On the Optimization of the Quality of Language Tests

Language tests are frequently used as devices to evaluate language learning and teaching; therefore,we must be concerned about the quality—reliability and validity—of our tests.Many researches have showed that the quality of language tests has been decreased owing to the misuse of multiple-choice items.It is necessary to reduce the percentage of objective items in the tests,but what is more important is test writers’ professional skills which can directly affect the quality of the tests. This essay focuses on how to optimize the quality of language tests through the training for test writers. It has become quite urgent and important now,which should involve in familiarizing the writers with basic testing theories,purposes and types of testing,and main specific testing methods.

基于Language Testing(2008～2018)的效度研究热点综述

效度是语言测试最核心的要求之一。本文对2008年至2018年刊登在国际语言测试领域最权威的学术期刊Language Testing上的与效度有关的所有研究论文进行了综合性文献分析。通过归纳发现:在以往的10年中,语言测试效度研究主要集中在口语测试效度研究、评分者效度研究、测试的预测与诊断功能效度研究、基于逻辑分析与统计技术的效度验证、效度与公平性关系的理论探讨、基于新技术测试的效度考察以及特殊类型测试量表的开发与测试效度验证等7个方面。研究结果期望对我国基于'中国英语能力等级量'(CSE)的各类英语测试的开发、效验,以及针对来华留学生的各类汉语作为第二语言测试的开发、效验理论和实践提供些许启发,从而推动国内的语言测试效度研究向着纵深发展。

On Language Tests Construction

Language tests are closely concerned with teaching and learning. There are various ways to test student's foreign language level in light of different aspects. This paper mainly focuses on some key points in constructing the effective tests.

Analysis of CET3 Based on Language Testing

In this paper,some basic theories and terms of language testing,like types of language tests and qualities of good tests were briefly discussed.Then CET3(College English Test Band3) in Beijing was analyzed from three perspectives:design principles,item formats and test content. In the end,some suggestions were given to improve this test.

A Study of the English Oral Tests in Light of the Communicative Language Testing Theory

Speaking,as a productive skill,is a priority for many foreign-language learners.They often evaluate their success in language learning on the basis of how much they feel they have improved in their spoken language proficiency.Consequently,testing of oral skills has hardly been neglected in college English examination.The communicative testing theory in 1970s greatly influenced language testing,especially the oral tests.This essay briefly explores the theory of communicative language testing and discusses the methods of TOEFL oral test and college English oral test and proposes ways to the latter one for further improve ment.

An Analysis of the CET English Writing Tests from the Perspective of Language Testing

This article is mainly talked about CET English writing tests from the perspective of language testing.Writing tests designed to test the language proficiency,have direct and integrative characteristics.Writing requires the candidates to use language accurately,fluently and appropriately.

Questionnaire Survey Research on CET-4 Writing Section in Light of Communicative Language Testing

This paper is to investigate whether the CET-4 writing section has positive effect in terms of Communicative Language Testing.The questionnaire survey method is adopted to carry out the research to collect data.It is concluded that currently the CET-4 writing section has certain harmful effect upon English learning of college non-English major students.Further reforms and improvement from the perspective of communicative language testing concerning the scoring criteria and the design of the task should be the focus of the future.

Interpretation of Key Concepts in Language Testing: Validity, Validation and Reliability

Language testing is an important link in language teaching,in this paper,the two important criteria of language test the reliability and validity has carried on the detailed elaboration,in order to a language teacher proposition and evaluation test more scientific.

A Brief Discussion on Communicative Language Testing

This paper shows some points of view on communicative language ability and issues of processing an effective communicative language test. Different considerations are given in different stages both from aspects of validity and reliability. All the processes are involved in considering the characteristics of communicative language test and special needs from communicative language ability. Different from other kinds of tests, it pays much more attention to context, precision measurement and criterion.

Testing Speaking Skill with Help of Language Lab or Computer

Speaking skill is an important component in the student’s communicative competence.The testing of this skill is indispensable with its functions of providing useful feedback and motivating students.Where direct face-to-face oral test is impossible when large number of candidates involved,language lab or computer can be used to carry out various testing tasks in the evaluation of the students’ oral communicative competence.

Speaking skill Test with Help of Language Lab or Computer

Testing the ability to speak is a most important aspect of language testing, especially in terms of the student's communicative competence. However, it is an extremely difficult skill to test, as it is far too complex a skill to permit any reliable analysis to be made for the purpose of objective testing. In addition, direct face-to-face oral test is impossible when large number of candidates involved, so language lab or computer can be used to carry out various testing tasks in the evaluation of the students' oral communicative competence. This paper aims to introduce briefly how to test speaking skill by language lab or computer.

