Review Of The Ielts Speaking Task English Language Essay

Review Of The Ielts Speaking T admit slope Language EssayCurrently, the around popular expression estimation such as Cambridge certificate trial run, IELTS (The external face Language scrutiny System), TOEFL (The Test of side as a Foreign Language ) and GRE (Graduate Record Examination ) argon astray considered as a reliable means of assessing the verbiage cap magnate of interrogation put onrs who subscribe to to oeuvre, work or immigrate where English is the nomenclature of communication. Take the IELTS trial runination for example, it is not scarcely for the people who ar ready to enter the university of cultivation in English as the leading national education arranging designed for language leavening, only as well for footraceing English direct of people who prepare to settle this countries. IELTS is ace of the most widely utilize in various countries identical study abroad the unify Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the get together States, etc Immigra tion Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It is widely utilize large-scale ESL runs and played a pivotal role for peoples lives such as use for making overcritical decisions ab let out the plunderdidates for their admission to university or immigration to foreign countries and so forrard (Uysal, n.d.). It is owned by three crackners which are the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP, Education Australia (Cambridge University, 2007). This language raise involves four aspects listening, telling, reading and writing which throw out detection the rill takers English proficiency as the applicants certification compliance. As for the running takers, the IELTS forwardness course is to ameliorate the attend of English, most of Chinese people contribute the weak link are writing and utter. Speaking is the very elemental and much difficult skill to glide slope. If the taste takers regard to earn this skill, they should take much than time and energy to accumulate in daily spirit. As a resolving power, this report aims to analysis the IELTS speaking render, notice the sagacity of speaking, and yield the limitation of the speaking block out. in that respect are some advantages of IELTS exam construct on the history of English language runing and assessment over this several years. It established a good reputation, its evaluate is impartiality and credibility, and is widely used in language trying institutions in many a(prenominal) countries. harmonise to IELTS Organization website, IELTS turn up takers and the organizations are depend on the IELTS riddle results pull ahead from IELTS continuing investment in quality assurance, to make sure the taste remains orderly and relevant ( IELTS Organization, n.d.). At the beginning, the English Language Testing Service (ELTS) do the commencement ceremony test appearance in 1980 when it substituted for the English Proficiency Test Battery (EPTB), a tradit ional largely threef sometime(a) choice test battery which had been used by the British Council in its students from overseas recruitment and employment since the mid 1960s for the objective of planetary applicants to universities and colleges in the UK (IELTS Organization, n.d ) This untested model test use an innovative coif which can influence the changes in language learning and development of language testing and assessment. IELTS is traditional as a pencil and paper test, it several(predicate) from TOEFL which is as a computer-based test, and the IELTS speaking test is used one to one interview method to assess. It focuses on the communication from the test takers and through their execution of instrument to assess them in faculty member contexts and the fluency of language use. According to the functionary data, during the 1980s the test numbers were quite low (4000 in 1981 move up to 10,000 by 1985), it apparently shows that in that location were difficulties wit h the administration of the test which relates to the test items and time taken to complete the test (IELTS Organization, n.d ). From 1989 IELTS test candidates took ii non-sepcialised models, listening and speaking, and cardinal specialized model which are reading and writing. The non-specialised models are focus on test global English and the specialised models are used to test language skills in particular areas. Further modifications to the IELTS test were implemented in April 1995 with keeping with the commitment of the Partners to development in applying linguistic, teaching practice and measurement. There are three aspects of change the original models are replaced by an academic reading module and an academic writing module the difference in terms of the context and content between the Academic and customary preparation Modules to ensure equity relating to the test takers during the test (IELTS Organization, n.d).Discussion The IELTS speaking testGeneral background tr ainingIELTS is diametric from TOEFL test, and its candidates faced questions not already recorded good specifications, but to directly face to the testers which belongs to one on one interview and take between 11 and 15 minutes.. This is wherefore the IELTS is more than and more recognize by many people. IELTS consist of two major types which according to whether a candidate takes the academic or General Training version of the test. This speaking module assesses whether candidates can fade force outively in English speaking. IELTS oral test is a system with a pattern, and the scoring with cleanness and credibility. This module is divided three parts part 1 is introduction and interview which the examiner introduces him/herself and confirms candidates identity, and the examiner interviews the test takers apply oral questions selected from familiar writing frames with 4 5 minutes, the examiners will ask some grassroots questions to alleviate the tense mood of candidates part 2 is individual long turn in 3 4 minutes, including 1 min preparation time. This part is about examiner asks test takers to speak for 1 2 minutes on a particular topic based on written input in the form of general instruction and content prompts (Cambridge University, 2007). This stage is often more difficult to grasp for many candidates, and examiner invites candidates to participate in discussion of a more abstract concept such as issues and topic based on the oral questions thematically linked to part two. This part will finally 4 5 minutes. The whole oral test tends to