Test for English Majors-Band 4 (TEM4) in China: A Historical Overview The 4 th Untested Ideas (UI) International Research Conference Qing Wei MA Student in Language Testing Hunan University, China

Outline Background Information Changes of Item Types on TEM4 Causes of Changes

Background Information TEM4(Test for English Majors) has been carried out in Chinese Mainland since It assesses students' English ability by means of written and oral examinations. Nowadays, the total score is 100 poins and students are qualified(60- 69points), good(70-79) and excellent(above 80). Item types of TEM4 go through four dominant changes due to the variable and higher requirements for English majors.

The changes of item types on TEM4 The first stage: The second stage: The third stage: The fourth stage: 2016

Test for English Majors in 1991

StructureItem Number PartsItem TypesPointsProportionTime Duration Listening comprehension Section A statemets Section B conversations Section C news broadcast (10s for each item) multiple-choice questions30p15%25m Dictation1-2completing the blanks dictation 5p 15p10% 5m 15m WritingComposition(150ws) Note-taking(60-80ws) 20p 10p 15%35m 10m Derivation1-10filling in the blanks10p5%5m Correction1-20correction20p10%15m Cloze1-20multiple-choice questions 20p10%20m Grammar and vocabulary 1-20 Section A Section B multiple-choice questions20p10%20m Reading comprehansion 1-25multiple-choice questions50p25%30m Total200p100%180m

Test for English Majors in 1992

StructureItem Number PartsItem TypesPointsProportionTime Duration WritingComposition(150ws) Note-taking(60-80ws) 20p 10p20% 35m 10m Correction1-1515p10%15m Dictationdictation15p10%15m Listening comprehension Section A statemets Section B conversations Section C news broadcast multiple-choice questions30p20%25m Cloze31-45multiple-choice questions 15p10%20m Grammar and vocabulary 46-75multiple-choice questions15p10%20m Reading comprehansion Section A Section B Skimming and scanning multiple-choice questions30p20% 25m 5m Total150p100%170m

Test for English Majors in 1993

StructureItem Number PartsItem TypesPointsProportionTime Duration WritingComposition(150ws) Note-taking(60-80ws) 20p 10p22% 35m 10m Correction( 无） p15m Dictationdictation15p11%15m Listening comprehension Section A statemets Section B conversations Section C news broadcast multiple-choice questions30p22%20m Cloze31-45multiple-choice questions 15p11%15m Grammar and vocabulary 46-75multiple-choice questions15p11%20m Reading comprehansion Section A Section B Skimming and scanning multiple-choice questions30p22% 25m 5m Total135p99%145m

Test for English Majors in 1994

StructureItem Number PartsItem TypesPointsProportionTime Duration WritingComposition(150ws) Note-taking(60ws) 20p 10p 22%35m 10m Dictationdictation15p11%15m Listening comprehension Section A statemets Section B conversations Section C news broadcast multiple-choice questions30p22%20m Cloze31-50multiple-choice questions 15p11%15m Grammar and vocabulary 51-80multiple-choice questions15p11%20m Reading comprehansion Section A Section B Skimming and scanning multiple-choice questions30p22% 25m 5m Total135p99%145m

Test for English Majors in 1994

StructureItem Number PartsItem TypesPointsProportionTime Duration Listening comprehension Section A statemets Section B conversations Section C news broadcast multiple-choice questions 30p22%20m Cloze21-40multiple-choice questions 15p11%15m Grammar and vocabulary 41-65multiple-choice questions15p11%20m Reading comprehansion Section A Section B Skimming and scanning multiple-choice questions30p22% 25m 5m Dictationdictation15p11%15m WritingComposition(150ws) Note-taking(50-60ws) 20p 10p22% 35m 10m Total135p99%145m

Test for English Majors in 1995

序号题号构成部分题型分值比重时间 Listening comprehension Section A statemets Section B conversations Section C news broadcast multiple-choice questions 30p22%25m Cloze26-40multiple-choice questions 15p11%15m Grammar and vocabulary 41-65multiple-choice questions15p11%20m Reading comprehansion Section A Section B Skimming and scanning multiple-choice questions30p22% 25m 5m Dictationdictation15p11%15m WritingComposition(150ws) Note-taking(50-60ws) 20p 10p22% 35m 10m Total135p99%145m

