
Test Purpose
The test is a proficient test designed to measure how much the students have learnt with referent to English course before attending college.
Test Domain
Theoretical Construct:
Students’ ability to process integrated skills in the teaching syllabus within limited time.
Operations:
Listening:
1) be able to catch the main idea of the dialogue or text.
2) be able to get details of a relevant specified need.
3) be able to write down the needed information.
Grammar and Vocabulary:
1) be able to use right grammar rules as required in the teaching syllabus.
2) be able to deduce the meaning of an unknown word from context.
3) be able to distinguish synonyms, antonyms, etc.
Reading:
1)be able to scan text to locate specific information.
2)be able to search through text to decide on the overall idea.
3)be able to get detailed information of the text.
4)be able to recognize certain words and translate sentences accurately.
Writing;
1)be able use organizational and logical skills to answer questions with own words.
2)be able to address the writing task effectively.
3)be able to write correct and appropriate sentences.
4)be able to demonstrate an adequately developed structure with clearly stated main ideas and sufficient supporting details.
5)be able to make no mistakes of vocabulary, spelling or syntax, and display an adequate ability to use the language with appropriacy.
Spoken English Test:
1)be able to read certain passages with good pronunciation and proper tone.
2)be able to talk with others accurately and fluently with no grammar mistakes.
Test Takers
Freshmen from Department of Chinese Language and Literature. They are native speaker of Chinese, both male and female.
Test Content
Test Types:
dialogue and passages (Listening), multiple-choices and description (Grammar and Vocabulary), narration (Reading), argument(Writing), exposition and dialogue (Spoken English Test)
Test Length
Listening: there will be one dialogue with 150 words and one passage with 250 words.
Grammar and Vocabulary: there will be 20 multiple-choices and one cloze with 200 words around.
Reading: there will be one text of about 200 words.
Spoken English Test: there will be one passage of about 150 words.
Test Method
Discrete-point test and integrative test are used in combination with emphasis on the latter. Both direct and indirect test methods will be used to assess students’ writing.
Test Tasks and Item Types
| Type | Expected Response | Mode |
| Multiple-choice questions | selected | written |
| Multiple-choice questions Cloze | selected selected | written written |
| Multiple-choice questions Translation | selected constructed | written written |
| Answer questions Essay writing | constructed constructed | written written |
| Reading and dialogue | manipulated | verbal |
| component | Number of test Tasks or Items | Weighting(100) |
| Multiple-choice questions | 20 | 20 |
| Multiple-choice questions Cloze | 20 1 passage(with 15 blanks) | 20 15 |
| Multiple-choice questions Translation | 4 2 | 8 6 |
| Answer questions Essay writing | 3 questions 1 | 6 10 |
| Reading dialogue | 1 1 | 5 10 |
The test should be completed within 90 minutes.
Scoring Criteria
For the selected-response type or items, a standard key is provided. (omitted)
For the constructed-response type tasks or items, scoring criteria are provided as follows:
Essay writing:
| Scales | Aspects | ||||
| content | structure | language | type | ||
10-9 | State ideas clearly and effectively; have sufficient supporting details | Extraordinary logical structure and coherent information | Almost no errors of vocabulary, grammar | Very appropriate | |
8-7 | Have ideas and demonstration; Relevant to the topics | Logical structure and coherent information | Grammar mistakes are few and not serious | Suitable | |
6-4 | Basically related to the topics, or lack of demonstrations | Structure is right but some make no sense | Many grammar mistakes and in a certain extent influent the expression | Mostly are suitable | |
1-3 | Rambling and no general ideas | Disorder and incoherent | Nearly all are wrong | No suitable style | |
| Scales | Aspects | |||
| pronunciation | tone | attitude | accuracy | |
| 6-5 | Very well | Appropriate | Relaxed | Use appropriate words and right grammar rules |
| 4-3 | Good | proper | A little nervous | Use right words but there are few grammar mistakes |
| 1-2 | Just right | unsuitable | Too nervous to speak fluently | inaccuracy |
It is advised that students be informed of the procedures of test administration beforehand.
1)Supervisors should inform students of the procedure of test administration.
2)At the end of 15 minutes, supervisors collect answer sheets within 5 minutes, and then the speaking test begins.
3)Try to direct students into their topics if they made few mistakes but not allowed to help students in reading.
4)The test should be accomplished within 10 minutes.
Test Development Chart
aspect
| part | Testing type | Skill | Number | Score |
| I | Listening comprehension | catch the main idea get details write down the needed information | 5 5 | 5 5 |
| II | Grammar Vocabulary Cloze | use right grammar rules deduce the meaning distinguish | 20 15 | 20 15 |
| Reading comprehension | locate information search information recognize certain words translate sentences | 4 2 | 8 6 | |
| IV | Writing | organizational and logical skills write correct and appropriate sentences demonstrate adequately developed structures | 1 1 | 6 10 |
| V | Spoken testing | good pronunciation and proper tone talk accurately and fluently | 1 1 | 5 10 |
