深度剖析：劍橋雅思試卷開發(fā)流程（上）

一直以來，雅思試題背后的各種故事都是考生津津樂道的話題，對于多年浸淫考試文化的數(shù)十萬中國考生而言，任何有關(guān)試題的內(nèi)幕都是絕對不可放過的異寶奇珍，無不想觀之而后快。這其中，劍橋官方如何從無到有“變出”白紙黑字的雅思試題這一試卷開發(fā)流程更像是一位蒙著神秘面紗的美女，分外迷人卻難睹真容。今天，筆者就帶領(lǐng)大家走進這位“美女”——雅思試卷開發(fā)流程，揭開她身上的神秘面紗。

　　首先來看一張圖表。

　　The IELTS Question Paper Production Process

 

 

　　這就是今天的主題：雅思試卷開發(fā)流程。很清楚，從Commissioning of Material for Question Papers直至Live Test Release，該過程主要涉及9大基本環(huán)節(jié)，而在Pre-editing and Editing of Material以及Pretest Review兩個階段則各存在一次“檢定”——通過則繼續(xù)，否則棄之或推倒重來（Rejection or Revision of Material）。具體而言，雅思考題從無到有這一步步走來經(jīng)過了哪些波折？接下來朗閣海外考試研究中心就為大家分別做一解讀。

　　Commissioning of Material for Question Papers: 委托編選試題素材

　　There are one or two commissions each year for each of our item writing teams. These feed material into the question paper production process. To reflect the international nature of IELTS, test material is written by trained groups of item writers in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the USA and is drawn from publications sourced anywhere in the world. Overall test content is the responsibility of both externally commissioned language testing professionals – the chairs for each of the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking sub-tests – and of Cambridge ESOL staff.

　　Item writers work from test specifications. These specifications detail the characteristics of the IELTS sub-tests, outline the requirements for commissions and guide writers in how to approach the item writing process including selecting appropriate material; developing suitable items and submitting material for pre-editing and editing.

　　解讀：雅思考試每年有1到2次試題素材的委托編選，材料的選擇體現(xiàn)了雅思考試的國際性，既有來自英國、澳大利亞、新西蘭及美國的專業(yè)編寫人員根據(jù)考試要求完成的文章，也有從全球范圍內(nèi)遴選的出版物。負(fù)責(zé)人員既有對外委托的語言測試專家（他們將擔(dān)任聽說讀寫四個分項測試開發(fā)團隊的負(fù)責(zé)人），也來自劍橋考試委員會自身。

　　Pre-editing and Editing of Material: 試題編寫

　　Pre-editing is the first stage of the editing process and takes place when commissioned materials are initially submitted in draft form by item writers. A meeting is held involving chairs and Cambridge ESOL staff to review the material.

　　The purpose of pre-editing is to ensure that test material is appropriate in terms of:

　　? topic

　　?  topicality

　　?  level of language

　　?  suitability for the task

　　?  length

　　?  focus of text

　　? style of writing

　　?  focus of task

　　?  level of task.

　　At this stage, guidance is given to item writers on revising items and altering texts for resubmission. This is seen as an important element in item writer training and advice is also offered on any rejected texts and unsuitable item types.

　　Following pre-editing feedback, material is completed and submitted for editing. Editing takes place at meetings involving Cambridge ESOL staff and chairs. Item writers are encouraged to participate in editing meetings dealing with their material. This is seen as another important part of their ongoing training.

　　At editing, texts and selected items are approved for pretesting or are sent back to a writer for further revision. Revised material is then re-edited at a subsequent meeting.

　　解讀：雅思試題編寫實際分為預(yù)編寫和正式編寫兩個步驟。聽說讀寫每個單項組負(fù)責(zé)人與劍橋工作人員之間首先將進行一次編輯會議，就試題素材的題材、時效性、語言難度、長度、文體等9大方面進行商討，確定其是否適合用于試題編寫；接下來，試題編寫團隊得到指令，正式開始題目編寫及素材改編，在此期間編輯會議將不斷進行。

　　Pretest Construction: 生成先期測試題

　　Pretesting: 進行先期測試

　　IELTS pretests are very similar to the tests that will be used in live administrations.  The tasks are in their final form including task rubrics (instructions) and examples. Listening pretests are professionally recorded to ensure that they are of acceptable quality. Listening and Reading pretests are administered to IELTS candidates at selected centres or to prospective candidates on IELTS preparation courses. The pretests are marked at Cambridge ESOL and statistically analysed. Writing and Speaking pretests are administered to representative samples of candidates to assess the appropriateness of this material for use in live tests, and to establish that the tasks are capable of eliciting an adequate sample of language to allow for the assessment of candidates against the scoring criteria.

　　解讀：一旦編寫工作初步完成，先期測試題就將生成并進行現(xiàn)場測試以檢驗試題是否達到標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。先期測試題和實際的考試用題非常相似，其中聽讀兩個部分會在選定的考點或正參加雅思備考課程的潛在考生中進行，而說和寫則通過代表性的考生樣本群體來測試，為試題效果分析提供數(shù)據(jù)。