PLACEMENT TESTS AND COMPETITIVE TESTS IN ENGLISH

1. Online Assignment
Topic: Placement and Competitive tests in
English
DEEPTHIS RAJ
ENGLISH OPTIONAL
Reg NO: 165 143 00 005

2. INTRODUCTION
Test is an assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other
abilities. Tests primarily assess abilities in English, math and reading and in other disciplines
such as foreign languages, science, computer Internet and health. The goal is to offer low-
scoring students remedial coursework so that they can undertake regular coursework.
The English Placement Test (EPT) is the primary vehicle to determine accurate
placement in the English as a Second Language (ESL) courses administered by the
Department of Linguistics. Placement Testing is about the placement tests that colleges and
universities use to assess college readiness and place students into their initial classes.
Historically, placement tests also served additional purposes such as providing individual
instructors a prediction of each student’s likely academic success, sorting students into
homogeneous skill groups within the same course level and introducing students to course
material. Placement testing can also serve a gatekeeper function, keeping academically
challenged students from progressing into college programs
A competitive examination is an examination where candidates are ranked according
to their grades. If the examination is open for n positions, then the first n candidates in ranks
pass, the others are rejected. They are used as entrance examinations for university and
college admissions or to secondary schools. Another types are examinations, required for
positions in the public sector .Competitive examinations are considered an egalitarian way of
choosing worthy applicants without risking influence peddling, favouritism or other concerns.

3. Placement Testing
Placement testing using state approved tests is required (or encouraged) for all student (or all
students taking classes for credit, or all new students taking classes for credit)
 Students must meet approved cut scores to gain access to specific courses
 Placement testing waived for students demonstrating college readiness via admissions
tests (typically high scores on ACT or SAT tests, such as 21 plus or minus in relevant
subjects on ACT, and 500 plus or minus in relevant subject areas on SAT), other
approved placement tests, or previous college coursework in math and English
 Students allowed/required to retest after/within a certain length of time (sometimes for
a fee).
 Students must begin remedial coursework within a specified time period.
 Before testing/retesting students are encouraged/required to review study guides or
complete a review course.
 Cut score levels, roles and reviews are described.
 Remedial students encouraged/required to take diagnostic assessments before/during
their coursework
 Integration of criteria beyond test scores into remediation decision-making.
 Requiring completion of Students may not register for college level classes until they
have completed all (or certain) prescribed remedial courses
 Defining remedial prerequisites such as placement test score or remedial coursework
for specific courses.

4. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is an international
standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It
is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English
Language Assessment,]and was established in 1989. IELTS is one of the major English-
language tests in the world, others being the TOEFL, TOEIC and OPI/OPIc. There are two
versions of the IELTS: the Academic Version and the General Training Version. There is
also a separate test offered by the IELTS test partners, called IELTS Life Skills:
IELTS Academic is intended for those who want to enroll in universities and other
institutions of higher education and for professionals. IELTS General Training is intended for
those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for
immigration purposes. IELTS Life Skills is intended for those who need to prove their
English speaking and listening skills No minimum score is required to pass the test. An
IELTS result or Test Report Form is issued to all test takers with a score from "band 1"
("non-user") to "band 9" ("expert user") and each institution sets a different threshold. There
is also a "band 0" score for those who did not attempt the test. Institutions are advised not to
consider a report older than two years to be valid, unless the user proves that they have
worked to maintain their level.
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are designed to cover the full range of
ability from non-user to expert user. The Academic version is for test takers who want to
study at tertiary level in an English-speaking country or seek professional registration. The
General Training version is for test takers who want to work, train, study at a secondary
school or migrate to an English-speaking country.

5. The difference between the Academic and General Training versions is the content,
context and purpose of the tasks. All other features, such as timing allocation, length of
written responses and reporting of scores, are the same.
IELTS Academic and General Training both incorporate the following features:
 IELTS tests the ability to listen, read, write and speak in English.
 The speaking module is a key component of IELTS. It is conducted in the form of a
one-to-one interview with an examiner. The examiner assesses the test taker as he or
she is speaking. The speaking session is also recorded for monitoring and for re-
marking in case of an appeal against the score given.
 A variety of accents and writing styles have been presented in test materials in order
to minimise linguistic bias.
 IELTS is developed by experts at Cambridge English Language Assessment with
input from item writers from around the world. Teams are located in the USA, Great
Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other English-speaking nations.
 Band scores are used for each language sub-skill (Listening, Reading, Writing, and
Speaking). The Band Scale ranges from 0 ("Did not attempt the test") to 9 ("Expert
User").
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests how good you are at the
English language. People who take the test take the Academic Module or the General
Training Module. The academic one is for people who want to go to university. The general
one is for people who want to do other training or want to get work experience. People who
want to emigrate to a country that uses English also take the general one.

