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.