Trialling the ELPAC test

1. Trialling after July 2007
The ELPAC first final test versions were constructed in June and July 2007 and released on the ELPAC test server as planned - on 31 July 2007. ELPAC development has been ongoing since the release of the first test versions; new items and tasks are being written and trialled.

1.1.      Trialling new Paper 1 items

At the end of the test each candidate is encouraged to complete a short additional section. This is how new items are trialled. It takes a maximum of 10 minutes and candidates make their own decision whether to take the additional section or not.The ELPAC system employs an algorithm to ensure that each item is trialled on a representative sample of the target population. All items are analysed, reviewed and updated by the ELPAC project team. Where necessary, items are re-trialled. The construction of future test versions will follow the same criteria as the first test versions to ensure that the test versions are as parallel as possible.

1.2.      Trialling new Paper 2 items

Trialling is arranged separately from Paper 1 and is co-ordinated with ELPAC test users. All tasks are analysed, reviewed and updated by the ELPAC project team. Where necessary, tasks are re-trialled. The construction of the future test versions will follow the same criteria as the first test versions to ensure that the test versions are as parallel as possible.

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