6. Test of English as a Foreign Language(TOEFL)
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL,) is a standardized test of English
language ability for non-native speakers wishing to enroll in American universities. The test
is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions. TOEFL is one
of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being the IELTS.TOEFL is a
trademark of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a private non-profit organization, which
designs and administers the tests. ETS issues official score reports, sent independently to
institutions, for two years following the test
In 1962, a national council made up of representatives of thirty government and private
organizations was formed to address the problem of ensuring English language proficiency
for non-native speakers wishing to study at U.S. universities. This council recommended the
development and administration of the TOEFL exam for the 1963-1964 time frame.
The test was originally developed at the Center for Applied Linguistics under the direction
of University applied linguistics professor Dr. Ferguson. The TOEFL test was first
administered in 1964 by the Modern Language Association financed by grants from the Ford
Foundation and Foundation. In 1965, The College Board and ETS jointly assumed
responsibility for the continuation of the TOEFL testing program. In 1973, a cooperative
arrangement was made between ETS, The College Board, and the Graduate Record
Examinations board of advisers to oversee and run the program. ETS was to administer the
exam with the guidance of the TOEFL board.

7. National Eligibility Test (NET)
The basic objective is to determine eligibility for college & university level
lectureship and for award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) for Indian nationals in order
to ensure minimum standards for the entrants in the teaching profession and research.
University Grants Commission (UGC) announced in 2013 that the candidates who clear the
National Eligibility Test (NET) successfully would be eligible for lucrative jobs in the public
sector undertakings (PSUs). PSUs can utilise UGC-NET scores for the recruitment process of
the posts of executives in their organisations in disciplines like science, management,
corporate communications, human resources, finance, etc. This step taken by the UGC would
also increase the number of students taking the UGC-NET examination which has witnessed
a gradual decline in recent years.
Teacher Eligibility Test(TET)
Teacher Eligibility Test known as TET is an Indian entrance
examination for teachers. The test is mandatory for getting teaching jobs in government
schools from Class 1 to Class 8. Paper 1 is meant for teachers opting for Class 1 to Class 5
and Paper 2 for Class 6 to Class 8. It is conducted by both Central government and State
governments in India. Most states conduct their own TET. The test is conducted in order
fulfill and achieve the goals of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act.
TET was introduced by the Government of India in order to improve standards in teaching. It
was held for the first time in 2011. For teachers already working, they are supposed to clear
the exam in two years time. The exam is based on National Curriculum Framework. All
graduates, including B.A, B.Sc, and B.Com are eligible to take the test. All B. Ed. graduates
need to pass this exam to work as a teacher. A candidate has to score over 60 per cent to clear

8. the eligibility test. The exam is divided into Paper 1 and Paper 2.The National Council for
Teacher Education (NCTE) maintains the database.
STATE ELIGIBILITY TEST(SET)
In order to maintain a uniform standard of graduate and post graduate teaching
through-out the Country, the Government of India through its notification in1988 stated that
only those candidates would be considered eligible for a post of lecturer, who besides
fulfilling the minimum academic qualifications for it, also qualify in a comprehensive test,
National Eligibility Test (NET), to be conducted for the purpose. Accordingly, the University
Grants Commission (UGC) has been conducting the eligibility Test for lecture ship on
Humanities and Social Science subjects. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR) has been conducting the eligibility test (NET) for lecturer ship in the Science
subjects. UGC simultaneously asked the Govt. of the States and Union Territories about their
option to conduct their own test or alternatively adopt the UGC-CSIR test. In case they opt to
conduct a test equivalent to UGC-CSIR then these should be accredited by the UGC. In
response to this, many States opted to conduct their own test i.e. State Level Eligibility Test
(SLET)for lecturers. Similarly a proposal was put forward for constituting the North East
State Level Eligibility Test (NESLET) on 26.6.2000 to conduct such a test for the aspirant
candidates of the North East Region. It was subsequently constituted as SLET Commission
Assam (NERegion). The name of the Test has again been modified as SET (STATE
ELIGIBILITY TEST).Its member States at present are Assam, ArunachalPradesh, Mizoram,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tripura.

9. Tests are systematic procedures for observing persons and describing them with either
a numerical scale or a category system. Tests commonly refer to a set of items or questions
under specific conditions. The main difference between a competitive test and a placement
test is the former ranked according to the grades and the later using state approved tests.
REFERENCE
1. Mohammad Sharif Khan: “School Evaluation”, Ashish publishing house,2000.print
2. www.wikipeadia.com