1. An introduction to oxfordenglishtesting.com

2. Возможности системы OET
Oxford Online Placement Test
Learning Management System
Oxford Online Practice Tests

3. Why do we use tests? The functions of tests
Divide participants into smaller groups or pairs and ask them to answer the question. Then bring the group together for a feedback stage. Ask each pair or group to mention two or three purposes.
If there is a flipchart or board available, you may want to write up their suggestions. The point of the activity is to highlight the broad range of purposes tests serve.
Click to move on to the next slide to show some possible answers. In all likelihood, suggestions will more or less be similar to your list.
Why do we use tests?

4. The functions of tests
for diagnostic testing: individual strengths or weaknesses
to evaluate students’ progress against syllabus
to evaluate and update syllabus and objectives
to evaluate skills of individual students
to award marks for performance
for exam training
for placement
Read through the slide:
Diagnostic testing is when you use a test to find out which language points or skills are easier or more difficult for particular students or groups. You can then assign further remedial work to the identified problem areas.
- You also use tests to check students’ progress against your coursebook syllabus – i.e. how much they have learnt.
Tests also highlight any problem areas in your syllabus. Each learner group is different, so even if something worked in the past, you need
constant feedback to check if it still works with your current group. When most of your group gets a certain point wrong in a test, it may
suggest they have not learnt it properly, or more likely, that you will need to go over that area again, perhaps from a different point of view or
through different activities.
Tests also show how well students can perform in communicative situations. Even non-communicative tasks (e.g. multiple choice) have
been shown through research to be good indicators of communicative competence.
In many schools, it is a legal requirement that you regularly give marks for students’ performance. Tests allow you to award objective marks,
and compare students against one another as well as against a set standard (or specific level).
In day-to-day teaching, teachers also use tests not to evaluate the students but to teach them how tests work – in other words, to provide
them with an opportunity to rehearse and refine their exam-taking skills.
- Finally, tests are also used for placement.
[click to reveal next slide to expand on this]

5. Who uses placement tests and what do they use THEM for?
Oxford Online Placement Test
Who uses placement tests and what do they use THEM for?
As with the previous task, ask participants to work in small groups (or pairs) and write a list of two to five people or institutions that are likely to use some form of placement testing. Then, make a note of what they think they use them for. Bring the group together for a feedback stage.
If there is a flipchart or board available, you may want to write up their suggestions.
[Click to move on to the next slide to show some possible answers. In all likelihood, trainees’ suggestions will more or less be similar to your list.]

6. Uses of placement tests
schools, universities, academic institutions
language schools
corporate training companies
Human Resources departments
individual language learners
Read through the slide.
Ask trainees to compare your list to their suggestions and comment on any similarities and especially differences.
schools, universities, academic institutions
admissions, aptitude for studies, identifying remedial needs
language schools
continuous enrolment, group streaming
corporate training companies
identifying training needs
Human Resources departments
assessing employee language skills
individual language learners
assessing their level of English, preparing for formal exams

7. Placement Test
Explain that you’re going to have a brief look at the Oxford Online Placement Test, OUP’s testing service which, among other things, provides a computer-adaptive placement test.

8. Oxford Online Placement Test: user expectations
short
comprehensive
reliable
clear
flexible
informative
Explain that when Oxford University Press started developing oxfordenglishtesting.com and within it, the Oxford Online Placement Test, they carried out a survey in about 300 institutions worldwide to establish what potential users were looking for in a placement test. The results of this research confirmed several assumptions.
Read through the slide adding some of this information:
The test should be relatively short, so it would be easy, quick and straightforward to administer.
It should measure more than knowledge of grammar forms and meanings of vocabulary (like many conventional placement tests), but also the learners’ ability to listen and read in English.
It should be reliable and accurate – despite its length. In other words, teachers want to be sure that it is a particular student’s real current ability that they are measuring.
Results should be easy to interpret, with a clear-cut, single answer to placement questions – but preferably with further details available, should a more nuanced differentiation need to be made.
It should be flexible, so institutions can test candidates both within the school or remotely, through or the internet, and it should also be customisable so any institution could add further information or criteria to help them take other factors in consideration and make appropriate placement decisions/
Finally, that the results should contain more detailed feedback on student performance to help teachers plan their syllabus catering to each group’s or student’s particular needs and expectations as well as determine the need as well as content of any necessary remedial action.
[click to reveal slide 12 detailing how the OOPT aimed to address all of these expectations]