daily life, and more colloquial.In the IELTS speaking section, the examiner is also a commentary by the four analytical subscales at the nine rafts fluency and coherence lexical resource grammatical rang and accuracy pronunciation (Cambridge University, 2007). These four criteria are every bit weight. IELTS speaking test is the weak link to many test takers, and a considerable number of test takers is d ifficult to obtain risque pretend. The test takers destiny to look at the IELTS speaking module score standards to outstrip this difficulty at the beginning. The examiner has a set of criteria by which he or she assesses the test takers communication skills in these three parts. However, in the scrutiny process, candidates manners and other personal factors will influence on the examiner score, this is not be ignored.2.2 Reliability issuesIELTS test is substantive not only for study and immigration, currently more and more foreign enterprises are recognized by foreign companies as an objective, fully reflect the standard of English level for the candidates, especially in China. These IELTS test takers with this certificate apply for the personal line of credit opportunity, especially for foreign common landwealth countries, they often concord a greater competitive advantage. In recent years, as authorized IELTS score of countries and institutions increased, on that insinua te are many people are concerned about this test. every last(predicate) the colleges and universities in commonwealth countries accredited IELTS score, and this test also recognized as the only English test in Australia. There are more people interested in rater reliability, this is be hit rater reliability is not possible to get hold of as there is great variation even when standardization procedures to improve reliability arrest been undertaken. The second generalization from the discussion was that participants were in effect talking about that standardization procedures to make raters more reliable were starker generally(Langley, n.d.). Uysal (n.d.) headings out IELTS test claims that the use of analytic scales is helpful for higher reliability as impressionistic rating and norm referencing are discouraged, and greater discrimination crossways bands is procured. In the second place, raters tented to adhere to the assessment scale step by step, beginning with task achieve ment then moving on to the beside criterion.It is understood that, scoring rules is to facilitate foreign institutions, embassies, and other employers have reliable IELTS students, staff test the impellingness of the organization have a more self-generated understanding, so that they can recognize the scientific nature of the IELTS test and the reliability of the test result. The publication score of standard rules is also evidential for the test takers, they can use the benefits of this rules. The test takers can be targeted for information through the detailed score standard, and the rating published rules in respect of analysis the tally for the test takers, and reduce the errors. At the same time, the strict processes used to produce the test materials ensure that every version of the test is of a comparable level of difficulty, so that they can ensure the becomingness for the candidates and the results of the test takers are consistent wherever and whenever they take th e test (IELTS Organization, n.d.). During the speaking test, the main task type is interaction of test takers with examiner, in the first part, the candidates talk to the examiner like free conversation, it is easy to help the candidates to access to main topic. According to the view of Luoma (2004), he considers that speaking skills can be grouped for three points routine skills which involving interaction with the examiner and get the multipurpose information improvisation skills contain negotiation of centre and management of interaction the last is microlinguistic elements, which is belongs to phonology, grammar and lexis. These are main aspects for examiners to test the English level for the test takers. The aim of the test and practical circumstances in which it will be settled set the general guidelines. However the most important point when designing tasks is the construct-related information that the scores must deliver, or the score users need to know about the examinee s speaking skill (Luoma, 2004). severity issuesDuring the IELTS speaking test, there are many different dimensions to validity. Cohen (1994) maintains that validity is generally considered the most significant aspect of assessment. In its simplest definition, validity refers to whether the assessment instrument actually measures what it purports to measure.Tests are validated by systematically collecting the data to support the fix form and intend to use of the assessment. And the assessment should be used to crystallize English language proficiency during the test. In the construct validity which is refers to the finis to the scores from the assessment instrument, it can measure the ability of the test takers in English (study guide, 2006). IELTS results are reported on a nine band scale, this score for all language ability which is fair for each test takers. The examiners based on the performance to judge the language ability. In the important validity, it relates to the socia l blow of the test (study guide, 2006). It has positive effect for the society. IELTS test is more and more accepted by academic institutions in European where English is used for study, immigration and employment. At last, the most important is face validity which refers to whether the test is acceptable to the candidates and other stakeholder like university admissions officers (study guide, 2006). And during the whole oral test, face validity will influence the performance of attitudes towards to the test for the test takers and also refer on the results of the test. The IELTS speaking task is to assess the test takers oral language skills, there is a range of topics is covered from common daily life such as family, lifestyle, transport, etc, and there are some challenging topics like technology, education, society and some of science knowledge involving weather, pollution, environment and so forth. During the process of test, the examiners will record the conversation with th e test takers and get the feedback from the candidates as in short as possible and then give the military rating correctly. During these several decades, the assessment of IELTS test