How to use the scores achieved by university graduates under CEPAS as reference in hiring the right employees

1. How to use the scores achieved by university graduates under CEPAS as reference in hiring the right employees

1.
2.
3.
What is CEPAS?
CEPAS Statistics
How to interpret the scores under CEPAS?
www.ielts.org

2. Common English Proficiency Assessment Scheme (CEPAS)

• benchmark the English proficiency of local
university graduates
• University Grants Committee sponsors the full
test fee for all final year university students in
UGC programmes who agree to a reference
being made in their transcripts to the fact that
they have taken the IELTS test.
www.ielts.org

3. IELTS CEPAS Management Unit

www.ielts.org
IELTS CEPAS Management Unit
+
1. Deliver IELTS Test
2. Promote IELTS to
Employers
IELTS CEPAS
Management Unit
www.ielts.org

4. IELTS in Hong Kong

UGC commissioned use of IELTS 2002
8 Institutions: HKU, CU, Poly U, City U . . .
65 – 70% of all graduating students
Costs fully reimbursed
To date 45,000 students +
www.ielts.org

5.

No. of Students (in Thousands)
No. of University Graduates (accumulated) Registered for IELTS
during 2002 to 2006
50
45.242
40
35.473
30
25.888
20
10
17.219
8.5
0
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
www.ielts.org

6.

Students’ Results under IELTS CEPAS
6.67
Band Scores
6.64
6.51
6.46
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
www.ielts.org

7.

2005/06 Students' Average Overall Score by Academic Discipline
www.ielts.org

8.

2005/06 Students' Average overall Score by
Institute
www.ielts.org

9. IELTS Mean Band Scores in the Region (Academic)

8
7.5
Singaporean
7
Hong Kong
6.5
Singapore General
6
South Korean
5.5
Taiwan
China
5
Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking
China
Hong Kong
Singaporean
Singapore General
Overall
South Korean
www.ielts.org
Taiwan

10.

Frequency Distribution by Percentage – Mainland China
30
25
20
15
10
5
9
8.
5
8
7.
5
7
6.
5
6
5.
5
5
4
4.
5
Be
lo
w
-5
4
0
www.ielts.org

11.

Frequency Distribution by Percentage – Hong Kong
30
25
20
15
10
5
9
8.
5
8
7.
5
7
6.
5
6
5.
5
5
4
4.
5
Be
lo
w
4
0
www.ielts.org

12.

Frequency Distribution by Percentage – South Korea
30
25
20
15
10
5
9
8.
5
8
7.
5
7
6.
5
6
5.
5
5
4.
5
4
Be
l
ow
-5
4
0
www.ielts.org

13.

Frequency Distribution by Percentage – Singapore
25
20
15
10
5
0
Below 4
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
-5
Singaporean
Singapore General
www.ielts.org

14.

Frequency Distribution by Percentage – Taiwan
30
25
20
15
10
5
Be
lo
9
8.
5
8
7.
5
7
6.
5
6
5.
5
5
4
4.
5
w
-5
4
0
www.ielts.org

15. How HR people use IELTS?

• to shortlist fresh graduates for entry level
positions
• to replace its in house English test
• to use as English requirement standard for
promotion
www.ielts.org

16. How to interpret the scores under CEPAS

www.ielts.org

17.

How to match your needs with
applicants’ English
www.ielts.org

18.

Introductory comments
• English competence as part of a person’s
application
• Score on the application/on the
documentation BUT
What does the score mean?
How international is it?
How reputable is it?
www.ielts.org

19.

• IELTS (International English Language
Testing System)
• Task-based test
• Communicative competence
• Assesses and reports performance in
all four language skills
www.ielts.org

20.

IELTS: the test that sets the standard
Standardised world-wide
Very strong recognition
Reputation
www.ielts.org

21.

• Development and research
• Extensive program of research,
validation and test development
• Test material - Cambridge ESOL
• Many stages over 2 years
www.ielts.org

22.

Interpreting IELTS Band Scores
1.Understanding IELTS Band Scores
2.Band Score components for Speaking
3.Band Score components for Writing
4.Using IELTS in your organisation
5.Useful tools
www.ielts.org

23.

1. Understanding IELTS Band Scores
Candidates’ scores: 1 to 9
L/R/W/S: score 1-9
Overall Band Score /9
www.ielts.org

24.

Listening and Reading scores are
presented in whole or half bands
Writing and Speaking scores are reported
in whole bands only
www.ielts.org

25.

The IELTS TRF
(Test Report Form)
www.ielts.org

26.

2. Band score components - Speaking
Four criteria – equally weighted:
• Fluency and coherence
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy
• Pronunciation
www.ielts.org

27.

• Versions of the band descriptors for
Speaking have been developed to help
stakeholders better understand the
level of performance required for a
particular band score
www.ielts.org

28.

• Let’s look at the Speaking Band
Descriptors…(handout)
www.ielts.org

29.

Clip of Speaking test
3 parts to the Speaking test
Look at one part
www.ielts.org

30.

3. Band Score components for Writing
Four criteria – equally weighted:
- Task achievement (for Task 1)
- Task response (for Task 2)
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
www.ielts.org

31.

Band descriptors for Writing
www.ielts.org

32.

Some examples of Writing
www.ielts.org

33.

4. Using IELTS in your organisation
• No specific ‘pass’ mark
• IELTS provides a profile of the candidate’s
ability to use English
• Interpret in the light of:
1. the general description scale (book)
2. the band descriptors
www.ielts.org

34.

• Companies and institutions can choose
which score they prefer for
employment e.g. A position that needs
a lot of talking…
www.ielts.org

35.

• Assess the different language
requirements for different job types
• Select appropriate IELTS levels
• Human Resource Managers
www.ielts.org

36.

• Companies and professional bodies
can set the IELTS requirement
standards
• Can call for an overall score as well
as a score in a particular skills area
www.ielts.org

37.

5. Useful tools
IELTS Website www.ielts.org
IELTS Global Recognition Site
IELTS Standards Setting DVD
Public Band Descriptors
www.ielts.org

38.

Questions?
www.ielts.org