Since 1984, UW system faculty and Wisconsin high school teachers have been collaborating to develop a test for placing incoming students into college German courses. Two tests are now available: Language Usage and Reading Comprehension. These tests are available for each UW System campus to use according to its individual needs and resources. Each campus determines the appropriate scores for entry into specific courses. The purpose of this information is to introduce you to the test, describe the rationale behind its creation, and outline future plans for its continued development.
Placement into college courses is the sole purpose of this test. The experienced language teacher will quickly realize that many skills which are taught in the high school language courses are not included in the test. This was by design, as the test is a tool to assist advisors in placing students into the best course in a language sequence. The questions on the test were specifically selected with this single purpose in mind. This means the test is not a measure of everything that is learned in high school language courses. The test was not designed to measure program success or to compare students from one high school with students from another. It should be viewed only as a tool to be used for placing students at the university level.
As a placement instrument, the test has to be easy enough to allow students with only one year of high school German to answer many questions and yet has to be complex enough to measure the skills of students with four or five years of German. Scores have to be precise enough to allow placement into five different levels of university coursework: 1st semester, 2nd semester, 3rd semester, 4th semester, or 5th semester. In addition, the test has to be efficient to score, since thousands of students each year need to have their results promptly reported.
In order to meet these criteria, the writing committee selected a multiple-choice format to measure two different types of language competence: reading comprehension and knowledge of grammatical structure. Both of these sections have been, and continue to be, pilot tested in multiple versions in several Wisconsin high schools and on University of Wisconsin System campuses. This pilot testing allows for improving individual items and helps each campus establish its own placement test cut-off scores. Test scores are often used in combination with other placement criteria, such as number of years of German study, grade received, and when the last German class was taken, to determine actual placement.
1. Both sections are to be completed by all students. The expectation is that students who have had one or two years of high school German will answer fewer questions correctly than students who have had three or more years of high school German.
2. The test is entirely in German (except for the instructions) and consists of multiple choice questions with four choices each.
3. The test is scored as number of correct answers, with no penalty for guessing. Each item has only one acceptable answer. This number correct score is converted to a standard score between 150 and 850 for the purposes of score reporting.
4. The German Placement Test is designed as a test of skill and not speed. Ample time is allowed to answer questions. Sixty (60) minutes are allowed to complete the entire test.
5. The German Placement Test total test score has a reliability above .90.
The reading comprehension portion of the test was designed to measure students' understanding of plot, character, and topic in the contexts of short stories, anecdotes, letters, and brief dialogues. The reading passages consist of complete texts drawn from authentic sources. Editing was done primarily to shorten texts that were felt to be unnecessarily long for purposes of a placement test.
The reading section is designed to include the kinds of skills that students will need to perform well in university-level German courses. A list and description of the reading comprehension objectives are given below:
Respondents have to discriminate among multiple-choice answers, each of which - in principle - could refer to text content. Typically, distractors in such items are verbatim citations (phrases or words) from the text, to make (inaccurate) associations seem more likely.
Respondents have to guess or identify the meaning of a word or phrase from the text based on contextual clues. Targeted words or phrases will be unknown to most readers prior to exposure to the text. The goal is to test the ability to infer meaning from context not to gauge vocabulary knowledge.
Respondents have to identify the correct relationship between two pieces of information and derive the correct answer based on this comparison. Comparisons in this category are meaning based and will probably require judgment based on commonly-shared criteria. A sample question may ask which of two units is more attractive, polite, preferable, etc.
Respondents have to first identify quantitative information in the text and then, based on clues from the text and the gist of the question, determine which type of calculation (multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, fractions or percentages) is appropriate. The required calculations should be basic and not test the mathematical skills of readers. The multiple-choice items should present clearly different options. The correct result should be easily identifiable once the reader has determined the relevant numbers in the text and the correct type of calculation.
Respondents have to abstract information from the text and infer a larger concept, such as a conclusion, a summary, or a likely interpretation.
Because the scope of the reading test is so broad and the items so varied, it is difficult to select texts to represent the entire test. The following samples may be helpful to you in explaining the Reading Section of the German Placement Test.