Simulation of large-scale numerical substructure in real-time dynamic hybrid testing

A solution scheme is proposed in this paper for an existing RTDHT system to simulate large-scale finite element （FE） numerical substructures. The analysis of the FE numerical substructure is split into response analysis and signal generation tasks, and executed in two different target computers in real-time. One target computer implements the response analysis task, wherein a large time-step is used to solve the FE substructure, and another target computer implements the signal generation task, wherein an interpolation program is used to generate control signals in a small time-step to meet the input demand of the controller. By using this strategy, the scale of the FE numerical substructure simulation may be increased significantly. The proposed scheme is initially verified by two FE numerical substructure models with 98 and 1240 degrees of freedom （DOFs）. Thereafter, RTDHTs of a single frame-foundation structure are implemented where the foundation, considered as the numerical substructure, is simulated by the FE model with 1240 DOFs. Good agreements between the results of the RTDHT and those from the FE analysis in ABAQUS are obtained.

Key Elements to a Valid Language Test

In developing and using measures of Language abilities, the most important consideration is the use of a language test, so that the most important quality of a test is its usefulness. A model of test usefulness is regarded as the essential basis for quality control throughout the entire test development process. A model of test usefulness includes following qualities--validity, reliability, discrimination and backwash effects.

Communicative Language Testing of Speaking

Testing speaking ability offers plenty of scope for meeting the criteria for communicative testing.The article describes the model of CLA,analyzes basic factors involved in speaking competence,discusses what is a communicative language test of speaking,and suggests some factors that should be taken into consideration when designing a communicative language test of speaking.

Symbiosis of language testing and language teaching:The journey of the 37^(th) Language Testing Research Colloquium( LTRC 2015) in Toronto,Canada

The 37th Language Testing Research Colloquium(LTRC 2015①)was held at Eaton Chelsea Hotel in Toronto Canada during March 16-20,2015.The first two days of March 16-17 were preconference workshop days with March 18-20 as the three main conference days.More than 300 participants from 27 countries and regions joined the conference.The top numbers of the

Should Listening and Speaking be included in a Language Test?

Language test is widely used in our daily life for various purposes, while a lot of language tests fail to include listening or speaking for one reason or another. The question that whether this type of test is still valid enough to serve test purposes and have a positive washback for English learning has come up.

To What Extent does the Nature of the Language Skill being Taught Influence Test Design

There are many various kinds of English language tests in the world,ranging from IELTS(International English Lan⁃guage Testing System)to TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language).All these tests are designed for different purposes relat⁃ing to various groups of testees.Usually the English language test covers the testing of the four language skills of reading,writing,listening and speaking.The essay will discuss the relationship between the nature of four skills and the test design respectively.

Structured Query Language Injection Penetration Test Case Generation Based on Formal Description

Aiming to improve the Structured Query Language( SQL) injection penetration test accuracy through the formalismguided test case generation,an attack purpose based attack tree model of SQL injection is proposed,and then under the guidance of this model, the formal descriptions for the SQL injection vulnerability feature and SQL injection attack inputs are established. Moreover,according to new coverage criteria,these models are instantiated and the executable test cases are generated.Experiments show that compared with the random enumerated test case used in other works,the test case generated by our method can detect the SQL injection vulnerability more effectively. Therefore,the false negative is reduced and the test accuracy is improved.

Factors influencing English Language Learners' performance on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

本研究调查了英语学习者个体特点对其在安大略省中学读写测试(OSSLT)成绩的潜在影响。研究者收集了参加OSSLT考试学生的个体因素和与其父母受教育程度、社会经济地位相关的学校因素,将这些因素和学生OSSLT考试成绩(N=4311)进行相关性分析。研究变量包括:课后读写活动、家庭语言使用和该校学生家庭平均经济社会地位。分析结果体现了考试成绩和个体因素以及学校因素的相关性。具体而言,与高分相关的读写活动包括互联网使用、文学和非小说类的阅读;父母受教育水平(而非收入水平)是一项独立的积极预测指标,该指标对OSSLT学生阅读和写作成绩的影响因素分别占到了20%和9%。

Reflections on Language Testing——From the Perspective of Professional Training for Test Writers

This paper aims to talk about the superficial reflections on language testing from the perspective of professional training for test writers,to qualify test writers with basic testing theories,to make the test valid and reliable,to help improve educational reform and language teaching,to fully conform to the standards set by syllabus.