Page 10 - ELG2304 Apr Issue 484

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EXAM NEWS

Leaning into PISA’s language test

In 2025 the OECD is launching its Foreign

Language Assessment (FLA) as part of its famous

suite of PISA tests. Designed by Cambridge
University Press and Assessment, the test will
give us a reliable global picture of the levels

of English in schools. Cambridge’s Director

of Education Transformation and Impact, CREDIT: OECD
Dr Hanan Khalifa, explains its importance.

The PISA FLA is an incredibly has been designed to meet the very mini study. For example, we looked at
HK significant and groundbreaking specific set of requirements needed the feasibility of the tests in terms of
project, which will provide the to help people use English for work, design, accessibility, technology, and
comparative data that is needed about study, or migration, and it is also practicalities. This is the first time
how English is actually taught in schools different from single-level tests, such that PISA includes an assessment of
around the world. as Cambridge First, listening and speaking, and the main
conclusion of the pilot was that the data
The full scope of the study has not yet Why have three skills instead of all collection worked.
been published, but as with the other Q four? Could this is any way skew
well-established elements of PISA, it the results? It also confirmed the need to have the
will cover a wide range of factors which Due to practical and logistical students sitting the listening and speaking
affect educational outcomes. Along HK constraints, the 2025 cycle parts together in a separate room, to not
with the English assessment, there will will focus on reception (reading and disturb the students taking the regular
also be questionnaires sent to teachers, listening comprehension) and production PISA tests. We were delighted that the
students, schools, and parents to help (speaking). The additional demands of test worked as expected, confirming the
paint a really rich picture of English testing writing, given the high numbers 2025 FLA is feasible.
teaching. of PISA test takers, means it would not
The questionnaire for students. be feasible at this stage. The Programme What questions can the tests
For instance, will cover background intends to explore the assessment of the Q answer?
information about the students remaining modes of communication in We’re not trying to second guess
themselves: their attitudes, homes, and future iterations of the FLA. HK the results of the study, but there
experiences. This in will provide added is one big question. What works?
richness to the analysis of the students’ Also it is important to note that this
performance and hopes to highlight isn’t a competition. The … focus is on To unpack this, it is important to look
what might work better for each student identifying factors which contribute at the bigger picture. At Cambridge we
according to their characteristics. to successful language learning within work with schools all over the world
and across countries. For this reason, and we see fantastic English teaching
There is likely to be a huge it should not be thought of as a ‘league practices and strategies that get
Q variation in language levels, from table;’ it’s much more than that. amazing results.
A1 to C1, can one test encompass them? Nevertheless the OECD has a tried and However, without large-scale
We have designed a test which tested methodology for ensuring that the comparative data on how English is
HK covers the full range of levels outcomes of the tests do facilitate robust, taught and learnt in schools, it’s difficult
up to C1, a test that is optimised for meaningful comparison to know where to focus resources.
this purpose. Should it be on teacher training?
The reading and listening tests employ a Q Curriculum development? Or on
Is it computer marked?
encouraging children to learn English
multi-stage adaptive design, meaning that The reading and listening tests as early as possible? This is why we’re
students’ performances in initial sections HK include only multiple-choice so excited about the results of the PISA
of the test determine, in part, the final and matching question types, both of FLA as it will answer these questions
assignment. which can be automatically marked. The and many more.
Speaking is non-adaptive; the speaking responses will be recorded and
characteristics of the spoken output centrally marked by expert Cambridge
will determine the proficiency level. All examiners. Dr Hanan Khalifa is
speaking tasks are designed both to be Director of Education
accessible to lower-level students and You have just completed a pilot Transformation and
to provide appropriate opportunities for Q test, what did you find? Impact, at Cambridge
higher-level students to demonstrate The pilot was a proof of University Press and
their ability. The context is very HK concept and validation of the
different from a test like IELTS, which testing methodology, rather than a Assessment.
10 April 2023