The document provides guidelines and information about the Computerized Oral Bagrut Exam (COBE) in Israel. It discusses the structure and scoring of the exam, which has three parts: answering questions about familiar topics, answering questions about a student project, and answering questions after watching a video clip. It emphasizes practicing vocabulary and sample questions. Students are scored on a rubric for content, fluency, vocabulary and language. The document aims to help students prepare by familiarizing them with the exam format and providing many examples to practice the different sections.

1. THE C.O.B.E. - (iTest)
•Computerized
•Oral
•Bagrut
•Exam
1
Ellyn Marciano 10 /2020

2. 2
IMPORTANT NOTE!
There are now differences in the assessment criteria and module
numbers for 4 and 5 pointers, so make note of these differences.
Semel She’elon 4 points: 16487 5 points: 16587
Semel She’elon for the PILOT E COBE: 4 points 16486, 5 points
16586 *(Note: For part C, in the pilot, clips include speaking).
The 2019 simulation is available and downloadable from the ministry site, but
be aware that there have been some changes in the exam and it is not entirely
up-to-date. (For one thing…there are fewer questions in each question set).
Guidelines for Teachers:

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• This presentation is NOT meant to be shown to students in its entirety! Please use as a RESOURCE
and present to your students whatever you feel will be helpful for them. It is NOT recommended to
send this entire presentation directly to your students.
• Focus on VOCABULARY and general responses to a variety of question types. It is not useful or
possible for students to memorize answers to all the questions.
• It IS useful for students to know the structure of the exam and Alfie’s instructions ahead of time. This
will help to reduce stress at the time of the exam.
• It IS useful to give students as much practice as possible with speaking and recording their answers to
a variety of questions from the 10th grade.
(My personal recommendation is to send question clips to students for practice. Ask them to answer
only 2 questions from the set. For weaker students, choose two questions that you have practiced
with. For more advanced students, ask them to choose two questions to answer.)
The expectations in this presentation are GENERALIZATIONS of what students will be expected to
do. For a complete and detailed TOS, please refer to the official ministry Table of Specifications.
Guidelines for Teachers:

4. COBE = 20% of your English Bagrut Grade
•20% = Oral Bagrut (COBE)
• 27% Module E* (5 pts) or C (4 pts)
• 26% Module F (5 pts) or D (4 pts): Literature
• 27% Module G (5 pts) or E* (4 pts)
4

5. THE EXAM HAS 3 PARTS...
POINTS / TIME WHAT YOU WILL BE
EXPECTED TO DO
PART A 25 (2-3 MINUTES*)
*for listening AND answering
Listen to and answer questions
about FAMILIAR TOPICS and
EVERYDAY SITUATIONS:
PART B 25 (1-2 MINUTES)*
*points will be deducted for speaking
for less than 1 minute
Answer questions IN DETAIL about
your project
PART C 25
25
(4-5 MINUTES to listen and record
answers)
Watch a clip and answer
questions about it
5

6. PART A –
ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT FAMILIAR, EVERYDAY TOPICS
• YOU WILL BE PRESENTED WITH TWO TOPICS
• CHOOSE ONLY ONE TO TALK ABOUT
• YOU WILL HAVE 2-3 MINUTES TO LISTEN TO THE
QUESTIONS AND GIVE YOUR ANSWERS
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MINISTRY LIST OF POSSIBLE TOPICS
FOR PART A-

7. IN PART A - You will be expected to…
UNDERSTAND KEY INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS
ABOUT FAMILIAR TOPICS and…
• EXPRESS OPINIONS AND PREFERENCES
• DESCRIBE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES (REAL OR IMAGINED)
• EXPLAIN WITH DETAILS AND EXAMPLES
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These are GENERALIZATIONS of what students will be expected to do.
For a complete and detailed TOS, please refer to the official ministry
Table of Specifications.

