Reflection of the Reform in CET4 Writing Based on Language Testing Theory

程然李梅

（內蒙古工業大學外國語學院，內蒙古 呼和浩特 010051）

0 Introduction

As one of the high-stakes tests,College English Test 4(CET4)gives great effect on test takers,schools and our society.For keeping the significance and the status of CET4 in education filed,the test developers kept analyzing the reliability and validity of CET4.To improve the reliability of the scores,the test developers reformed the test structures,and the content in 2013.One of the evident changes in CET4 is the writing part,including test content and test scores.This paper is mainly to analyze the reform and the weakness of CET4 writing.Also,it will provide a revision for CET4 writing trying to make up the weakness.

1 Writing Ability

Heaton gave the definition of writing in five parts:1)Language use,2)Mechanicalskills,3)Treatmentofcontent,4)Stylistic skills,5)Judgment skills.[1]But Weigle thought that we should take the second language writing into consideration.She pointed out that the writing ability in second language was more complex than the one in mother tongue.So,considering the complexity of writing ability,it is better to test learners according to their competence in real life.

When assessing the writing ability in the test,two scoring methods are to be involved.One is Holistic Scoring.It requires the test raters to read the composition quickly and give a score based on scoring scale or scoring rubric.Another scoring method of writing is Analytic Scoring.It refers that raters scoring according to the rating regulations,also giving scores for different items.The rating regulations include content,structure and language correctness.Which method should be taken based on the aim and significance of the test.As a large-scale test,CET4 applies holistic method.Insuring the reliability of CET4,intra-maker consistency,inter-maker consistency and inter-center consistency have been paid particular attention in CET4 writing scoring.

2 Reform of College English Test 4(CET4)Writing

SinceAugust2013,theCommitteeofCollegeEnglish Test announced that the CET tests will face changes in December.The reform originates from the idea of Communicative Language Testing.This testing theory considers that language testing should include grammar,text,the competence of social language and strategy skills.The reform in writing part is of this feature.From Figure1 we can learn that before “new”CET4,the writing part is featured by three-paragraph,and outlined composition.However,based on the definition of writing competence given by Heaton,this test item exists defects,for instance,it lack of testing the ability of thinking creatively,developing thoughts and the judgment skills which requiring selecting,organizing relevant information.

From Figure2,we learn that one of the reformed version of writing part contains pictures and words.This version tests learners’reading skill and judgment skill.Another one provides directions without outline,but containing one or two questions to help test-takers to organize the structure.These two kinds of writing test are more correspond to Bachman’sinteraction in Communicative Testing.Considering the validity of the test,the reformed one more comprehensively tests learners’sub-writing skills including many factors provided by Heaton.So,the test examines what it wants to examine,that is say,the validity of the reformed version is more higher than the old one.What’s more,it can give test developers and teachers more wash-back,helping test developers to perfect items,and helping teachers to improve their teaching content.

But the reformed CET4 writing part also has its own disadvantages.Though the reformed CET4 provides three sets of test with three kinds of writing topics,the test-takers get the test randomly,which means that they only have one writing topic.This ignores the discrepancy of test takers.To one writing topic,Some test-takers may be interested,but some may dislike.As a result,the scores can’t reflect the real competence of test-takers.So,the validity of this reformed test is also low.Based on the analysis of the reformed CET4 writing part,the following is the revision one:

Writing(30 minutes)

·Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the following topics.You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

·Topic 1:Suppose a foreign friend of yours is coming to visit your hometown,what is the most interesting place you would like to take him/her to see and why?

·Topic 2:Suppose a foreign friend of yours is coming to visit your campus,what is the most interesting place you would like to take him/her to see and why?

·Topic 3:Suppose a foreign friend of yours is coming to visit China,what is the most interesting place you would like to take him/her to see and why?

3 Conclusion

Every reform in CET is the sign of the development.From the view of language testing,every reform of CET is to close to Communicative Testing.Though the reformed CET4 still exists shortage,it makes up the disadvantages of old version.It improves the validity of CET.The aim of CET is to play the significant role in instruction,wash back and incentive.So,the test developers should think comprehensively when designing the test.

Part I Writing(30 minutes)

注意：此部分試題在答題卡1上。

Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short easy entitled How Will Our Life Go on without Internet.You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese:

1）網絡提供給了人們豐富多彩和便捷的生活

2）很多人開始感覺離開網絡寸步難行

3）你對網絡依賴癥的看法

How Will Our Life Go on without Internet

Part I Writing(多題多卷寫作題 1)(30 minutes)

Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay.You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of doing small things before undertaking something big.You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

Part I Writing(多題多卷寫作題 2)(30 minutes)

Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay.You should start your essay with a brief description of the picture and then express your views on the importance of reading literature.You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

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