What is the difference between CET-4 and traditional CET-4?

An introduction to the reform of CET-4.

Test paper structure before reform: 100 grading system.

The reformed examination paper structure: 7 10 grading system.

The new test consists of four parts: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, comprehensive test and writing test. The content, type and proportion of each part of the test are shown in the following table:

Composition of test paper

Test content

Test question

proportion

The first part:

aural comprehension

Listening dialogue

Short dialogue

multiple-choice

35%

Long dialogue

multiple-choice

Listening passage

Short passage comprehension

multiple-choice

Dictation of essays

Compound dictation

The second part:

reading comprehension

Read and understand carefully

Text reading comprehension

multiple-choice

35%

Lexical understanding of discourse

Cloze in groups

Fast reading comprehension

True or false+fill in the blanks or something else.

The third part:

Synthetic test

Cloze or

word

multiple-choice

10%

15%

Identify and correct errors.

Text question and answer or

Sentence translation

Short answer

5%

Chinese-English translation or English-Chinese translation

The fourth part:

writing

writing

Thesis Writing

15%

As can be seen from the above table, the new CET-4 has changed from reading comprehension (40%) to both listening and reading (35% each). Subjective questions are heavier, that is, non-multiple choice questions have increased to a certain extent. Specific to the examination paper may account for between 35% and 45%. On the whole, the overall difficulty has been improved, which can measure the true English level of candidates more comprehensively and accurately than the old CET-4.

Specifically, in the listening part, the long dialogue in TOEFL listening is added to make up for the deficiency of the traditional short dialogue test. Long conversations can be conducted in the form of daily conversations, lectures, radio programs, etc.

Dictation of short passages is also added to listening. This type of question has been tried in exams in recent years, and it is difficult for candidates to reflect it generally. After the passing line is cancelled, the dictation of short passages will be part of the score of candidates, especially the dictation of complex sentences.

The reading comprehension part has also changed greatly, which is divided into intensive reading and fast reading. In the intensive reading part, in addition to the traditional multiple-choice questions, word fill-in-the-blank is added, that is, the flexible use of vocabulary in a certain context is assessed, which is undoubtedly more scientific than simply taking vocabulary questions. The introduction of fast reading comprehension questions conforms to the requirements of the times. With the explosion of information in today's society, it has become a necessary accomplishment for modern people to quickly screen out the parts they need from the massive information in study, work and daily life. Reading comprehension quickly is different from reading comprehension carefully. The key point is to grasp the key points of the overall logical structure of the article quickly and accurately.

The increased comprehensive test part * * * accounts for 15% of the score, and the previous cloze or error correction (one of two choices) is retained, accounting for10%; Text questions or sentence translation questions were added, accounting for 5%. It is not difficult to see that no matter what kind of questions are used, the main intention of this part of the questions is to measure the comprehensive ability of candidates in English grammar, vocabulary, logic and translation.

The last part of the writing is the same as the old topic, and there is not much change.

In addition to the above-mentioned topic changes that can be seen on paper, another significant change is the cancellation of the vocabulary and structure of the original test paper. The original vocabulary and structure accounted for 15, and now the new test paper completely cancels 30 questions in this part. In the past, English teaching in our country put too much emphasis on students' mastery of grammar knowledge, but ignored the practical application ability of English. This cancellation reflects the improvement and promotion of the original assessment system.

Generally speaking, the new questions are more scientific than the old ones, which can better reflect the examinee's real English ability and gradually integrate with the international standardized examination. Therefore, the reformed CET-4 and CET-6 are more authoritative.

Five comparisons between the new fourth grade and the old fourth grade

Changes in scoring system

In June 2005, CET-4 and CET-6 will formally adopt a brand-new scoring system, as shown in the following table:

Before the reform

After the reform

score

0—— 100

290——7 10

Is there a passing line?

Yes (60 points)

not have

Form of proof of achievement

Certificate (qualified or excellent)

Transcript (total score and scores of each part)

The original CET-4 and CET-6 are passing exams, so there are points of passing and failing. Generally speaking, CET-4 and CET-6 are all 60 points, 85 points or above are excellent, and CET-6 is 80 points excellent. After the reform, a scoring system with an average score of 500 and a full score of 765,438+00 will be adopted. There will be no passing line, and the issuance of Level 4 certificate will be cancelled. Transcripts will be sent to candidates to report the total score and the score of each individual item.

Employers will decide for themselves what level of English candidates to recruit. Units that require higher English ability are likely to require more than 600 points in Band 4. General position, if only English is basically qualified, about 500 points.