9. The Oxford Online Placement Test
short: 40 to 45 minutes
comprehensive: Max 45 questions:
30 Use of English, 15 Listening
reliable: test identifies and adapts to student’s level
clear: automatic marking and instant result
flexible: anywhere with a computer and internet access
informative: results can be broken down and analysed
Read through the slide.
Here is how the Oxford Online Placement Test aims to address all its potential users’ expectations:
1: short: The time taken depends on how fast student is, but OOPT aims to deliver a clear-cut result as quickly as possible. Students have a minimum time of 50 minutes and a maximum time of 90 minutes to complete the test. The teacher decides the length of the test.
2: comprehensive: There are about 45 items divided into Use of English and Listening – testing both knowledge and receptive skill.
3: reliable: The test is computer-adaptive. This means that it adapts to the level of the student, and only presents them with questions that are at an appropriate level of difficulty for them. The test can therefore be shorter than non computer-adaptive tests, yet still be accurate. Also, no two tests are ever exactly the same.  More on how reliability is ensured later in the talk.
4: clear: The tests are automatically marked by the system, and the final score is given instantaneously.
5: flexible: The test can be done anywhere with a computer and internet access, which allows you to assign it remotely to students who are abroad, at the other end of town or just at home.
6: informative: A variety of results are given for more information on level, strength or weaknesses, scores on individual components, speed of response – and includes customisable sections to add any further required information.
[slides offer a quick walkthrough of the features and content of OOPT – these slides can be skipped with audiences who are familiar with the service from an earlier product presentation or as users] 9

10. Placement: what we test
Form: grammar and vocabulary
The OOPT first tests grammar and vocabulary.
The next slide shows an example.

11. The format of this question is multiple-choice gap fill, where students select the correct word to complete the dialogue from four options in a scroll-down list.

12. Placement: what we test
Meaning: understanding how language is used
The OOPT also tests a candidate’s understanding of the meaning of the words.
Many placement tests measure form, but they often fail to establish how language forms are used to convey ideas.
To answer this question, the candidate needs to understand the words in context and what the speaker intends to say by using those words.
The next slide shows an example of this.

14. The third type of question in the Use of English tests both form and meaning in a cloze format. Students will need to enter the correct words and are not able to guess from a multiple choice list.

15. Placement: what we test
Task 1 – Testing knowledge of grammar
Task 2 – Testing understanding of meaning
Task 3 – Testing knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and meaning .
The OOPT also tests a candidate’s understanding of the meaning of the words.
Many placement tests measure form, but they often fail to establish how language forms are used to convey ideas.
To answer this question, the candidate needs to understand the words in context and what the speaker intends to say by using those words.
The next slide shows an example of this.

16. Placement: what we test
Listening Skills
While the Use of English section tests form and meaning through the written word, the second section of OOPT tests listening skills. Again, candidates have to identify the meaning in a conversation. To do this, they have to draw on individual, social, cultural or other aspects of the context – to show their awareness of how these factors affect what we communicate.
The OOPT is based on the idea that knowledge of a language is more than the sum of what words and grammar structures you know, but also how those elements are integrated in your application.
The next slide shows an example of this.

18. Placement: what we test
Listening Skills
Approximately 15 questions (depending on test taker’s level).
Tests listening skills, and how well the test taker understands the meaning of what is being communicated.
A choice of British or American, or a mixture of both accents available.
Audio can only be played twice to ensure students finish the test within the time set.
Three different task types:
Short dialogue
Long dialogue
Monologue
While the Use of English section tests form and meaning through the written word, the second section of OOPT tests listening skills. Again, candidates have to identify the meaning in a conversation. To do this, they have to draw on individual, social, cultural or other aspects of the context – to show their awareness of how these factors affect what we communicate.
The OOPT is based on the idea that knowledge of a language is more than the sum of what words and grammar structures you know, but also how those elements are integrated in your application.
The next slide shows an example of this.

