Creating Level Tests for University EFL Courses at a Korean University

Abstract

With the popularity of tests like the TOEIC, TOEFL and IELTS, and their proven records of successes in verifying the language abilities of non-native English speakers for specific purposes, it is probably natural that institutions in a variety of countries require them as entry or graduation requirements. However, there are situations where a high score on one of these tests may not be in and of itself adequate to prove that students have the necessary skills to succeed in their studies –specifically where the classes they are taking go well beyond the typical four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing – and so this paper will show how class-specific level tests were created and administered at a private university in Seoul between 2006 and 2014 with a discussion of the successes and failures encountered.