8. ADVERTISING ROLE MODELS SCHOOL DAY BEING FAMOUS SCHOOL SUBJECTS
GETTING AROUND FREE TIME FRIENDSHIP SCHOOL TRIPS MUSIC
SOME POSSIBLE TOPICS FOR PART A
Click on a picture to hear sample questions.-
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*Makif School wix site; Natalia Pinchevsky Skripochnik
PRACTICE WITH VOCABULARY AND MORE TOPICS …

9. HEALTHY LIFESTYLE GAMES SUMMER VACATIONS MY HOMETOWN RESPECT
GETTING THINGS DONE KNOWING LANGUAGES VOLUNTEERING
COMPUTERS AND
CELLPHONES TEACHERS
SOME POSSIBLE TOPICS FOR PART A
Click on a picture to hear sample questions.
9
*Makif School wix site; Natalia Pinchevsky Skripochnik
PRACTICE WITH VOCABULARY AND MORE TOPICS …

10. These are GENERALIZATIONS of what students will be expected to do. For a complete and detailed TOS, please
refer to the official ministry Table of Specifications.
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PART B – Answering questions about your PROJECT
MINISTRY LIST FOR POSSIBLE TOPICS FOR PART B
• You will turn in your written project according to your teacher’s
instructions. Only your teacher will see and assess this work.
• You will NOT be allowed to bring any written or pre-
recorded material to the exam!
• You should know your topic well enough to:
• EXPLAIN, give examples, thoughts, opinions
• GIVE specific FACTS about your topic
• REFLECT on the work you did and what you learned.
These are GENERALIZATIONS of what students will be expected to do. For a complete and detailed TOS, please
refer to the official ministry Table of Specifications.
*IMPORTANT NOTE!
Even if you are NOT asked specifically about your project topic, you should begin with a sentence or two that states what you topic
is about.

11. PART B - Here are some sample questions
you may be asked about your project.*
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NOTE! You will HEAR
the questions and you
will SEE key words only!
NOTE! Some question
sets do not specifically
ask you about your
topic. You should still
state what your topic is
at the beginning.

12. SOME SAMPLE CLIPS AND TIPS FOR PART C *
PART C – WATCH A CLIP AND ANSWER TWO
QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
From the REED googlesite; Adele Raemer

13. IN PART C YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO...
• FIRST QUESTION:
• REACT
• DESCRIBE IN SEQUENCE
• GIVE DETAILS
15
SECOND QUESTION
• MAKE SUGGESTIONS
• GIVE OPINIONS / ORIGINAL
IDEAS
• EXPLAIN
These are GENERALIZATIONS of what students will be expected to do.
For a complete and detailed TOS, please refer to the official ministry
Table of Specifications.

14. WHAT WILL THE EXAM LOOK LIKE?
An animated character, ALFIE will give you instructions along the way
and tell you what you will need to do for each part.
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15. 1. Alfie gives you general instructions for the exam.
17

16. 2. YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO RECORD A FEW
SENTENCES ABOUT YOURSELF FOR PRACTICE
18

17. 3. BEGIN PART A -
Choose ONE set of questions to answer
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THEN CHOOSE ONE SET
TO ANSWER.
YOU MUST ANSWER ALL
OF THE QUESTIONS IN
THE SET!
LISTEN TO BOTH SETS OF
QUESTIONS. THIS WILL
TAKE ABOUT 20
SECONDS EACH.

18. 4. GO ON TO PART B -
Answer questions about your project.
NOTICE THAT YOU WILL
NOT SEE THE ENTIRE
QUESTIONS IN WRITING.
BUT YOU WILL SEE KEY
WORDS THAT WILL HELP
YOU.
More practice with
questions and vocabulary
from
Makif School wix site

19. 5. GO ON TO PART C-
WATCH A VIDEO CLIP AND THEN ANSWER TWO QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHAT YOU SAW.
*You will NOT have a choice. YOU MUST ANSWER BOTH QUESTIONS!
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20. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE of a CLIP
*Notice that there is NOT a lot of talking.
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21. HERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT BE
ASKED ABOUT THE CLIP YOU SAW.
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● YOU MUST ANSWER BOTHQUESTIONS. GIVE DETAILS, OPINIONS, THOUGHTS, PREDICTIONS.
● YOU WILL HAVE ABOUT 4 - 5 MINUTES TO WATCHTHE CLIP AND ANSWERBOTH QUESTIONS
NOTE* YOU WILL SEE KEY WORDS, BUT NOT THE WHOLE QUESTION.

