What to include in a placement test?




Oh, this exciting and uneasy feeling before starting a new course! Often, there’s only one chance to know your new students closer and it’s a placement test. But it’s not only about how much grammar the learners know. You need to learn as much information as possible with the minimum time spent. Here’s the list of things you most likely want to know about applicants:

  • aims and reasons for language learning
  • previous language learning experiences (if any), what was positive and negative was about them
  • attitude towards language learning (and English in particular)
  • expectations from the course and the teacher
  • language level (if there’s any previous learning experience)

If you’re struggling with what to include in your language proficiency part of the test, include some samples of material you are going to cover in the course. The material should be neither very easy nor too hard but still challenging. And remember to make your test relaxed and friendly, don’t scare your students, at least at the beginning!

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