Listening Final Exam Construction: An Exercise in Technical Expertise and Cooperation from Stakeholders

Abstract

This article describes the development and production of a complete suite of listening final exams at the English Language Institute (ELI) at the University of Delaware, a large public university in the USA. The ELI serves incoming international students at both undergraduate and graduate level. The ELI also serves students seeking to improve their English before beginning programs at other universities. In addition, it hosts special groups, such as visiting English teachers and scholars, businesspeople, and foreign university students enrolled in short courses. The English Language Institute runs eight-week courses at six levels, from beginner to advanced level, roughly corresponding to CEFR levels A1 through C1, though courses are not specifically benchmarked against the CEFR. At the end of each session, students take a series of final exams in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and grammar, which count as 20% of a final course grade that determines whether students will proceed to the next level.