Diagnostic Assessment

Module: Rendering & Materiality

Test Category: Category I: Language & Verbal Reasoning > 4. Descriptive Writing / Creative Essay

General Instructions for Students: IELTS Alignment

This diagnostic test assesses your foundational skills for an architecture major, alongside your ability to communicate effectively in English, which is crucial for success in an international academic environment like UK universities. Pay close attention to both the technical requirements of the drawing task and the clarity and precision of your written explanation.

  • Time Management: Adhere strictly to the time limits provided for each part. This simulates exam conditions and helps in evaluating your performance under pressure.
  • Clarity & Cohesion: In your written response, ensure your ideas are well-organised and easy to follow. Use appropriate linking words and phrases to connect your points.
  • Lexical Resource: Demonstrate your range of vocabulary, especially architectural, artistic, and descriptive terms relevant to materiality, light, and shadow.
  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Strive for grammatically correct sentences and use a variety of sentence structures to express your ideas effectively.
  • Task Achievement: Ensure your response directly addresses all aspects of the prompts for both the drawing and writing tasks.
Examination Paper: Question 3

Question: The Materialist

Part A: The Sketch (Time limit: 45 minutes)

Read the following prompt carefully:

Create a pencil sketch of a 3D composition featuring at least one transparent glass object (e.g., a bottle, a drinking glass) and at least one opaque object (e.g., a ceramic mug, an apple, a book). Arrange them on a flat surface so that one is partially in front of the other. Assume a single, strong light source is coming from the upper left side. Your drawing must show the resulting light, shadows, reflections, and refractions.
Still life composition example with transparent and opaque objects

Focus on using your pencil to show the different ways light interacts with these two very different materials.

Drawing Area for Part A

Part B: The Technical Statement (Time limit: 15 minutes) - IELTS Academic Writing Alignment

Write an explanatory paragraph (approximately 100-120 words) detailing your technical approach to the sketch you completed in Part A. Your response should:

  • Clearly explain how you used specific pencil techniques to differentiate between the transparent (glass) and opaque materials.
  • Provide concrete examples of techniques employed to represent key visual elements, such as sharp highlights and refractions on the glass, or the soft, graduated shadows on the opaque object.
  • Discuss the most significant challenge you encountered in depicting light and shadow in this scene, and describe how you attempted to address it.

Ensure your writing is well-structured, uses appropriate academic and technical vocabulary, and maintains clarity and coherence throughout.

Writing Area for Part B

CONFIDENTIAL: Instructor's Guide & Rubric

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