22. NOTICE!
THE FIRST QUESTION MAY FOCUS
MORE ON DESCRIBING WHAT YOU
SEE:
“LOTS” TYPE OF QUESTIONS.
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NOTICE!
THE SECOND QUESTION MAY
FOCUS MORE ON YOUR IDEAS,
PREDICTIONS, THOUGHTS:
“HOTS” TYPE OF QUESTIONS.
● YOU MAY GO BACK AND WATCH THE CLIP AGAIN.
● BUT NOTE! YOU WILL LOSE POINTS FOR RECORDING MORE THAN TWO STOPS/FILES.
CLICK HERE TO
PRACTICE THIS
PART WITHS MORE
EXAMPLES

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More Practice from COBE 2020 Winter
Mr. Bean: Trying to Cheat on an Exam
Describe the events in the clip.
How does the man who tries to cheat feel at the end? Explain in detail.
How do both men feel during the test?
What do you think happens after the clip ends? Answer the questions with
detailed explanations.
Mr. Bean - Police Chase
Describe the events in the clip.
Why is the ending surprising? Explain in detail.
Why do you think the man acts as if he has a gun?
What do you think the police officers think at the beginning of the clip
and at the end of the clip? Answer the questions with detailed
explanations.
SKIP PRACTICE

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More Practice from COBE 2020 Winter
Mariza – The Stubborn Donkey
Describe the events in the clip.
Were you surprised by what the donkey did at the end? Explain in detail.
How does the music help the man and the donkey?
What do you think the man will do the next time the donkey doesn't want to
go up the hill? Answer the questions with detailed explanations.
Molly – The Fish
Describe the events in the clip.
How does the black cat feel at the end? Explain in detail.
Why do you think the cat helps the fish?
Where do you think the fish's life would be better? Answer the questions
with detailed explanations.
SKIP PRACTICE

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More Practice from COBE 2020 Winter
On Wednesdays – Lady Goes Shopping
Describe the events in the clip.
In what way was the ending unexpected? Explain in detail.
Why do you think the old lady goes shopping every Wednesday even
though she doesn't have money to buy anything?
How do you think Liana, the cashier, feels when the old lady leaves?
Answer the questions with detailed explanations.
Play-Off
Describe the events in the clip.
How does the man feel at the end of the clip? Explain in detail.
Why do you think it is so important for the man to succeed in the game?
How do you think the girl's success influences the man? Answer the
questions with detailed explanations.
SKIP PRACTICE

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More Practice from COBE 2020 Winter
Snack Attack
Describe the events in the clip
In what way was the ending unexpected? Explain in detail.
Do you think the age difference affects what happened in the clip?
What do you think the old lady learns from the events in the clip?
Answer the questions with detailed explanations.
Piece of Cake
Describe the events in the clip
How does the man feel at the end of the clip? Explain in detail.
How does the man feel when he sits down to eat?
Why do you think the woman shares her food with the man?
Answer the questions with detailed explanations.
SKIP PRACTICE

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More Practice from COBE 2020 Winter
Baggage
Describe the events in the clip.
Was the ending surprising? Explain in detail.
How do the boy's feelings change from the beginning to the end of the clip?
Why do you think the boy doesn't buy the new bag?
Answer the questions with detailed explanations.
Coin Operated
Describe the events in the clip.
What is surprising about the end of the clip? Explain in detail.
How do you think the boy's feelings change during the clip?
What do you think the boy learns about life? Answer the questions with detailed
explanations.
SKIP PRACTICE

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More Practice from COBE 2020 Winter
Belly Flop
Describe the events in the clip
In what way was the ending unexpected? Explain in detail.
Why do you think the girl with the black hair continues diving and
doesn't give up?
How do you think the girl with the black hair feels at the end of the
clip? Answer the questions with detailed explanations.
Warbie and Yarma
Describe the events in the clip.
What is surprising about the end of the clip? Explain in detail.
Why do you think it's hard for the old man to take a picture of the bird?
Why do you think it's so important for the old man to take a picture of the
bird? Answer the questions with detailed explanations.
SKIP PRACTICE

