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Full-Text Articles in Education
Torch Plus : Tests Of Reading Comprehension Plus, Tom Lumley, Andrew Stephanou
Torch Plus : Tests Of Reading Comprehension Plus, Tom Lumley, Andrew Stephanou
Dr Tom Lumley
A set of reading tests designed to assist teachers of students from Year 3 to Year 10 in their assessment of students' reading comprehension skills.
The Effect Of Test-Taker Gender, Audience And Topic On Task Performance In Tape-Mediated Assessment Of Speaking., Tom Lumley, Barry O'Sullivan
The Effect Of Test-Taker Gender, Audience And Topic On Task Performance In Tape-Mediated Assessment Of Speaking., Tom Lumley, Barry O'Sullivan
Dr Tom Lumley
Performance in tests of spoken language can be influenced by a wide range of features of both task and participants. This article hypothesises that there may be effects on performance attributable to an interaction of variables such as the task topic, the gender of the person presenting the topic and the gender of the candidate. In contrast to previous studies, which have examined speaking tests involving face-to-face interaction, this study considered the issue in a tape-mediated test delivered in a language laboratory, with no interlocutor present, but where stimulus material is presented by one or more speakers, one of whom …
Assessment Criteria In A Large-Scale Writing Test: What Do They Really Mean To The Raters?, Tom Lumley
Assessment Criteria In A Large-Scale Writing Test: What Do They Really Mean To The Raters?, Tom Lumley
Dr Tom Lumley
The process of rating written language performance is still not well understood, despite a body of work investigating this issue over the last decade or so (e.g., Cumming, 1990; Huot, 1990; Vaughan, 1991; Weigle, 1994a; Milanovic et al., 1996). The purpose of this study is to investigate the process by which raters of texts written by ESL learners make their scoring decisions using an analytic rating scale designed for multiple test forms. The context is the Special Test of English Proficiency (step), which is used by the Australian government to assist in immigration decisions. Four trained, experienced and reliable step …
The Process Of The Assessment Of Writing Performance : The Rater's Perspective, Tom Lumley
The Process Of The Assessment Of Writing Performance : The Rater's Perspective, Tom Lumley
Dr Tom Lumley
This study investigates the process of rating texts written by adult ESL learners. Four experienced raters provided think-aloud protocols describing the rating process for a set of 24 texts. The think-aloud data allowed analysis of the sequence of rating, raters' interpretations of the scoring categories, and difficulties raters faced. The study reveals the complexity of the rating process, whereby raters struggle to resolve a tension between the wordings (or rules) of the rating scale and their complex, initial, intuitive impression of the text. Rating requires training to provide reliable measurement. The study also demonstrates that caution is needed in interpreting …
Conflicting Perspectives On The Role Of Test Preparation In Relation To Learning, Tom Lumley, Bernadette Stoneman
Conflicting Perspectives On The Role Of Test Preparation In Relation To Learning, Tom Lumley, Bernadette Stoneman
Dr Tom Lumley
Reports on the development of a learning package for a newly introduced test in Hong Kong, the Graduating Students' Language Proficiency Assessment (GSLPA)-English. Examines reactions of teachers and students to the learning package during piloting of the materials.