On 3 July 2022, the Faculty of Foreign Languages of the Open University of China (OUC) held an online seminar on construction of a unified test-question bank for the bachelor-degree-conferral English examination. Changes to the membership of the OUC steering committee for degree-conferral English examination were confirmed, and construction of a unified question bank was launched.
Professor Huang Zhenhua, director of the OUC examination steering committee, and former vice president of the University of International Business and Economics, providing instructions on setting questions, and pointed out the significance of adult education for society as a whole. The passing rate of examinations is related to the enthusiasm of adult students as well as the recognition of OUC bachelor degrees, making it important to set questions in a scientific and precise manner.
Professor Zhang Bao of an army academy, and Professor Li Yanglong of Beihang University, were invited to offer tutoring and training. They explained methods, norms and precautions for setting different types of questions via rich examples, and by referring to the standards, principles and requirements of national-level examinations.
At the meeting, the OUC degree-conferral English examination was introduced, its nature and significance emphasised, the requirements to ensure its reliability, validity and confidentiality clarified, and the technical specifications for format, label and expression interpreted. A focus on testing the actual ability of students to use English was emphasised, and the examinations envisaged as a way to boost both teaching and learning.
The contents and requirements of the workflow, procedures, task-allocation, and other aspects of the construction of the question banks were also introduced, with the confidentiality and standardisation of the examinations emphasised.
The OUC began to try out the examination in some branches in December 2018, dividing it into two categories, for non-English and for English majors. The pilot programme was implemented for 3 years, and extended nationwide in October 2020. This seminar focused on the construction of a question bank for the degree-English test, based on the needs of examinations of adult students, and establishing workflow, requirements, and division of labour, laying a foundation for future online examinations. 53 members of the OUC examination steering committee and all the teachers in the Faculty of Foreign Languages participated, while Zheng Jipeng, deputy director of the Faculty, presided.
By Zhang Yi, OUC