MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

FOR

TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

SHORTHAND (SINGLE SUBJECT)

SHORTHAND 80 WORDS PER MINUTE

MAY - JUNE 2018

SPEED : 80 WORDS PER MINUTE

DATE : MAY – JUNE 2018

TIME : DICTATION - 6 MINUTES

TRANSCRIPTION : 1 HOUR

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INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES, READER, TIMER AND INVIGILATORS

1. Before the commencement of the examination the Reader should tell the candidates:-

a) that a Preliminary Passage, not to be transcribed, will be read to them for about 1½
minutes.

b) that the examination paper consists of two (2) three-minute passages;

c) that the time allowed for reading and checking shorthand notes is Ten (10) minutes. No
transcription should be done during this period.

d) that the time allowed for transcription is ONE HOUR.

2. Transcription must be handwritten or typed in double line spacing.

3. The index number of the candidates must be written on both Transcript and Shorthand notes.

4. All shorthand notes must be attached to the transcripts and the whole of the examination work
handed to the Invigilator.

INSTRUCTIONS TO READER

To facilitate reading at the correct rate the passage is marked in quarter minutes; but the reader must
not pause when they occur, unless the sense requires it. The whole numbers complete each minute.
Words should be clearly enunciated. Punctuation must not be dictated but, indicated by the inflection
of the voice. The passage must be read according to the natural sense of the words.
The reading must be timed by means of a stop-watch and carefully checked by the Timer.
Should there be any irregularities in reading the passage, the Invigilator must attach a note about this to
her certificate. Care should be taken that the dictation passage is not seen by the candidates.
The reader must leave the room directly after she has finished the dictation of the passage.

INSTRUCTIONS TO INVIGILATOR

At the conclusion of the dictation, the Invigilator should see that the candidates are all seated about
four feet apart, before reminding them that the next Ten (10) minutes should be spent on reading and
correcting their notes. No transcription should be done during this period. At the end of the Ten (10)
minute period the Invigilator should tell the candidates that they are to begin their transcription for
which One Hour will be allowed.

INSTRUCTIONS TO TIMER

The timer must synchronize a stop watch with that of the reader, and start and stop timing at the same
time as the reader. The timer’s time is also to be recorded.

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 SHORTHAND (SINGLE SUBJECT) -3- N.E.C. EXAMS MAY- JUNE 2018
SHORTHAND 80 WPM

PRELIMINARY PASSAGE
80 WORDS TO BE DICTATED IN ONE AND A HALF (1½)
MINUTES

A big part of staying healthy and also keeping your arteries clean and clear is

1/4 related to your diet, to / what you eat. There is no joke in the popular saying

1/2 that: what you put in your body is what // will reflect in all aspects of your health. It just

makes good sense.

3/4 If you eat a lot of processed /// foods laden with saturated fats, chemicals and

1
toxins, all of that junk is going to cling to and clog up <1> your arteries over time, eventually

1/ causing serious heart related problems and other types of ailments. You also run a high / risk
4
of suffering a heart attack or a stroke.

It’s been reported over and over that eating fruits is good. // ..S T O P ..
1/
2

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SHORTHAND (SINGLE SUBJECT) -4- N.E.C. EXAMS MAY- JUNE 2018

PASSAGE NO. 1

TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY (240) WORDS TO BE DICTATED IN THREE (3) MINUTES

Preview Words: Bret, Looming

I awoke to the sound of howling winds, and the roof of my house shaking violently, more than I

1/4 have / ever heard it before. I was very scared. The clock on the wall said six (6:00) a.m. I got

1/2 out // of my bed and stepped very gently to the window to see what was taking place. What

3/4 I saw was /// very scary.

All the trees outside were being tossed around and bending wildly in all directions; two of the

1 palm <1> trees on the pathway were uprooted. The place was very dark and I noticed the

1/4 doors to my neighbour’s house / were wide open. Two of the boys were in the yard taking

1/2 up the tiles which were blown off from // the top of their house.

3/4 All of a sudden a heavy shower of rain came. I ran to the radio /// and turned it on, only to

2 hear the end of the news. The person reading the news reported that a <2> tropical storm

1/4 by the name of Bret was looming and a storm warning was in effect. The rain and high /

winds continued all day into the night. The wind died down but the rain continued nonstop for

1/2 one week, and // most persons stayed indoors.

In the meantime people living in the Central area and some other surrounding areas were

3/4 flooded. /// Water rushed into their homes covering everything, and rose so high that most

families had to be removed to shelters. <3>… S T O P..

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PASSAGE NO. 2

TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY (240) WORDS TO BE DICTATED IN THREE (3) MINUTES

Dear Paul,

1/4 We would like to inform you that we are in the process of upgrading our computer system in /

order to ensure a better service to you in the future. From now each new customer opening an

1/2 account will // be required to have their information entered into our new system. In order

3/4 to do so it is important they /// provide two forms of I.D. When they apply, minors who do

1 not have I.D. will be required to <1> come in with a parent or guardian.

1/4 We encourage you to continue to supply us with your valued feedback as / this helps us to

1/2 deliver what is wanted. This can be done by filling in the customer feedback form. These //

forms are placed in boxes which are located at the customer service desk to the east of the

3/4 building as /// you enter the door on the ground floor.

2 On that note, we are also adding a new wing to our <2> building. In case you are put out in any

1/4 way by the construction work that is taking place, we are / very sorry, as we are making every

1/2 effort to provide a state of the art building to ensure that our // clients are able to conduct

their business in comfort and are better provided for.

3/4 You can also send your feedback /// to our website or to our e-mail address. Both addresses

are on the company’s letter head. Thank you.

3 Best Regards, <3> STOP...

END OF EXAM