19. How the placement tests work
Easier items ITEM BANK Harder items
1st item CORRECT
2nd item CORRECT
3rd item CORRECT
4th item INCORRECT
5th item CORRECT
The OOPT is a computer-adaptive test, which means that it responds to the candidate’s answers in order to determine their level more quickly than a linear test. This screen demonstrates how it homes in on the test taker’s ability. Test items (in other words, questions) are selected on the basis of a candidate’s previous answers, and the final result can be achieved more quickly than through using a pen-and-paper test. As each test is created from a large bank of graded items, no two students will ever take the same test – in fact, no student will receive the same questions even if they re-take the test, but, assuming their levels remained unchanged from the first attempt, they should still reach the same score.
This, of course, is only possible with a rigorous item writing, analysis and pretesting procedure in place. More about this later.
6th item INCORRECT
7th item CORRECT
8th item CORRECT

20. Using the results
Once the candidates have completed their placement test, their overall score will be given, both as a numerical score (out of 120 points total) and equated to any of the 6 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference.
In the example shown, you are trying to set up an Advanced group of students, which means you are looking for students at or above C1 level. Three of the four students tested scored between 41 and 60 points and are therefore judged to be at B1 level, with one student scoring 81 points, corresponding to a C1 level. Once you have selected any candidates who have reached the required level, you can select them by ticking the box next to their name, then clicking the ‘move’ button to move them into the pre-created Advanced group. The Learning Management System automatically creates the class markbook for all your selected students in all your pre-set learner groups.
If you want, you can now create an ‘Intermediate’ group for your other three candidates and move their data into the class register, and you can print or the results to the students and/or your institution.
From this point onwards, you can use the Learning Management System (LMS) to set and check assignments for any of your groups or any individual students remotely, track their progress and give them feedback from the comfort of your terminal – but this would take us beyond the scope of today’s talk. If you want to find out more about what the OLMS can do for you, visit oxfordenglishtesting.com for information, samples and a free trial.
[click to reveal OET title slide again, with the internet address for information]

21. Interpreting the scores
What do the results tell us about the students’ level?
Score
1-20
21-40
41-60
61-80
81-100
100
Level
 A1 A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Each candidate’s results are reported in a variety of ways. They are given both as a point score out of 120, and as a CEFR level. The CEFR level (A1-C2) gives a clear-cut answer to a placement question, but if more differentiation is needed, the point scores also tell us how far along each individual student has progressed.
Having the point score reported allows teachers to make a pedagogical decision and overrule the suggestion of the OOPT if there is a good reason to do so. For instance, with students who are near the bottom or top of the range for their level may be better placed in a group at the adjoining level to allow them to work with students whose exact level of ability is closer to theirs.
As completing a computer-based test demonstrates only a limited range of language competence, institutions or teachers may also wish to complement the OOPT with their own tests of speaking or writing or translation or business English – whichever is appropriate and relevant for their curriculum. Scores in these separate tests can then influence their placement decisions as well.
The beauty of OOPT is that it allows you do record the scores from any extra tests you wish to conduct or indeed any extra information that you feel is relevant (for example, gender, age or first language) together with the scores of the placement test itself.
Let’s have a look at the score sheet for the test to see how this works.

22. Customisable
Aggregate
score
- Subtotal score in each part
- CEFR level based on each part

23. How the test is administered – managing results
Co-branding
Organisations can upload their logo so it appears on the system when test takers log in and on the Results card.

24. Some key points
Allows you to set, monitor and analyse tests whenever and wherever you want.
Provides clear, accurate and reliable results to help you in the classroom.
Helps indicate level of ability of each student.
Differentiates scores for different skills.
Read through the slide, making the final point that the Oxford Online Placement Test assesses your students and reports their scores giving you information to improve your teaching.

25. Schools need accurate and reliable placement tests.
Needs
Features
Benefits
Schools need to place students into different classes according to their language ability.
Schools don’t have much time to do placement tests. They need a quick solution.
Schools need to test British English or American English or be able to switch between the two.
Schools need accurate and reliable placement tests.
Schools don’t have the time, money and resources to develop a valid placement test.

