Placement Tests & Proficiency Tests Essay

Imagine that you are responsible for admitting students to an English language school. Design a simple interview based on 20 personal questions for the student about his job, family, school or country. Begin with simple grammar and vocabulary and develop more complexity by the conclusion. This is to follow the school ´s placement test to confirm its results. 1. Placement Tests & Proficiency Tests I. I would start by asking the student to answer in full sentences if they can. For the purposes of this assignment I am assuming these students are adult learners. The questions I would ask are; 1. How are you? 2. What’s your job? 3. What are some of your responsibilities at work? 4. Do you play sports? 5. How long have you played that? (sport from the previous question) 6. Are there any sports/hobbies you would like to try? 7. How often do you watch movies? 8. What kind of movies/music/tv do you like? 9. Please tell me about your family 10. Do you have any pets? 11. What did you do at the weekend? 12. How long have you been studying English? 13. If you could travel to another country, where would you like to go? 14. What did you do/Where did you go on your last vacation? 15. Tell me about your hometown†¦what is it called, city/country 16. What are your plans for the next weekend? 17. When is your birthday? 18. What did you do/get last birthday? 19. Can you drive/play a musical instrument/speak any other languages? 20. If you could meet any person, living or dead, who would you like to meet? Look online for information about TOEFL iBT at ets.org. Conduct a mini-research project. Summarize pertinent information about this test,  including its purpose, form and audience. TOEFL iBT: The TOEFL iBT ® test, administered via the Internet, is an important part of your journey to study in an English-speaking country. In addition to the test, the ETS TOEFL Program provides tools and guides to help you prepare for the test and improve your English-language skills. The TOEFL iBT test measures your ability to use and understand English at the university level. And it evaluates how well you combine your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills to perform academic tasks. Purpose: The purpose of the TOEFL iBT test is to evaluate the English proficiency of people whose native language is not English. The TOEFL iBT scores are primarily used as a measure of the ability of international students to use English in an academic environment. The Test (TOEFL iBT) evaluates all four language skills that are essential for effective communication: reading, listening, speaking and writing: Reading – measures the ability to understand academic reading matter.  · Listening – measures the ability to understand English as it is used in colleges and universities.  · Speaking – measures the ability to speak English. Responses are recorded and scored by human graders.  · Writing – measures the ability to write in a way that is appropriate for college and university course work. The TOEFL iBT contains an added 20-minute essay along with the current 30-minute essay. Form: www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/iBT_reg_form.pdf 2013–14 TOEFL iBT ® Registration Bulletin (PDF) 2013–14 Bulletin Supplement for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs (PDF) Audience: More than 27 million people from all over the world have taken the test to demonstrate their English-language proficiency. The average English skill level ranges between Intermediate and Advanced. Students planning to study at a higher education institution English-language learning program admissions and exit Scholarship and certification candidates English-language learners who want to track their progress Students and workers applying for visas Who should take it? Students planning to pursue their Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree: International students who wish to pursue undergraduate study at an American college or university have the option of taking the TOEFL ® iBT. In some instances, the institution will waive the TOEFL ® iBT if a student has completed Level 112 of ELS’ English for Academic Purposes program. If the institution does not waive the TOEFL ® iBT, the student must attain a certain minimum score on the exam in order to gain acceptance to the college or university. Students should check with the institution to find out what minimum score it requires on the TOEFL ® iBT. Students planning to pursue their Master’s degree or Doctorate International students who wish to pursue graduate study at an American college or university can take the TOEFL ® iBT. Most graduate schools require a minimum score on the TOEFL ® iBT as well as the Graduate Record Examination ® (GRE ®) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test ® (GMAT ®). Students may take ELS test prep programs for the GRE ® or the GMAT ® at Level 110 and higher—or if they meet other requirements. To learn more about entry requirements for either test prep program, click the links for each test Business Students Students entering the Business English Program must attain a minimum score on the TOEFL ® iBT, TOEIC ®, or IELTSâ„ ¢ exams, or achieve an advanced level on the ELS Pre-Arrival Test. Notes about TOEFL iBT: TOEFL iBT is approximately 4 hours long. Each section of the test has a time limit. The Reading section has new questions that ask test takers to  categorize information and fill in a chart or complete a summary. There is no longer a Structure section. Grammar is tested on questions and tasks in each section. Lectures and conversations in the Listening section are longer, but note-taking is allowed. In fact, note-taking is allowed throughout the entire test to help test takers answer the questions. The TOEFL iBT integrated approach requires that the students be proficient in note taking. The speech in the listening material sounds more natural, and one lecture per test is spoken with a British or Australian accent. There are also new multiple-choice questions that measure understanding of a speaker’s attitude, degree of certainty, and purpose. The Speaking section is new, and includes both integrated and independent tasks. Integrated task are questions that require use of mo re than one skill at a time: – read, listen, then speak in response to a question – listen, then speak in response to a question – read, listen, then write in response to a question Look online for information about TOEIC at ets.org. Conduct a mini-research project. Summarize pertinent information about this test, including its purpose, form and audience. The Test of English for International Communication is produced by ETS (Educational Testing Service). There are two separate parts to the TOEIC test. You can do one or both parts. 1. The Listening and Reading test is a paper and pencil test that takes 2.5 hours and is taken at a test centre. 