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More Practice from COBE 2020 Winter
Mr Indifferent
Describe the events in the clip
What is surprising about the end of the clip? Explain in detail.
Why do you think the man is happier after he changed his behavior?
What do you think happens after the clip ends? Answer the questions with
detailed explanations.
Pip (Dog School)
Describe the events in the clip
How do you think the dog feels at the end of the clip? Explain in detail.
Why do you think the dog wanted to be in the school?
How would the story be different if the dog were big and tall?
Answer the questions with detailed explanations.
SKIP PRACTICE

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More Practice from COBE 2020 Winter
Broken Arrow
Describe the events in the clip
How does the father feel at the end of the clip?Explain in detail.
How does the girl help her father win the competition?
What do you think the father learns from this experience?
Answer the questions with detailed explanations.
SKIP PRACTICE

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You can go through the whole
practice 2019 simulation again
HERE
You can go directly to the Israel Ministry of Education,
English Inspectorate site for links to this an other resources.
CLICK HERE to go to the Inspectorate site, Computerized
Oral Exam page.

32. YOUR GRADE FOR THE EXAM...
You will be graded for each part of the exam as follows:
Part A: (Question 1) = 25%
Part B: (Question 2) = 25%
Part C: (Question 3) = 25%
(Question 4) = 25%
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33. FOR EACH ANSWER...(*note emphasis on content for 4 pointers!)
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CRITERIA 4 POINTS 5 POINTS
TOPIC DEVELOPMENT
(CONTENT)
60 % 50 %
SPEAKING CLEARLY AND FLUENTLY 10 % 15 %
VOCABULARY, EXPRESSIONS, CHUNKS 20 % 20 %
LANGUAGE
(GRAMMAR / STRUCTURES)
10 % 15 %
Complete detailed rubrics, accompanying charts and TOS >

34. POINTS WILL BE TAKEN OFF FOR...
• ANSWERS THAT ARE INCOMPLETE
• TOO MANY STOPS / FILES (MORE THAN 2)
• PART B ONLY, ANSWERS LESS THAN ONE MINUTE
YOU WILL GET A 0 FOR…
• ANY QUESTIONS YOU DON’T ANSWER
• AN EMPTY FILE
• MORE THAN 8 FILES FOR ONE ANSWER
• USING FOUL LANGUAGE
• USING ANY LANGUAGE THAT IS NOT ENGLISH

35. GOOD LUCK! PRACTICE!!!
• DATES ARE SET BY THE MINISTRY AND CANNOT BE CHANGED!
• YOU MUST COME ON YOUR ASSIGNED DAY!!! NO AIDS ALLOWED
• THE 4 AND 5 POINT EXAM IS THE SAME: YOU WILL BE GRADED
ACCORDING TO RUBRICS FOR YOUR LEVEL (4 or 5 points) based on the
“CAN-DO” LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT STANDARDS.
• YOU WILL GET A PRACTICE SIMULATION TEST AND A SCHOOL GRADE.
37

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Your teachers will inform you of any changes in the requirements,
dates, or format of the COBE that may be implemented as a result
of the COVID19 pandemic restrictions.
In the meantime…practice, and STAY WELL!

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RESOURCES
COBE 2021
GUIDELINES
Israel Ministry of Education, English
Inspectorate site. Chief English
Inspector: Tziona Levy
education.gov.il/english
COBE 2021
GUIDELINES
Israel Ministry of Education, English
Inspectorate site
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17Z57D
X9yY43WL9k5RBVChSSL8O_sjyE_/edit
COBE 2019 C.O.B.E. computerized bagrut exam:
simulation
https://storage.cet.ac.il/ExamsViewer/Spoken
English/016487/2019/sim/Day1/Ver1/instructi
ons.htm
Beverly Chazan National Counselor, COBE
058-490-2765
Beverly’s COBE Hotline
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1T0M
2O6yexjFYO5GXiWmC1rE9nQNxMfERLVnq
LGFr2R8/edit#slide=id.p
Magen Grades
XL file
Exel file for calculating grades for
matkonet and tasks using COBE rubrics
Criteria values for 4 and 5 point level
4 POINTS 5 POINTS
Makif School
Website “English Well” Makif Ramot Be’er Sheva,
https://nataliaps0.wixsite.com/english-
well/itest