26. Needs Features Benefits
Schools need to place students into different classes according to their language ability.
The OOPT places students into CEFR levels. It also gives them a precise score from
Schools can place students into the right class. Even if many students fall into one CEFR level, students can be grouped according to a precise score that shows whether they are at the low or high end of the level.
Schools don’t have much time to do placement tests. They need a quick solution.
The OOPT takes on average 45 minutes to complete. It can be done off-site and login details ed to students.
The OOPT is quick without losing accuracy. It can be done before students arrive at an institution, which saves admin time.
Schools need to test British English or American English or be able to switch between the two.
The OOPT offers both American and British English. Teachers choose which variety they want to test at the point when they assign the test.
OOPT offers great flexibility for schools. If they have different types of students and offer different classes, the OOPT still works for them. Or they can just use one language variety all the time.
Schools need accurate and reliable placement tests.
The OOPT has been researched and constructed by placement testing experts. It has been pretested and piloted by thousands of students in over 60 countries.
It’s very accurate and reliable. The results are usually more valid than schools’ in-house placement tests, which are usually not made by testing experts. This means students get put into the right class for their ability.
Schools don’t have the time, money and resources to develop a valid placement test.
OUP has committed time, money and expertise to produce the OOPT. It takes around two years to create a new test.
Schools can rely on the validity and overall quality of the OOPT.

27. Needs Features Benefits
Schools need to create different versions of placement tests to stop cheating.
Schools need to match class levels with appropriate course book levels.
Teachers need more time to focus on teaching or enjoying their lives.
Many schools still want to include a face-to-face speaking test.
Large institutions need to ensure similar testing standards between different branches or sites.
Large institutions need to be able to purchase tests centrally to take advantage of higher discounts, but allow the different departments to administer the test locally.

28. Needs Features Benefits
Schools need to create different versions of placement tests to stop cheating.
The OOPT has over 1000 test items which are selected randomly according to a student’s answers. Each time a student takes a test, the questions will be different.
There’s no way of predicting which questions will appear, so students can’t learn the answers in advance, or copy students next to them.
Schools need to match class levels with appropriate course book levels.
OOPT scores are linked to CEFR levels. So are OUP courses. In addition, we’ve made correlation charts mapping OOPT scores to course book levels.
Schools can ensure that students get the course book level which best fits student levels, increasing motivation and learning success. Classes will be more enjoyable for students and teachers alike.
Teachers need more time to focus on teaching or enjoying their lives.
The OOPT is automatically marked, and the results are instantly available.
Teachers are spared from marking and can focus their time on teaching or relaxing.
Many schools still want to include a face-to-face speaking test.
The OOPT LMS is customizable. Schools can add columns for oral tests or any other scores they like.
Schools can combine the OOPT with current practices, increasing their sense of security. Additionally, they could save time and money by only giving oral tests to students with borderline OOPT scores.
Large institutions need to ensure similar testing standards between different branches or sites.
The OOPT gives a fair score no matter where the student takes it. It is totally impartial and consistent.
Schools can rely on OOPT test results. Students cannot accuse teachers or schools of bias. Teachers are not seen as judges and can instead focus on supporting students’ learning.
Large institutions need to be able to purchase tests centrally to take advantage of higher discounts, but allow the different departments to administer the test locally.
The OOPT Learning Management System allows Chains to set up a Chain school with linked members, and then transfer test licenses to those members.
OOPT is even more cost effective, and the central administrator can monitor results in all its member schools.

29. Making the most of practice tests
This presentation uses the content of the Kathy Gude article: “Practice makes perfect”, available under Presentations on the OET Google Sites page. It is a great script for this presentation and you can give it out at the end of your presentation as a hand out.

30. testing = practice test teaching = book
Course books focus on language skills
Practice tests focus on tests.
This is how to achieve a balance.
testing = practice test
teaching = book

31. Benefits of Practice Tests
Level, content & task type practice
Students need practice at the right level, using appropriate content and the same task types as in the exam.

32. Benefits of Practice Tests
Time management
Students need to get used to the time pressures under exam conditions.

33. Benefits of Practice Tests
Examination techniques and strategies
Practice tests help students get “inside the mind” of the examiner.

34. OET offers several digital solutions
Assessment – the Oxford Online Placement Test, online practice tests in Test mode, Online Skills Practice without help.
Digital Homework - Online Practice Tests assigned in practice mode or in test mode to help with exam prep. Research suggests that students who do discrete practice tests as part of their prep for a formal or standardized exam consistently get higher scores. When teachers assign practice tests as homework, they can see the results and track student’s progress.
Teachers can now also assign more skills focused Online Practice for FCE Result, First Certificate Masterclass (May 2011), New Fast Class and PET Result.
Digital Self Study – students can also buy their own practice tests, or do Online Skills Practice that comes with their coursebook.

