Expanding the Question Formats of the TOEIC Speaking Test ELL
- Author(s):
- Park, Elizabeth; Bredlau, Elizabeth
- Publication Year:
- 2014
- Source:
- ETS White Paper
- Document Type:
- White Paper
- Page Count:
- 9
- Subject/Key Words:
- TOEIC Speaking Test, English Language Learners (ELL), English Language Proficiency, Item Format, Test Design, Task Design, Assessment in the Service of Learning, Test Specifications
Abstract
SUMMARY: Traditionally, researchers have used the term "authenticity" to refer to the degree to which tasks on a language test correspond to those used in the real world, with authenticity being a desired characteristic of tasks and tests. This white paper explains how the format of several questions in the TOEIC Speaking test was expanded to include a greater variety of real-world situations. This systematic process used by TOEIC test developers helped produce a more authentic test without altering its overall difficulty, resulting in even more authentic interpretations of speaking proficiency.