Volume 3, 2000, Paper 5

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Paper 5: Monitoring IELTS examiner training effectiveness

Clare McDowell

The key to reliability and hence validity of a direct or semi direct test is effective and internationally consistent examiner training. Since the launch of the IELTS test in 1989, the vast majority of examiners operating in Australia and at IDP centres off-shore have been trained in the face to face mode using materials initially created in 1989 and subsequent years.  However, these materials were designed to be used both in a self-access as well as training sessions and most of the examiners at the British Council centres and in the United Kingdom did their training through the self-access mode.  Monitoring has shown that this dual training model inevitably led to some inconsistencies in rating particularly where the interview was concerned.