Comparing a Skills-Focused English Test Against a Lexico-Fluency English Test for International Students in Higher Education

Abstract

International students need to establish that they have sufficient language skills to commence their university degree in countries like Australia, USA, New Zealand, etc. Two formats of English test, the skills-focused IELTS and the lexico-fluency test C-test, will be introduced and their differences explained. The talk will then ask the question of which test is best suited to evaluate future competence in different aspects of university education. For example, students doing nursing at university undertake both academic studies and clinical venue placement. The talk will draw on data from a study that measured competence at the start of the year and grades achieved by the end of the year. A cost-benefit analysis of each approach to testing English proficiency will be given, and further comments provided on the scope of both tests for other purposes, within the education sector and beyond.



Author Information
Amanda Muller, FLINDERS UNIVERSITY, Australia
Michael Daller, University of Reading, United Kingdom

Paper Information
Conference: IICEHawaii2019
Stream: Educational policy

This paper is part of the IICEHawaii2019 Conference Proceedings (View)
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Posted by James Alexander Gordon