Listening/Speaking Assessment Tasks
by Cloudia Ho
Outline of the Assessment
Test type Classroom-based
Test Function
Diagnosis Test
This is a diagnostic test to evaluate students’ comprehension of the
course content. The course is a semester-long EFL class which runs
three hours per week. It consists of 20~25 university students from
common culture background. An experienced EFL teacher is in charge
of guiding students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing with an
Only English Language Policy in class. Most of the students are
spontaneous and responsible for their learning.
Objectives
‧ To diagnose the test-takers’ English abilities of listening
comprehension and speaking skills.
‧ To examine the test-takers’ comprehension of the authentic
topic-based course content.
‧ To promote a better future successful performance both in
academic and social-context English spoken environments.
Target
Test-takers
18~22 years old University and University of Technology students
in Taiwan.
Students are preparing for international student exchanges or planning
to study abroad after graduation. Overall, the test-takers’ English
proficiency are in the intermediate level. Most of the test-takers are
capable of reaching upper intermediate or above level of English
reading and writing but lower performance in oral contexts. However,
heterogeneous English abilities among the students still can be
observed at times.

paraphrase:
Multiple choice:
Underrated the meaning of Individual lease,
Roommate matching
Task 4
Extensive
Authentic questions
on details:
Multiple choice
Comprehend the apartment setting: private
bathroom
Task 5
Extensive
Authentic questions
on details:
Fill-in the Blanks
Comprehend the apartment facilities
Speaking
Task Type Item Type Focus
Task 6
Intensive
Picture-cued
elicitation of
prepositions of
space
Describe apartment & use prepositions of space
Task 7
Intensive
Picture-cued
elicitation of

LOM: How are you doing? (*LOM: Leasing office manager)
Becky:_________________
Test-takers read
(a) I am watching the Simpson’s. (distractor: What are you doing?)
(b) I am 21 years old (distrator: How old are you?)
(c) I am good. Thanks.
(d) I am a college student. (distrator: What do you do?)
Answer Key: C
[Task 2] True or False
Test-takers read
Direction: Listen to the dialogue & circle T(true)/F(false).
Test-takers hear
Becky: I’m looking for an apartment and just wondering whether there is any room
available in your apartment complx.
LOM: Sure. We do have some vacant at the moment.
Test-takers read
----> The LOM means the apartment complx is full. ( T or F )
Answer Key: F
3
[Task 3] Multiple Choice
Test-takers read
Direction: Listen to the dialogue and choose the correct answer.
Test-takers hear
Becky: I’m here alone and I think one bedroom or an efficiency apartment would be
fine.
LOM: Sorry. We don’t have any one-bedroom apartments. You may want to lease a
two-bedroom apartment and we’ll try to match you with roommates.
Test-takers read
(a) The GNV place provides individual leases and roommate matching service.
(b) The GNV place has one bedroom apartments for lease.

(It includes electricity, water, internet, and cable.)
II. Speaking
Test-takers hear
Becky moves into the GNV place and enjoys her life very much.
[Task 6] Picture-cued elicitation of prepositions of space
Test-takers see
Test-takers Read
1. Generally describe the arrangement and setting in Becky’s apartment. (number of
rooms, type of furniture & equipment etc.)
2. Use “prepositions of place” to describe the position of each room, the furniture
and equipment.
Becky