Test for English Majors in 1996

序号题号构成部分题型分值比重时间 Listening comprehension Section A statemets Section B conversations Section C news broadcast multiple-choice questions 30p22%20m Cloze26-40multiple-choice questions 15p11%15m Grammar and vocabulary 41-65multiple-choice questions15p11%20m Reading comprehansion Section A Section B Skimming and scanning multiple-choice questions30p22% 25m 5m Dictationdictation15p11%15m WritingComposition(150ws) Note-taking(50-60ws) 20p 10p22% 35m 10m Total135p99%145m

Test for English Majors in 1999

StructureItem Numb er PartsItem TypesPointsProportionTime Duration Dictationdictation15p15m Listening comprehension Section A conversations Section B passages Section C news broadcast （ 5s for each item) multiple-choice questions 30p20m Cloze31-45multiple-choice questions 15p15m Grammar and vocabulary 46-70multiple-choice questions15p15m Reading comprehansion 71-85Section A Section B Skimming and scanning( 无） multiple-choice questions30p 25m WritingComposition(150ws) Note-taking(50-60ws) 20p 10p 35m 10m Total135p135m

Test for English Majors in 2005

StructureItem Numb er PartsItem TypesPointsProportionTime Duration Dictationdictation15p15%15m Listening comprehension Section A conversations Section B passages Section C news broadcast （ 5s for each item) multiple-choice questions 15p15%20m Cloze31-50multiple-choice questions 10p10%15m Grammar and vocabulary 51-80multiple-choice questions15p15%15m Reading comprehansion Section Amultiple-choice questions20p20% 25m WritingComposition(150ws) Note-taking(50-60ws) 15p 10p30% 35m 10m Total100p100%135m

Test for English Majors in 2016

StructureItem Number PartsItem TypesPointsProportionTime Duration Dictationdictation10p10%10m Listening comprehension1-10 Section A talks Section B conversations fill in the blanks multiple-choice questions 20p20%20m Language knowledge 11-30multiple-choice questions 20p20%10m Cloze31-40multiple-choice questions 10p10%10m Reading comprehansion Section A Section B multiple-choice questions Short answer questions 20p20%35m WritingComposition(200ws) Note-taking(50-60ws) 15p 10p30% 35m 10m Total100p100%130m Section A

Causes of Changes The requirements for economy development: the increasing need for English majors with higher practical skills, for instances, speaking, translating and listening. The educational policies: In 1989, Syllabus for the Basic Level of English Majors in Institution of Higher Learning was put into effect and it classified the basic stage into 4 levels and made requirements of language and communicative ability, respectively. It aimed at the training of basic language ability and the cultivation of working independently. Therefore, it laid the foundation for higher learning.

Causes of Changes In 2000, the development of economy brought about The Teaching Syllable for English Majors in Institution of Higher Learning. Its purpose is to foster interdisciplinary talents who work for education, translation, management and so on. There're three major courses, namely, courses of English language skill, professional English knowledge and related skill. Moreover, Speaking, Writing and Translating are gained attention.

The Contrast of TEM4 Test Syllabus in 1997 and Dictation No change Listening Comprehension 25 multiple-choice questions 20 minutes 10 seconds for each question Section A Statement(10 multiple-choice questions) Section B Conversations(7-9) Section C News Broadcast 30 multiple-choice questions 15 minutes 5 seconds for each question Section A Passages (10 multiple- choice questions) Section B Conversations(10) Section C News Broadcast Cloze15 multiple-choice questions20 multiple-choice questions higher item difficulty Grammar and Vocabulary 25 multiple-choice questions30 multiple-choice questions Reading Comprehension 25(15+10)mq total words 2400( )ws 20mq total words 1800ws WritingSection A Compostion 150wsSection A Composition 200ws