Oxford Placement Test

Oxford Placement Test
Acronym	OPT
Type	Standardized test
Developer / administrator	Oxford University Press
Knowledge / skills tested	Use of English and Writing of the English language
Purpose	To establish the English CEFR level of non-native English speakers
Year started	2009
Duration	Approx. 60 minutes.
Score / grade range	0 to 120.
Score / grade validity	Scores are valid for life
Offered	Provided globally by schools, universities and employers
Countries / regions	Available globally
Languages	English
Prerequisites / eligibility criteria	No official prerequisite. Intended for non-native English speakers.
Fee	Check with local approved test centre
Website	elt.oup.com/feature/global/oxford-online-placement/?cc=gb&selLanguage=enn

The Oxford Placement Test (OPT) is an on demand computer-adaptive test of the English language for non-native speakers of English, reporting at Pre-A1, A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The test was developed by Oxford University Press (OUP) to provide institutions with a quick, reliable way to place English language students into the correct level English class. Placement testing is a key stage in the learning cycle.

History

The Oxford Placement Test, the first globally available online computer-adaptive placement test, was launched in 2009 and has placed millions of test takers since it was launched. It tests British English, American English, or a mix of the two language variants. The OPT replaced the now retired Quick Placement Test, a CD-ROM test provided in partnership with Cambridge English. The success of the Oxford Placement Test led to the design of the Oxford Test of English, and online computer-adaptive English Proficiency test, used as proof of English ability for university entry and employment.[1]

Test specifications

The Oxford Placement Test is designed to provide a quick, accurate measurement of a test taker's English language ability on the CEFR scale. The test consists of two sections: Language Use and Listening. Within the Use of English Section, in addition to standard grammar, lexis and listening questions, the test design focuses on meaning beyond the sentence, including implied meaning; the language sampled in the test is an accurate predictor of general language ability.[2] The test has been independently reviewed and found perform better than other placement tests .[3]

SECTION	PART	TEST FOCUS
Use of English	1	Grammatical form and meaning
	2	Implied meaning
	3	Reading
Listening	1	Five short dialogues
	2	Five longer dialogues
	3	Five short monologues

Computer adaptive

The Oxford Placement Test uses computer-adaptive testing (CAT) technology. Computer adaptive tests can be more efficient[4] and provide more precise measurement[5] than traditional tests. The adaptive test works by selecting each successive question from a large bank of questions, based on the test taker's response to the previous question. This makes for a better test experience for test takers than traditional language tests.

The OPT's online Learning Management System (LMS) allows institutions to administer the test at physical institutions, or for the test to be taken at the test taker's home.

Results

Results are available immediately and are reported as a CEFR band (Pre-A1 to C2) and as a standardized score (0-120) on the OPT scale. Report cards provide a breakdown by section, including the time taken to complete each section. Report cards can carry the institution's branding. The CEFR levels and standardized scores are shown in this table:

CEFR	Standardized score
C2.2	111-120
C2.1	101-110
C1.2	91-100
C1.1	81-90
B2.2	71-80
B2.1	61-70
B1.2	51-60
B1.1	41-50
A2.2	31-40
A2.1	21-30
A1.2	11-20
A1.1	1-10
Pre-A1 (High)	0.7-0.9
Pre-A1 (Mid)	0.4-0.6
Pre-A1 (Low)	0.1-0.3

References

"OUP Unveils New Mid Stakes Online English Proficiency Test". The Pie News. 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
"The meaning of Oxford Placement Test Scores" (PDF). oup.com. 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
"An Analysis of the Oxford Placement Test and the Michigan English Placement Test". Bulletin of the Faculty of Letters, Hosei University, 58, 33-44. 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
"A Review of Models for Computer-Based Testing" (PDF). files.eric.ed.gov. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
Weiss, David J. (3 October 2011). "Better Data From Better Measurements Using Computerized Adaptive Testing". Journal of Methods and Measurement in the Social Sciences. 2 (1): 1–27. doi:10.2458/v2i1.12351 – via journals.uair.arizona.edu.

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[1] "OUP Unveils New Mid Stakes Online English Proficiency Test". The Pie News. 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2020.

[2] "The meaning of Oxford Placement Test Scores" (PDF). oup.com. 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.

[3] "An Analysis of the Oxford Placement Test and the Michigan English Placement Test". Bulletin of the Faculty of Letters, Hosei University, 58, 33-44. 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2020.

[4] "A Review of Models for Computer-Based Testing" (PDF). files.eric.ed.gov. Retrieved 15 March 2020.

[5] Weiss, David J. (3 October 2011). "Better Data From Better Measurements Using Computerized Adaptive Testing". Journal of Methods and Measurement in the Social Sciences. 2 (1): 1–27. doi:10.2458/v2i1.12351 – via journals.uair.arizona.edu.