Standard Setting for a Listening Subtest of a University ESL Placement Test

Abstract

The study reported aims at arriving at more reasonable and defensible cut points for the Academic Listening Test (ALT), a listening sub-test of the ELIPT (English Language Institute Placement Test). To identify a reasonable cut-off score, three main methods were used for the study: (a) Yes/No standard setting method, (b) Compromise standard setting method, and (c) Phi (lambda) indices at various cut points. The analysis of the trained penal judgment revealed that the current cut point for ELI 80 (advanced level) seems to be working well in distinguishing ELI 70 (intermediate level) and ELI 80 students; Whereas the current cut point for Exempt is rather problematic. This study not only provided evidence for what would be more reasonable cut points for ELI 80 and Exempt, but also offered information for test revision and development.