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Towards new avenues for the IELTS Speaking Test: insights from examiners’ voices
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Abstract:
This study investigated the examiners’ views on all aspects of the IELTS Speaking Test, namely, the test tasks, topics, format, interlocutor frame, examiner guidelines, test administration, rating, training and standardisation, and test use. The overall trends of the examiners’ views of these aspects of the test were captured by a large-scale online questionnaire, to which a total of 1203 examiners responded. Based on the questionnaire responses, 36 examiners were carefully selected for subsequent interviews to explore the reasons behind their views in depth. The 36 examiners were representative of a number of differing geographical regions and a range of views and experiences in examining and giving examiner training. While the questionnaire responses exhibited generally positive views from examiners on the current IELTS Speaking Test, the interview responses uncovered various issues that the examiners experienced and suggested potentially beneficial modifications. Many of the issues (e.g. potentially unsuitable topics, rigidity of interlocutor frames) were attributable to the huge candidature of the IELTS Speaking Test, which has vastly expanded since the test’s last revision in 2001, perhaps beyond the initial expectations of the IELTS Partners. This study synthesized the voices from examiners and insights from relevant literature, and incorporated guidelines checks we submitted to the IELTS Partners. This report concludes with a number of suggestions for potential changes in the current IELTS Speaking Test, so as to enhance its validity and accessibility in today’s ever globalising world. ; IELTS Partners: British Council, Cambridge Assessment English and IDP: IELTS Australia. Grant awarded 2017 ; passing metadata only as copyright statement doeesn't allow reuse
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Keyword:
English language assessment; IELTS; speaking
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URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10547/624875
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The effects of extended planning time on candidates’ performance, processes and strategy use in the lecture listening-into-speaking tasks of the TOEFL iBT Test
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Exploring the potential for assessing interactional and pragmatic competence in semi-direct speaking tests
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Exploring the use of video-conferencing technology to deliver the IELTS Speaking Test: Phase 3 technical trial
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Exploring performance across two delivery modes for the same L2 speaking test: face-to-face and video-conferencing delivery: a preliminary comparison of test-taker and examiner behaviour
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Exploring performance across two delivery modes for the IELTS Speaking Test: face-to-face and video-conferencing delivery (Phase 2)
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