Scoring the Listening Test

It is probably worth mentioning again that in scoring a test of a recep- tive skill there is no reason to deduct points for errors of grammar or spelling, provided that it is clear that the correct response was intended.

Reader activities

1. Choose an extended recording of spoken language that would be appropriate for a group of students with whom you are familiar (you may get this from published materials, or you may record a native speaker or something on the radio). Play a five-minute stretch to yourself and take notes. On the basis of the notes, construct eight short-answer items. Ask colleagues to take the test and comment on it. Amend the test as necessary, and administer it to the group of students you had in mind, if possible. Analyse the results. Go through the test item by item with the students and ask for their comments. How far, and how well, is each item testing what you thought it would test?

2. Design short items that attempt to discover whether candidates can recognise: sarcasm, surprise, boredom, elation. Try these on colleagues and students as above.

3. Design a test that requires candidates to draw (or complete) simple pictures. Decide exactly what the test is measuring. Think what other things could be measured using this or similar techniques. Administer the test and see if the students agree with you about what is being measured.