Group assessment
Although it is best if the speaking and listening assessment is conducted at the beginning of the assessment process, it is not always possible to do this when assessing a group of learners. Group interviews will require at least two interviewers, and if a group of more than twelve learners is being assessed, then more interviewers will be needed.
When a group of learners is being assessed, it is important to put them at ease and explain the process to them. Explain that this is not a test or exam, but a means to discover their level of English, their learning needs, and their goals in order to find the most appropriate learning opportunity for them. Explain that during the assessment they will be assessed on their speaking and listening, reading and writing.
With a group situation there are two possible options. You could:
a) Start with the writing task. Learners can self select a task, you can select a task for them or you can ask them all to start with task 2. Whilst they are doing this, you can take individual learners to another room to complete the interview.
b) Start with the reading task. Learners can self select a task or you can ask them to read all tasks from the beginning until they become too difficult (see section on reading for more details). Whilst they are doing this, you can take individual learners to another room to assess speaking and listening.
With larger groups, it may be necessary for learners to complete both the reading and the writing tasks before they are interviewed. If this is the case, then the second task that is given to the learner should be based on their performance in the first assessment.
If it is not possible to check the learners’ reading before they start the writing assessment, you can ask them to self select the writing task to complete. If you feel that the learner has completed the wrong writing assessment, you can still assess the writing done by the learner at a higher or lower level.
For more details, please see the sections on speaking and listening, reading and writing.
Record the results of each learner's assessment on the learner information form. You should then be able to recommend an appropriate learning opportunity and level for the learner. See the section on learner placement for more information.
Finally, you should check if the learner has any questions and clearly understands the outcome of the process. Then you give the learner a copy of the shorter version of the learner information form.
Please see diagrams below.
Group assessment: completing writing task first
Group assessment: completing reading task first
Return to Contents
