Development and Use of a Foreign Language Proficiency Test

Abstract

This paper describes the development of the 2000 version of the Osaka Jogakuin College English Proficiency Test. A re-evaluation of the 1987 version of the test was considered necessary because of changes in the student population and an increase in the number of students taking the test. The authors undertook this task by first evaluating the 1987 version and determining which areas needed changes or improvement. The authors then wrote new material. New cloze reading passages were pilot tested with the students in the third year program, and versions were then made for pre-testing. Pre-testing of new reading and listening materials was then conducted with first-and second-year students. Following pre-testing, final selection of the material to include in the 2000 version was made. Two version of the revised test, and a short version, are currently in use. The authors plan to evaluate them following the first year's administration.