Week 12: Technology in testing: the present and the future

My Reflection

This is a good article to give me new insights about advantages and disadvantages of computer-based language tests.

I know there are many advantages of computer-based language tests, it is a growing trend towards computer-based language tests in advanced countries. I have some questions about computer-based language tests. Is it fair to computer illiterate people if they take computer-based language tests? Suppose they control keyboard or mouse unskillfully. And they feel nervous when they are facing the computer. All these affect their performance on computer-based language tests.

I doubt how to use IT to assess the aspects of the speaking ability of second /foreign language learners of English. I think candidates have different performance when they interact with examiner and when they have over the telephone in ‘interaction’ with a computer.

In my opinions, both computer-based language tests and pencil-paper-tests have their advantages and disadvantages. I had experienced in taking a computer-based accounting test and a pencil-and-paper accounting test before. Since the computer-based accounting test was used a particular accounting software, candidates had to take a computer training course before the test. It means candidates should have both accounting knowledge and a degree of computer literacy in order to take the computer-based accounting test. If I did not take a computer training course, I could not take a pass of the computer-based accounting test.