Speaker
Description
This study aims to evaluate the quality of an English placement test using Item and Test Analysis (IATA) and propose improvements based on the findings. The research focuses on a standardised English placement test taken by first-year students at Eastern International University. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research draws on quantitative data from 75 students taking the English placement tests, with item-level statistics such as difficulty indices, discrimination coefficients, and distractor efficiency analyzed alongside overall test reliability measured by Cronbach’s Alpha. Complementing these findings, qualitative insights from expert review were included to support problematic items and inform revision strategies. The results revealed that although the tests demonstrated moderate reliability, several items exhibited weak discrimination power, unbalanced difficulty, and ineffective distractors, suggesting misalignment with the intended assessment objectives. Based on these results, targeted revisions were recommended to enhance test validity, reliability, and fairness. By demonstrating the practical value of IATA in systematically evaluating and enhancing English language tests, this study offers meaningful implications for educators, test developers, and curriculum designers seeking data-driven approaches to quality assurance in English language assessment
Keywords: IATA; Language assessment; English placement test; Test quality
Biography
Vo Thi My Duyen is currently working as a Testing Executive at the Office of Testing, Eastern International University. She is also the CEO of Viet Tri Language Center, located in Binh Duong. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Language in 2021 and is planning to pursue a Master’s degree in TESOL in 2026. Her academic interests lie in the field of TESOL, with a particular focus on language assessment.
