ACER eNews


English language skills assessment ACER has developed a new test of English language skills designed to help Australian universities and TAFEs identify international students who may need support to develop their English-language skills to a sufficient level to cope with the demands of tertiary study. The English Language Skills Assessment (ELSA) is a secure web-based test of English language proficiency that provides instant feedback to teaching staff on the nature of the teaching support required. ELSA was developed under commission to assess the English language skills of tertiary students entering degree or TAFE courses. ELSA includes units and items to test students’ skills in reading, writing, listening, grammar and vocabulary. Units and items are optional and the test can be tailored to suit an individual institution or course. The entire test – including the writing components - is assessed online instantly. The test uses technology that allows students’ writing samples to be assessed online through a system of electronic neural networking. Because the test is administered and assessed entirely online, large numbers of students can be assessed quickly and simultaneously and with results generated instantly, in a simple and economical manner. The test has been piloted successfully with three universities. According to one of the developers of the ELSA, ACER Research Fellow Mark Butler, the test proved popular with students because it’s quick, modern and student-friendly. “The questions and examples deal with issues that are relevant to students, such as rental increase, internet usage and mobile phones, and the students can sit the test in under an hour”, he said. “It’s a high-quality, low-cost, accurate snapshot of students’ English-language ability.” Further information on ELSA is available from the ACER website at http://www.acer.edu.au/elsa/index.html « Back to eNews
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ACER has developed a new test of English language skills designed to help Australian universities and TAFEs identify international students who may need support to develop their English-language skills to a sufficient level to cope with the demands of tertiary study.

The English Language Skills Assessment (ELSA) is a secure web-based test of English language proficiency that provides instant feedback to teaching staff on the nature of the teaching support required.

ELSA was developed under commission to assess the English language skills of tertiary students entering degree or TAFE courses.

ELSA includes units and items to test students’ skills in reading, writing, listening, grammar and vocabulary. Units and items are optional and the test can be tailored to suit an individual institution or course.

The entire test – including the writing components - is assessed online instantly. The test uses technology that allows students’ writing samples to be assessed online through a system of electronic neural networking.

Because the test is administered and assessed entirely online, large numbers of students can be assessed quickly and simultaneously and with results generated instantly, in a simple and economical manner.

The test has been piloted successfully with three universities.

According to one of the developers of the ELSA, ACER Research Fellow Mark Butler, the test proved popular with students because it’s quick, modern and student-friendly.

“The questions and examples deal with issues that are relevant to students, such as rental increase, internet usage and mobile phones, and the students can sit the test in under an hour”, he said. “It’s a high-quality, low-cost, accurate snapshot of students’ English-language ability.”

Further information on ELSA is available from the ACER website at http://www.acer.edu.au/elsa/index.html

English language skills assessment