35. What is oxfordenglishtesting.com?
A website for online practice tests
KET, PET, FCE, CAE, IELTS, TOEIC® and TOEFL iBT™

36. Instant Support Automatic marking & instant feedback Online Dictionary
Exam tips
Here’s a summary of the interactive support in practice mode
Online Dictionary – for VOCABULARY
Exam tips – for EXAM TECHNIQUES
Automatic marking and instant feedback – for USE OF ENGLISH
Audio scripts – for LISTENING
Sample written answers – for WRITING
Useful phrases- for SPEAKING
Audio scripts
Sample written answers
Useful phrases

37. “Double-click any word on the screen for a definition.”

38. Most answers can be automatically marked.
Students then get instant feedback on their answers. This helps them understand why their answer is correct or incorrect.
When a student has marked their answer, they can try again and change it.
Point to the change button: “The ‘Mark’ button becomes the ‘Change’ button.”

39. An example of an Exam tip.

40. An example of an Audio script.

41. An example of a sample written answer.

42. An example of Useful language to describe photographs.

43. Test mode No support features and timer on.
Teacher can re-assign in practice mode for students to review.
When a teacher assigns a practice test in Test mode, it is like setting students a mock exam.
It has none of the support features of Practice mode and it is timed.
Click for each point
Teachers can also choose whether or not students see their result when they have finished the test.
And to help students actually learn from their mistakes, you can first assign a test in Test mode, and reassign it in Practice mode. Remember it’s important for students to be able to take mock, timed tests to prepare for examinations so they can improve their time management skills. Remind the audience that students can fail a test if they don’t allocate enough time to complete the whole test. This is good practice.

44. Test, paper or part Click once after screenshot appears
You can also choose whether you’d like assign a whole test, a paper or a just part

45. Homework or mock exam
Assign practice tests in practice mode for homework
Assign practice tests in test mode to give students timed practice under exam conditions
Homework - OET lets you assign tests in parts. The teaching aspect of practice tests.
Test Mode - assign timed sections to students to help them prepare for the exam. Review answers in class projecting screen with a laptop and data projector or use the IWB. Alternatively reassign it in practice mode and get them to do it for homework.

46. Benefits for Students Practice English interactively
Get better exam results
Practice when and where they want
Feel more confident with the language

47. Benefits for Teachers Less administration
Improve their students results
Have confidence in materials
Offer extra practice and homework online

48. Free Practice Test Trial
This is a good time to encourage your audience to sign up for a free trial on the website. They can go directly to the site, create an account in a few minutes and get 20 licences for up to 5 sample practice tests of their choice so they can see how to use OET to assign practice tests for homework.

49. Online Placement Test
160 руб. 00 коп.
Online practice tests for: KET Test 1
200 руб. 00 коп.
Online practice tests for: KET Test Pack (tests 1 - 4)
690 руб. 00 коп.
Online practice tests for: PET Test 1 REVISED
Online practice tests for: PET Test Pack (tests 1 - 4)
Online practice tests for: FCE Test 1 REVISED
250 руб. 00 коп.
Online practice tests for: FCE Test Pack (tests 1 - 4)
880 руб. 00 коп.

50. Online practice tests for: CAE Test 1 REVISED
250 руб. 00 коп.
Online practice tests for: CAE Test Pack (REVISED tests 1 and 2)
440 руб. 00 коп.
Online practice tests for: IELTS Test 1 REVISED
300 руб. 00 коп.
Online practice tests for: IELTS Test Pack (tests 1 - 4)
1060 руб. 00 коп.
Online practice tests for: TOEIC® Test 1
430 руб. 00 коп.
Online practice tests for: TOEIC® Test Pack (tests 1 and 2)
760 руб. 00 коп.
Online practice tests for: TOEFL iBT™ Test 1
Online practice tests for: TOEFL iBT™ Test Pack (tests 1, 2 and 3)
1140 руб. 00 коп.

51. RELOD Discount Schemes
2012 – Placement Test
Unit price: rub.per test
Discount off unit price
1 – %
10 – %
100 – %
1000 – %
from %