How do we report scores and set pass marks?

Abstract

The first decision you need to make when considering how scores should be reported is whether your listening test results will be reported as an individual skill, or as part of a total test score including other skills such as reading, language in use, writing and speaking. Your answer needs to take into account such factors as the purpose of the test and how the test results are to be used. For example, if the purpose of the test is diagnostic, placement or achievement, there are good reasons for the skills to be reported separately. In a diagnostic test, the more information you can obtain about a test taker’s strengths and weaknesses the better; collapsing the scores will result in a lot of useful information being hidden. The results of a placement test are generally used as the basis for determining which class is appropriate for a test taker. Clearly having more details will help particularly if the classes are subdivided for the teaching of different skills. The results of an achievement test are usually fed back into the teaching and learning cycle. Receiving information on individual skills would help the teacher to decide which particular skills need further attention.