2. The Speaking and Writing test is an online test that is taken in a test centre and takes 90 minutes. The Speaking and Writing test is a new test which is only available in some countries. Purpose: TOEIC evaluates the level of one’s command of English appropriate for the further work in the sphere of business (global workplace). Form: wie.ac.nz/download/TOEIC_Application_Form.pdf www.hau.gr/?i=examinations.en.toeic-application-form testprep.about.com †º Education †º Test Prep †º Registration Info Audience: This test is intended for Academic Institutions, the Workplace and Test Takers. The TOEIC ® tests: Help businesses build a more effective workforce Give job seekers and employees a competitive edge Enable universities to better prepare students for the international workplace TOEIC focuses on the English language, which prevails in the business sphere and global workplace. It consists of 200 multiple-choice questions, which are to be answered in 2 hours. The possible score results vary from 10 to 990 (5-495 for listening comprehension and 5-495 for reading comprehension). TOEIC test questions are based on real-life work settings in an international environment (meetings, travel, telephone conversations, etc). Score reports provide accurate, meaningful feedback about a test-takers strengths and weaknesses, along with a description of the English-language strengths typical of test-takers performing at various score levels. This allows employers to: Relate test scores to the tasks employees may perform on the job Use the descriptions to inform critical hiring and placement decisions Select the employee with the English-language abilities the job requires ETS’s ongoing research helps ensure that the TOEIC tests are accurate and relevant to today’s changing global workplace, which helps internationally competitive companies hire, place and promote the right candidates year after year. TOEIC test scores provide accurate, reliable measurement of English  proficiency — they can be compared regardless of where or when the test is administered. ETS ensures standardized test conditions give test takers equal opportunity to demonstrate proficiency. Test administrations adhere to strict guidelines to ensure a consistent and fair test-taking experience. A scoring process held to the highest quality-control standards results in the most reliable and valid scores available. Look online for information about IELTS at ielts.org. Conduct a mini-research project. Summarize pertinent information about this test, including its purpose, form and audience. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assesses the English language proficiency of people who want to study or work where English is used as the language of communication. IELTS tests are held in over 900 locations across the world with tests up to four times a month. IELTS tests all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking. The IELTS Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with a certified Examiner. It is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get Purpose: IELTS measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication. Form: www.ielts.org/PDF/IELTS_Application_Form_November2011.pdf Audience: This test is designed for non-native speakers. IELTS is required by higher education institutions and various programs in UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the world’s most popular English language test. More than 2 million IELTS tests are taken each year. Taking IELTS opens doors – it can help you live, study and work around the world. More than 8,000 organisations worldwide accept IELTS, including government, academic and employment institutions. In fact, IELTS is the only English language test accepted for immigration purposes by all countries that require one. Classroom Tests and Quizzes 1- Decide if the following tests meet the criteria for good tests. Explain why they do or do not. A – You will give your class a chapter test of 25 questions. The test was announced during the chapter review for the following day. I don’t think that this test meets the criteria for a good test, because it is too little time for the students to prepare themselves well enough. B – You ´ve just decided to give the students a 10-minute test because you ´re the substitute teacher and need some time to get things organized before starting class. It’s not a good idea to give students a10 minute test as a substitute teacher for any reason. The only time it would be okay is if the actual class teacher gives you the go ahead, otherwise you may just be testing students on the incorrect material or work. C – It ´s Wednesday and you ´ve just finished a reading passage and tell the students they will need to be able to summarize the main points of it in a test on Friday. This situation is fair, because the students will have enough time to ask any relevant questions about the reading to make sure that they understand it completely and be well prepared for summarizing. D – At the end of the term you will require your class (of 20 students) to answer a 200-question objective test as well as two essay style questions in 300 words (minimum) each. Such situations would meet the criteria for good tests because the students all have an entire term to prepare themselves by practising with examples of objective tests and appropriate essay. E – You ask your class to produce a list of 10 words they learned on their own outside of class and use each in a sentence to show their mastery of the word. I think that this is one of the best ways of expanding the vocabulary of all students, and (even the teacher every once in a while) it is perfect for students to also practise their grammar as well as spelling. All of this allows the students to see their own progress. Therefore, this does meet the criteria. 2 – Create a 10-question gap fill (fill in the blank) exercise based on any topic: vocabulary, grammar, etc. Complete each sentence with the appropriate conjunctions. because, unless, therefore, either†¦or, still, neither†¦nor, although, not only†¦but also, but, both†¦and, when, whether†¦or, though†¦yet 1) Marie and Joseph did not want to leave _________________ they would miss the animals on the farm. 2) Mrs. Saber did not like the roast she prepared,  ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­_______________ everyone else enjoyed it. 3) Mr. and Mrs. Saber will not move to the city _______________there is a very goo reason to do so. 4) _____________ Marie and Joseph are city dwellers, they __________ visit their parents’ farm every now and then. 5) The hen went back to sleep ____________ Mr. Saber was not looking. 6) Canada is ____________ a big country _____________ very cold in winter. 7) Carly said to Mel, â€Å"____________ you are mistaken _____________ I am.† 8) The students in Mrs. Peters’ class ___________ love ____________ respect her. 9) The Simpsons do not mind _________ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­___ they stay _________ move to another house. 10) â€Å"Things are __________ good ___________ bad; only thinking makes them so,† a teacher said to Bob, who had a puzzled look on his face. 3 – Create a 10-question cloze exercise on any text. Instructions: Provide the correct answer for each question. NOTE: Choose your answers from the words at the bottom of the page. On the 25th of January, we decided to go hunting. All  things ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­______ ready in the car, a Range Rover with  four-wheel drive ________began on Thursday afternoon, and it took us ___________hours by car. We reached the place we were looking for __________ 5:15 P.M. First, we ____________the tent, then we made ____________and had a few minutes of _____________. After __________, we left to go on ____________ hunt. We hunted using a ___________. at, coffee, falcon, fixed, head, hours, minutes, rest, that, three, to, were