become more perfect, through the collection of evidence made by candidates, and due to the development of the society, this test will change with the English standard of the whole world.2.4 limitationsIELTS test is as the point of internationalization to start, which contains Hesperian culture, geography, history and customs of other knowledge to the majority in Australia and the United Kingdom. It applies the traditional written and oral method to have the exam, which can express the content for people, but it also has a lot of its own shortages in the examination, such as the examiners subjective meaning of the test and some man-made factors.Firstly, IELTS speaking test does not change in recent years. IELTS exam in reading, writing and listening comprehension made some changes, but the oral part ha s not change, many test takers mentions that the oral test are not new, the topics are old-fashioned, and there are many books are for the IELTS exam to help the candidates to get high suckers. There is more common situation that during the oral test, the test takers talk about the content essentially similar for the same topic, it is so boring for the examiners. As the suit of the old questions, many candidates in the exam preparation should be collected more formal questions before, therefore, IELTS speaking does not only detect language ability of students, but also inspect the preparation before the work is complete. They also noted that preparing the answer to be informative and simple on the structure, not answer too complex and lengthy. Sometimes some candidates do not even play out their true level of English.Secondly, during the IELTS speaking test, it is obviously exit the differences in the idea of western culture. Some IELTS speaking assessors have too much to do and they are not reliable. According to the study guide, it maintains that methods for designing a rating scale may be intuitive or observational. Intuitive methods use expert judgment about what to implicate in the scale, and these scales are often based on existing rating scales, or a need analysis and use a endemic speaker ideal. Empirical methods may be data-based or empirical (study guide, 2006). In addition, some examiner exist some subjective meaning of the test, it is not fair for the test takers. So some non-native speakers cannot get high score is related to some private reasons. And even some examiners have prejudice for some students, and even the first impression will impact the mood of the examiners. Moreover, there are many differences in the model of thinking between western and the other countries, especially Chinese test takers. When they communicate with foreigners, they would know the western countries culture to talk with them and seize the key point to increase the interest to them, in contrast, at the beginning of the oral test, they cause the examiner do not interested in what they said and want to over the conversation immediately. As a result, it is more important of the examiners to mark criteria which are as clear as possible, so that the score reliability is more significant for every test takers, they need correct evaluation in the oral test. It is more preferable to have the record for the test taker, which is a effective evidence that will lead to reliable scoring. At last, the examiners sometimes will also affect the mood of the candidates, because of the need for a long time to test the candidates, they often feel tired which can impact on the results of the test takers. These artificial factors are inevitable, so that it also can influence the fairness of the examination.Finally, English speaking test can sometime give the candidates some errors which can mislead the test takers, they merely think that this is an oral exam, they as long as use the basic language of daily life during the free conversation. However, IELTS speaking test focus on the formal expression not idioms or slang. Take the Chinese people for example, when foreigners communicate with Chinese people, they often use formal English, seldom use idiom which is conventional terms, its true meaning is different from the composition of words. And they use less slang which is informal idiom, different occupations and areas have different meanings (Wikipedia). For most Chinese candidates, IELTS test is one of the most sensitive. As the reason of the backward of English teaching, many candidates have less time to relate with foreigners. This also key point of the influence low score for the test takers.ConclusionIn conclusion, IELTS speaking test is a countrywide English language ability of candidates to the examination. The oral test has been modified as a result of many subjects which can help them to improve understanding of the test and task design for assessing the oral test ability. They also hope that the new test format, strict training and monitoring of the examiners performance will result in a oral test which can lead to fair and reliable for the test taker, which can help the them to improve English level. IELTS exam is the comprehensive exam in English for the test takers ability assessment in the same difficulty of the highest level of English proficiency test. IELTS score are accredited by all colleges and universities in the commonwealth countries. many people who wants to study abroad, as long as get the requirements of IELTS scores to the universities, they do not take part in other types of language tests any longer. In the other hand, English proficiency is the recruitment of the Chinese employees in foreign companies is one important criterion, and this test is considered as an objective, comprehensive response to the standard of English for the candidates. It can fully improve the ability of Engli sh for the test takers in four skills listening, reading, writing and speaking. Oral test plays an important role of the whole examination, because of the proceeding from the actual level and change magnitude verbal communication. If the candidates want to get a good mark, the most effective strategy is understand fully and practice speaking test to achieve a high score. As for the test takers they should calculate more useable information in the daily life, and learn more authentic culture, try to communicate with foreigner which can make more confident during the test. In addition, the IELTS training institutions should be responsible for each candidate, try to be fair and reliable for the test takers and make the error is reduced to a minimum.