Different majors in universities may also formulate corresponding graduation standards: 500 points for general majors and 600 points for foreign majors (or 500 points for foreign majors). Each school will also set corresponding standards when applying for research: 600 points in Band 4 or 500 points in Band 6. In the future, neither the Examination Committee nor the Ministry of Education will stipulate the passing scores of CET-4 and CET-6. This is a relatively important change.

Fairness comparison

In the future, CET-4 and CET-6 candidates, like TOEFL candidates, will receive a report card, regardless of the score, which records the total score and the scores of listening, reading, synthesis and writing. The CET-4 and CET-6 Examination Committee provides the school with the significance of score interpretation. The scientific nature of this reform lies in avoiding the unfairness in the traditional scoring method.

Scores and certificates

Fairness evaluation

The first four levels of reform

60 points, 84 points are also qualified.

It is unfair not to reflect different English levels.

You can't get a certificate if you get 59 points and 20 points.

Can't reflect differences and unfairness.

The fourth level after reform

Displays the total score and scores of each part.

At a glance, objective evaluation.

Changes in the content and form of examinations

Old level 4:

part

Types of questions and ways to set them up

Score (%)

aural comprehension

Short dialogue

radio

10

10

Essay or dictation

Choose one or fill in the blanks.

read

Read and understand carefully

radio

40

vocabulary

Choose words to fill in the blanks and write a sentence.

radio

15

Writing and grammar

Writing and Gestalt (or correcting mistakes)

Write, fill in the blanks or correct mistakes

25

New Level 4:

part

Types of questions and ways to set them up

Score (%)

aural comprehension

Short dialogue

radio

15

Long dialogue

radio

Short passage comprehension

radio

20

Short passage listening

order

read

Read and understand carefully

radio

25

Read and understand carefully

Fill in the blanks with words

Fast reading comprehension

True or false judgment or something.

10

Synthetic test

Complete or correct mistakes

Single selection or error correction

10

Short answer or translation

Short answer or translation

five

writing

writing

composition

15

Registration and educational administrative reform

The examination committee will adopt a new registration and examination management system, put an end to fraud and disclosure, gradually limit candidates to college students, reduce the social weight of CET-4 and CET-6, and highlight the function of examination in serving teaching.

Attachment: timetable for the reform of grades 4 and 6.

New Level 4:

time

Reform content

range

June 2005

Scoring system (level 4 and level 6)

All candidates

June 5438, 2006+10 month

CET-4

180 pilot universities

June 2006

College English Test Band 6 (CET-6)

180 pilot universities

June 5438, 2007+10 month

CET-4

All candidates

June 2007

College English Test Band 6 (CET-6)

All candidates

From June 5438+ 10, 2006, the reformed CET-4 was tried out among the students who participated in the experimental reform of college English teaching, and the new CET-6 was tried out from June 2006. Initially, the reformed CET-4 will be fully implemented in June 2007, and the reformed CET-6 will be fully implemented in June 2007.

Changes in the way of reporting results.

The way to report the results will be changed from issuing examination certificates to issuing transcripts.

In the previous CET-4 and CET-6, after each exam, everyone will get a certificate of qualification and give a qualified or excellent evaluation according to the exam results. After the reform, each candidate will receive a report card after each exam, including the total score and individual scores of listening, reading, synthesis and writing.

The above changes will be implemented from this year's CET-4 and CET-6.

The Influence of N-4 Reform on Candidates

The new level 4 puts forward four new ability requirements.

In the past period of time, CET-4 certificate has had an important impact on students' graduation and employment, which led to the one-sided emphasis on qualifications and certificates in CET-4 examination, while ignoring the examination of application ability. It has aroused widespread concern of educators and learners. It also gave birth to the reform of CET-4.

"This reform will restore CET-4 and CET-6 and college English education!" Li Qingsheng, deputy dean of the School of Foreign Languages of Wuhan University, believes that instead of issuing qualified certificates, issuing transcripts, broadening and adjusting the types of questions conforms to the changes of the times and the development of English teaching.

With the implementation and promotion of CET-4 reform, the test items, scoring methods and key points will change accordingly, and the requirements for candidates' abilities will be different accordingly. Generally speaking, it will highlight the requirements for English application-related abilities. In particular, some requirements for listening and speaking ability, reading ability and subjective understanding ability have been significantly improved, so as to better examine candidates' practical comprehensive application ability of English.

The following are the details of the new requirements:

Listening and speaking ability

According to the requirements of the new syllabus, the ability of dictation and listening and speaking should be greatly strengthened. Specifically reflected in the test paper, listening will rise from the original 20% to 35%. The listening part not only keeps short dialogues and listening paragraphs, but also adds long dialogues. At the same time, dictation comprehension, which only happens occasionally, has become a compulsory item in the new CET-4. This change has undoubtedly stepped on the weakness of most college students' English learning, which has greatly improved the requirements for students' comparative listening ability.