Level 2 exam — Professional communication

Exam — fresh questions

12 questions: recall (~20%) + application (~50%) + arbitration dilemma (~30%).
Answer everything, then click Check: your score and explanations will appear.
Indicative pass mark: ≥ 80%.

2.1 · Recall

1. What are the three main levers of readability?

A nice layout only Long sentences, fancy words, passive voice Short sentences, simple words, active voice Lots of jargon, little punctuation

Clarity = short sentences, simple words and active voice: these three levers reduce reading effort.

2.1 · Application

2. "It is necessary to proceed with the verification" — what flaw does this illustrate?

Too short a sentence No jargon Active voice Nominalization (verb turned into a noun, adds weight)

"Proceed with the verification" nominalizes the verb "verify", needlessly weighing down the sentence.

2.1 · Application

3. What simple test checks a text's clarity?

Reading it aloud Checking the font color Counting the commas Counting the pages

Reading aloud reveals sentences that are too long or awkward: wherever you run out of breath, fix it.

2.2 · Recall

4. What are meeting minutes, above all?

A full transcript of the debate A summary focused on decisions and actions A purely decorative document The list of attendees

Minutes summarize decisions and the action plan (who/what/when), not the debate word for word.

2.2 · Application

5. An action noted in minutes with no owner or date: what's the risk?

It will be completed too quickly The meeting will be canceled No risk It's unlikely to ever be completed for lack of clear follow-up

Without a named owner and a deadline, an action has very little chance of being followed up.

2.2 · Arbitration

6. When should meeting minutes ideally be distributed?

Within 24 hours, while it's still fresh Never, it's not necessary Only if requested A month later

Fast distribution, within 24h, keeps the meeting's momentum going and avoids disputes over what was decided.

2.3 · Recall

7. What does the BLUF principle (inverted pyramid) mean?

Writing the conclusion at the very end Putting the conclusion and recommendation up front Writing with no conclusion A type of table

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) places the key message and recommendation at the very start of the document.

2.3 · Application

8. What is the main function of a professional report?

Replace a meeting Describe without ever concluding Analyze a situation and recommend an action List dates

A report analyzes and leads to argued recommendations: this is its real added value.

2.3 · Arbitration

9. A 6-page report has no summary section at the top. What's the problem?

The report is too short It's missing images No problem The busy decision-maker must read everything to find the recommendation

Without a summary at the top (executive summary), the busy reader doesn't have the essentials immediately available.

2.4 · Application

10. What should the header of a formal letter contain?

Sender, recipient, date, place, subject and references Nothing specific Only the logo Only the signature

The header clearly identifies the parties and the subject, easing the letter's processing and filing.

2.4 · Arbitration

11. For a formal administrative complaint response, which closing is most suitable?

"Bye for now" "Sincerely" or "Yours faithfully" No closing at all "Cheers"

An administrative or legal context calls for a standard closing phrase, more formal than a simple "Best regards".

2.5 · Arbitration

12. Why is proofreading with distance more effective than immediate proofreading?

It replaces the spell-checker It takes less time Distance reveals mistakes the eye was auto-correcting It adds nothing extra

Right after writing, the eye mentally completes the intended text; distance lets you see what's actually written.

What's next?

Score ≥ 80%: level 2 validated — on to Level 3 V3 (speaking & presenting: preparing your talk, managing stage fright and your voice, posture, slides, answering questions and handling the unexpected).
Score < 80%: revisit sections 2.1 to 2.5 via the 48h challenge (clear rewriting, one-page minutes, inverted pyramid, formal letter, triple proofreading pass), then retake the exam.