Overview testing for Pre-intermediate students

Overview of testing materials

The main purpose of the tests in Speakout 2^nd Edition is to enable teachers to identify learners’ strengths and weaknesses, and assess whether remedial teaching is necessary. It is also envisaged that the tests will give learners a sense of progress and achievement that will motivate them to continue learning. Speakout 2^nd Edition provides both teachers and learners with a comprehensive range of evaluation and testing materials.

Types of Test

There is a two-page Unit test for each unit of the Intermediate Students’ Book. These tests contain seven or eight exercises which focus on the specific grammar, vocabulary and functional language covered in that unit. The tests are deliberately short, and are designed to give both teachers and students immediate feedback on their understanding and assimilation of the key language in each unit.

The four-page Achievement tests are placed at regular intervals, after every two units of the Students’ Book. The Achievement tests are more extensive than the Unit tests and are designed to check both language and skills development in the previous two or three units of the book. In addition to grammar, vocabulary and functional language, the Achievement tests include reading, listening and writing sections.

The Achievement tests contain similar task types to those found in the Cambridge English main suite exams (Key, Preliminary, First and Advanced) and so can be used as an initial introduction to these exams.The four-page Mid-course and End of Course tests build on the Achievement tests and are more extensive. They are designed to check the language and skills covered in each half of the Student’s Book. They also contain task types from the Cambridge English main suite exams.

Test Administration

The time allocation given for each test is approximate and will depend on the strengths and weaknesses of each class. The suggested timings are:

• Unit Tests: 30 minutes

• Achievement Tests: 90-120 minutes

• Mid and End of Course Tests: 90-120 minutes

The Listening sections of the Achievement and Mid/End of Course tests should be administered first. Play each recording twice. Students are then free to complete the rest of the test at their own pace.

Marking and Grading

Most tasks test specific points. Students have to give the correct answer to get full marks. However, flexibility is built in so that credit can be given to answers that are not wholly correct. For example, if a student makes a spelling mistake in a grammar question, half marks could be given at your discretion. The important thing is to be consistent with the awarding of marks for all students.

The following scale of grading is suggested:

The Unit tests are designed to check that students have understood and retained the language input from the unit. They should help you identify students who are struggling, but you will find that most students who have completed all of the course material achieve a good pass on the test.

Writing tasks

There are two writing tasks in each of the Achievement tests and Mid/End of Course tests. The first task is designed to test the writing sub-skills taught in the Students’ Book, such as linking words. The second task allows students to express themselves more freely in a piece of extended writing.

The following assessment criteria are suggested when grading the final writing task:

• accuracy and range of structures and vocabulary, including spelling:

5 marks

• task achievement (relevant information) and text organisation (linking of ideas at sentence and paragraph level): 5 marks

Speaking tasks

No specific oral tests for assessing students’ speaking skills are included in the Speakout 2^nd Edition tests. However, this can be done in the classroom in two ways: via ongoing assessment during freer speaking activities and/or formal assessment at regular intervals. Formal assessment can be carried out with students in groups of three. They can be given collaborative tasks, such as those provided in the Speakout sections of the Students’ Book. Teachers can monitor each group separately and award marks out of 10 according to the following criteria:

• accuracy/range of language, including pronunciation:

3 marks

• fluency: speed and level of hesitation, use of linking devices:

3 marks

• interaction: turn taking, initiating, responding and maintaining the conversation:

2 marks

• task achievement: conveying the message, coherence, the use of relevant language and completion of the task:

2 marks

It is, of course, also possible to carry out one-to-one assessment of the students’ speaking skills if time allows.

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