2012 Alt Conference Oxford Slides

Oxford English Testing (oxfordenglishtesting.com)

A Presentation for ALT Manitoba

Presented by Jeff Gulley

February 23, 2012

• What are the biggest problems with placement testing?

• What are the biggest problems with practice testing?

Problems

Agenda

1. Oxfordenglishtesting.com

2. Oxford Online Placement Test

3. Oxford Online Practice Tests

4. Benefits

5. Tour of oxfordenglishtesting.com

1. Oxfordenglistesting.com

What is it?

What is Oxfordenglishtesting.com

• High quality, reliable testing

• A complete testing service: teachers assign tests, record

results, track progress

• Less marking and more teaching, saving time and effort


Online

PRACTICE

Tests

Oxford

Online

PLACEMENT

Test

Learning

Management

System


2. Oxford Online Placement Test

• What are you currently using?

Placement Testing

• Takes about 40 to 50 minutes

• About 50 questions:

– 35 Use of English, 15 Listening

• Test adapts to student’s level

– Shorter time, more accurate placement, anti-cheating

• Automatic marking and instant result

• Anywhere with computer and internet access

Oxford Online Placement Test

Key features

• Form and Meaning (use of English)

• Listening (listening)

• Form: grammar and vocabulary

• Meaning: knowing and understanding how language is used


What does it test?


Form


Meaning


Listening

• What this means for students/you:

• OOPT does not cover:

– Extended writing

– Speaking

• Linguistic competence vs. learning competence


What does it test?


Adaptive testing

1st item CORRECT

7th item CORRECT

5th item CORRECT

6th item INCORRECT

4th item INCORRECT

8th item CORRECT

3rd item CORRECT

2nd item CORRECT

Easier items ITEM BANK Harder items


– Shorter time

– Less test anxiety

– More accurate placement

– Anti-cheating (no two tests the same)


Adaptive testing


Automatic marking

Automatic marking


– Instant results

– Informed, quick, easy placement

– Save money and time (no marking)

– More time to accommodate learning competence portion


Automatic marking

• Started in 2010; replacing “paper and pen” tests

• BrE; AmE being added in summer 2012

• User list across Canada


Additional facts

• Most affordable placement test out there

• Bulk pricing available

• 1-9 tests bought: approx. $4.75 CAD per test



• Etc.

• 5000+ tests bought: approx. $3.30 CAD per test


Costs

3. Oxford Online Practice Tests

• IELTS

• TOEIC®

• TOEFL iBT™

• Cambridge exams

– KET

– PET

– FCE

– CAE

Oxford Online Practice Tests

All major standardized tests


All major standardized tests

• Three delivery methods:

– Institutions

– Self-study

– Course book tie-ins

• Two testing methods:

– Practice mode

– Testing mode


Delivery methods

• Institution delivery:

– School buys tests online

– Courses created in LMS

– Teacher distributes and

assigns tests to students

Oxfordenglishtesting.com

Teacher/school buys test codes

TOEFL course IELTS course

Student 5

Student 3

Student 4

Student 2

Student 1


Delivery methods

• Self-study delivery:

– Student registers for self-

study

– Student purchases tests

– Student completes test at

leisure


Student buys test code(s)

TOEFL test 1 TOEFL test 2


Delivery methods

• Course book tie-in delivery:

– Teacher sets up test prep course, gives students joining code

– Student in test prep course purchases book

– Book comes with unlock code

– Student joins class online, uses unlock code to unlock tests

– Teacher assigns tests Sample unlock code in book:

e220-w6787-u0092-q18887-n723


Testing methods—Practice mode

• No timer

• All features enabled for instant support:

– Online dictionary

– Exam tips

– Auto-marking; instant feedback

– Audio scripts

– Sample written answers

– Useful phrases



• Online dictionary

– Double-click

– Meaning

– Pronunciation

– Wordlist entries



• Exam tips

– Useful tips for exam-taking

– Reading questions

– Time management

– Skimming/scanning

– Etc.



• Auto-marking; instant

feedback

– Use of English questions

– Instant feedback helps

students understand

mistakes immediately



• Audio scripts

– Listening questions

– Allow students to check

audio as they listen or

after they listen



• Sample written answers

– Writing questions

– Real student writing

examples

– Comments show what is

good about the sample

response and what is

missing (e.g., too many

words)



• Useful phrases

– Speaking questions


Testing methods—Test mode

• Mock exam

• Timer set

• No support features

• Teacher sets whether student sees result after finished test

• Can be reassigned in Practice mode

4. Benefits

Students, Teachers, Schools


Benefits for Students

• Practice English interactively

• Get better exam results

• Practice when and where

they want

• Feel more confident with the

language


Benefits for Teachers

• Less administration

• Improve their students results

• Have confidence in materials

• Offer extra practice and

homework online


Benefits for Schools

• Ensure that the school is

competitive

• Standardize testing to

external levels

• Find business opportunities

• Save time and money

STUDENTS STUDY AT SCHOOL

& AT HOME USE A COURSEBOOK

PUT IN CLASS

ENROL

DO A PLACEMENT TEST


Your school year

OXFORD ONLINE PLACEMENT TEST

BOOKS + ACCESS TO 1 TEST

TEACHER SETS HOMEWORK,

MARKS HOMEWORK, & FILLS

IN MARKBOOK

INSTITUTIONAL OFFER

TESTS (HOMEWORK)

TEACHER SETS TESTS, MARKS

TESTS, & FILLS IN MARKBOOK

INSTITUTIONAL OFFER

TESTS (MOCK EXAM)

SELF-STUDY

PURCHASE 2 TESTS

TAKE INTERNATIONAL

LANGUAGE EXAMS

EVERYONE GOES ON HOLIDAY!

5. Tour of Oxfordenglishtesting.com

Website

• www.oxfordenglishtesting.com

http://www.oxfordenglishtesting.com/


• High quality, reliable testing

• A complete testing service: teachers assign tests, record

results, track progress

• Less marking and more teaching, saving time and effort

Thank you

Any questions?

Documents

2012 Alt Conference Oxford Slides