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Although LPTs are often treated as low-stakes, large-scale administration can generate logistical and administrative costs when the test is not well specified. This study analyzes an English LPT used each semester by nearly 1700 examinees at a major Latin American public institution and reports the need for revision.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/the-retrofit-of-an-english-language-placement-test-used-for-large-scale-assessments-in-higher-education/449538/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/the-retrofit-of-an-english-language-placement-test-used-for-large-scale-assessments-in-higher-education/449538.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"acoobca","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-08","2026-09-30",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":19},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What problem does the study address with the existing English LPT?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The study identifies that statistical evidence indicates the need to revise the previous English placement test, especially to ensure reliable functioning under large-scale conditions.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How was the retrofitted test developed?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"A new test architecture and blueprints were designed aligned to a curriculum based on the CEFR, followed by training for instructors and gradual pilot testing of newly developed items.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What method was used to evaluate the new test items?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Item Response Theory (IRT) was used to examine the functioning of the retrofitted test items and compare them with the former version.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},449538,1791234149,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":19,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145},3985747870733,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_a8503ba1806abce46bf441b54a3ca4cd","The Retrofit of an English Language Placement Test Used for Large-Scale  \nAssessments in Higher Education  \nArturo Mendoza 1 *, Joaquín Martínez2  \nReceived: 5 September 2022 Accepted: 22 November 2022  \nAbstract  \nLanguage placement tests (LPTs) are used to assess students’ proficiency in a progressive manner in the target language. Based on their performance, students are assigned to stepped language courses. These tests are usually considered low stakes because they do not have significant consequences in students’ lives, which is perhaps the reason why studies conducted with LPTs are scarce. Nevertheless, tests should be regularly examined, and statistical analysis should be conducted to assess their functioning, particularly when they have a medium or highstakes impact. In the case ofLPTs administered on a large-scale, the logistic and administrative consequences of an ill-defined test may lead to an economic burden and unnecessary use of human resources which can also affect students negatively. This study was undertaken at oneof the largest public institutions in Latin America. Nearly 1700 students sit an English LPT every academic semester. A diagnostic statistical analysis revealed a need for revision. To retrofit the test, a new test architecture and blueprints were designed in adherence to the new curriculum created following the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. After the institution gave two courses to language instructors in language assessment, new items were developed and tried out gradually in several pilot studies conducted with a sample of actual examinees. Then, Item Response Theory (IRT) was used to examine the functioning of the new test items. The aim of this study is to show how the test was retrofitted, and to compare the functioning of the retrofitted version of the English LPT with the previous one. The results show that the quality of items was higher than that of the former English LPT. This study has implications for the design of language tests administered large-scale in higher education, particularly in (semi) periphery countries that decide to design and administer their own LPTs.  \nKeywords: English in higher education; item quality; item response theory; large-scale assessment; placement tests  \n1. Introduction  \nEnglish is a dominant vehicular language in the production of scientific knowledge worldwide (Di Bitetti & Ferreras, 2017; Johnson et al., 2018), and its inclusion in higher education programs is mandatory in some Latin American countries and Spain (Cronquist & Fiszbein, 2017; Salager-Meyer et al., 2016) . Private and public universities across Latin America have different agendas for the development of language policies, but usually private  \n1 National Autonomous University of Mexico, University of the Witwatersrand Email: [a.mendoza@enallt.unam.mx](a.mendoza@enallt.unam.mx)  \n2 National Autonomous University of Mexico, Email: [joaquin.martinez@enallt.unam.mx](joaquin.martinez@enallt.unam.mx)  \ninstitutions and top-ranked public universities invest more resources in the development of their students’ language skills, particularly English.  \nThe present study was conducted at one of the largest top-ranked public universities in Latin America. One of the aims of the University’s Institutional Development Plan is to strengthen the English language skills of undergraduate students and to increase the number of the subjects taught in English (UNAM, 2015) . Therefore, from 2011 to 2015 the School of Languages (pseudonym used), based in its main campus, undertook the task of reviewing and adapting the curricula for 11 language programmes. As part of the professional development, in 2014, 2015 and 2016, the School of Languages offered courses on language testing and assessment to its language instructors and heads of language departments. The course was given by an important leading institution in the development of language proficiency tests. After the initial course ","cbCaieQlq0g3MvSw","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaieQlq0g3MvSw","pdf",387467,27,"English","# Abstract\n# 1. Introduction\n# 2. Review of Literature\n## 2.1 Language Placement Tests","[{\"question\":\"What problem does the study address with the existing English LPT?\",\"answer\":\"The study identifies that statistical evidence indicates the need to revise the previous English placement test, especially to ensure reliable functioning under large-scale conditions.\"},{\"question\":\"How was the retrofitted test developed?\",\"answer\":\"A new test architecture and blueprints were designed aligned to a curriculum based on the CEFR, followed by training for instructors and gradual pilot testing of newly developed items.\"},{\"question\":\"What method was used to evaluate the new test items?\",\"answer\":\"Item Response Theory (IRT) was used to examine the functioning of the retrofitted test items and compare them with the former version.\"}]","The Retrofit of an English Language Placement Test Used for Large-Scale Assessments in Higher Education | PDF",1790730518,68]