisted.
• My CV got lost in the spam folder.
4. The Passive with "BY" Phrases
Omit by... when the agent is obvious or unknown. Keep "by" when the agent carries new, heavy, or surprising information:
• Applicants were screened by an untrained AI algorithm. (Crucial end-focus)
Test the Nuance (Choose the C2-accurate option):
5. Which sentence correctly uses a causative structure to show that the manager persuaded a reluctant employee to take the psychometric test?
6. In a formal C2 academic report on recruitment, which passive sentence uses the most appropriate register and end-focus?
7. What does "Hannah had her research data questioned at the conference" mean?
3. CPE Use of English Part 4: Key Word Transformations
3 to 8 Words
Complete the second sentence using between 3 and 8 words, including the key word in bold. Do not change the word given.
8. People rumour that several candidates manipulated the personality test results.
RUMOURED
The personality test resultsby several candidates.
9. The government unexpectedly reduced the psychology department's funding last month.
CUT
The psychology departmentlast month.
10. After hours of debate, the HR director finally persuaded the board to approve the new testing software.
GOT
After hours of debate, the HR directorthe new testing software.
11. "I hate it when companies force me to sit three-hour aptitude tests," said Marcus.