Week 3 Jigsaw Task
Fill in the table below
Questions to be Young Learners by ACCESS by FOX Duolingo by WAGNER
addressed BAILEY Source 2: Source 3:
Source 1:
What is the test? ACCESS for ELLs® is a The Duolingo English
The Cambridge Young standardized English Test (DET) is an online,
Learners English (YLE) language proficiency test adaptive English
Tests are a series of designed to assess the proficiency test
English language language skills of English designed for academic
assessments developed Language Learners (ELLs) and professional
for children to evaluate in the U.S. It evaluates purposes. It provides an
their English students’ progress in alternative to traditional
proficiency at different acquiring academic standardized English
levels. English. tests like TOEFL and
IELTS.
Who produces the test? The test was developed by • The test is produced
The tests are produced the Center for Applied by Duolingo, a company
by Cambridge English, a Linguistics (CAL) and is best known for its
division of Cambridgr administered by the WIDA language-learning app.
Assessment English, Consortium, which is
which is part of the hosted at the Wisconsin
University of Center for Education
Cambridge Research at the University
of Wisconsin-Madison.
Who generally takes the The test is taken by ELL • The test is primarily
test and why (for what The test is generally students in grades K–12 to taken by international
purpose)? taken by young measure their progress in students who need to
learners, typically acquiring academic demonstrate English
between the ages of 7 English. It helps educators proficiency for
and 12. It is designed to determine students' university admissions.
assess their English proficiency levels and Some employers and
skills in a fun and placement in language immigration programs
engaging way, support programs. also recognize it. It
providing a structured appeals to test-takers
framework for looking for a more
language learning. The affordable and
test is often used by convenient alternative
schools and parents to to TOEFL or IELTS, as it
measure progress in can be taken from
English proficiency home.
What does the test • The test has three The test assesses four • The DET is computer-
"look like"? (In other levels: Starters, language domains— adaptive, meaning the
words, what does it test Movers, and Flyers. listening, speaking, difficulty adjusts in real-
and how does it test?) • It assesses four reading, and writing— time based on the test-
language skills: through thematic sections taker’s responses.
listening, reading, aligned with five language • It assesses reading,
writing, and speaking. proficiency standards. It is writing, listening, and
• The test includes divided into five grade speaking through a mix
colorful visuals, clusters (Kindergarten, 1– of item types, such as:
engaging tasks, and 2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12) and • Read and complete:
interactive elements three difficulty tiers (A for Fill in missing words in a
designed for young beginners, B for passage.
learners. intermediate learners, and • Read aloud: Record
• There is no pass or C for advanced students). yourself reading a
fail; instead, students The test items increase in sentence.
receive shields complexity across tiers • Listen and type: Type
(badges) indicating and grade levels to what you hear.
their performance in accurately measure • Write about a topic:
different sections. students' language Respond to a written
development. prompt.
• Speak about a topic:
Respond to a spoken or
written prompt.
• The test takes about
60 minutes and includes
an ungraded video
interview and a writing
sample, which
institutions can review
Is there any information • According to Bailey Yes, research on the test’s 5 • Wagner (2020)
on validity and reliability (2005), the YLE tests validity and reliability is discusses research
available on the test? undergo rigorous documented in WIDA’s showing that the DET
validation procedures technical reports. These demonstrates high
to ensure their reports explain the test's reliability and validity,
reliability and conceptualization, especially when
alignment with proficiency level cut compared to TOEFL and
language learning scores, and standard- IELTS. Studies indicate
goals. setting procedures. that DET scores
• The test design Reliability scores range correlate well with
follows principles of from .935 to .955 across these traditional tests.
language assessment different grade clusters, • However, there are
to ensure consistency, indicating strong concerns about whether
fairness, and accuracy consistency in test results. automated scoring
in measuring language (used for writing and
proficiency. speaking sections) can
• Cambridge English accurately assess
provides research and complex language skills,
technical reports particularly for
supporting the validity academic English.
and reliability of the
test
Anything else of • The test is designed While full sample tests are 6. Anything else of
particular interest or to be non-threatening not publicly available, particular interest or
relevance and motivational for WIDA provides warm-up relevance?
young learners. items, model tasks, • One of the DET’s
• It provides a positive rubrics, and online biggest advantages is
assessment experience, training resources for accessibility—it’s
encouraging children to teachers and students. cheaper, faster, and
continue learning Additionally, the test is more flexible than
English. closely tied to WIDA’s traditional tests.
• YLE is aligned with instructional resources, • Unlike TOEFL or IELTS,
the Common European ensuring that results can which require test
Framework of be used to support centers, the DET is taken
Reference for language development. entirely online, with AI
Languages (CEFR), However, it does not and human proctoring
helping learners include a "Monitoring and to prevent cheating.
transition to higher- Maintaining" level beyond • The test’s adaptive
level English exams. the "Reaching" proficiency nature means each test
threshold, meaning there is unique, reducing
are no standardized predictability and
criteria for tracking long- memorization-based
term academic language preparation
engagement after
achieving proficiency.