Karriere: Frau in der Falle
Frauen haben besonders gute Chancen, in die Führung eines Unternehmens aufzurücken,
wenn es der Firma schlecht geht. Das fand der britische Sozialpsychologe Alex Haslam
von der Universität Exeter bei einer Untersuchung der Personalpolitik in den 100 größten
Firmen Großbritaniens heraus: Zeigen die Wirtschaftsdaten ins Minus, steigt
die Neigung, in der Not eine Frau in die Verantwortung zu heben. Damit haben Frauen
gleichzeitig ein ungleich höheres Risiko zu scheitern als Männer, sagt Haslam. Ein
krisengeschütteltes Unternehmen steht wiederum häufiger in den Medien – und die
Chefinnen werden öffentlich für Managementfehler kritisiert, die noch vor ihrer Zeit
begangen wurden. Dieser Effekt war auch der Auslöser für Haslams Untersuchung
gewesen. Im vergangenen Jahr hatte eine andere Studie der Universität Cranfield nahe
gelegt, Unternehmen mit hohem Frauenanteil in der Führung hätten auch schlechtere
Wirtschaftsdaten.
(Der Spiegel 40, 2004)
1. Der britische Sozialpsychologe Haslam schreibt über Frauen, die
a. schlechte Wirtschaftsdaten untersuchen.
b. Managementfehler kritisieren.
c. in den Medien arbeiten.
d. aufrücken, wenn es der Firma schlecht geht.
2. Das Wort scheitern bedeutet
a. to scream.
b. to take.
c. to fail.
d. to succeed.
3. Frauen haben oft Führungspositionen, weil sie
a. Managementfehler machen.
b. schlechte Personalpolitik machen.
c. schlechtgeführte Firmen übernehmen.
d. ein höheres Risiko annehmen.
4. in die Verantwortung heben heißt
a. schlechte Wirtschaftsdaten akzeptieren.
b. in eine wichtige Position bringen.
c. eine Studie unternehmen.
d. Medien kritisieren.
The correct answers are: (1) D, (2) C, (2) C, (4) B
Harvard-Wissenschaftler untersuchten und befragten 100-jährige Menschen. Keiner hatte besonderen Wert auf gesunde Ernährung oder Fitness gelegt, aber jeder beschrieb sich als humorvoll und optimistisch. Über den Zusammenhang von Streit und Gesundheit forschten Wissenschaftler im benachbarten New York. Das deutliche Ergebnis zeigt: Patienten, die angeben, besonders häufig von ihren Partnern kritisiert zu werden, waren auch gesundheitlich nicht so fit. Außerdem bewegten sie sich weniger, aßen ungesünder und rauchten mehr als Menschen, die ihre Beziehung als harmonisch bezeichneten.
6. Aus diesem Artikel erfährt man, dass man so alt werden kann
a. durch Sport.
b. durch Vitamine.
c. durch positive Emotionen.
d. durch ein wissenschaftliches Studium.
7. Wenn mein Partner mich selten kritisiert,
a. leidet meine Beziehung.
b. raucht mein Partner mehr.
c. muss ich ihn häufiger kritisieren.
d. hilft das meiner Gesundheit.
8. Es scheint, als ob
a. Menschen in New York mehr streiten würden.
b. Gefühle den Körper beeinflussen könnten.
c. Menschen mit zunehmendem Alter humorvoller würden.
d. gesunde Ernährung und Fitness nicht wirklich wichtig wären.
9. In diesem Kontext heisst bezeichneten auf Englisch
a. characterized.
b. showed.
c. drew.
d. signed.
The correct answers are: (6) C, (7) D, (8) B, (9) A
The language usage section of the exam consists of three module. In the most traditional of those modules, sentences are provided from which one or two words are missing. From four choices students pick the one form that is correct and appropriate to the context of the sentence. Contextual clues are strongly evident, so that items are functionally full and semantically clear. The section tests a variety of morphological and syntactic forms, including adjective and article usage and agreement, verb forms and uses, pronoun forms and uses, expressions for comparison, negation, and interrogation. Some lexical choices are also required with verbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and adverbs. The various test objectives are represented on the language usage section of the German test in the following proportions:
The conjugation of verbs in present tense, especially for irregular verbs (e.g., sehen, tragen…), modal verbs, “special” verbs, such as wissen, sein, or haben; and verbs with separable prefixes (some overlap with the category Sentences). This category also includes imperative forms. The Committee has also, on occasion, included the distinction between formal and informal address (i.e., Sie, du, ihr).
All tenses besides the present tense; includes passive forms and subjunctives.
Everything to do with cases: definite and indefinite articles; prepositional phrases; personal pronouns; possessives; and adjective endings, including those related to comparative and superlative.
Includes various issues of word placement, such as the order of verbs in multi-verb constructions; verb placement in questions, imperatives, subordinate and co-ordinate clauses, and after introductory words or phrases (“inversion”); and also the order of adverbials (time, reason, manner, place).
Anything outside the four categories mentioned above—often idiomatic usage; can include the meaning of commonly-taught words, especially verbs, such as kennen vs. können vs. wissen; common phrases and expressions (e.g., what do you say to apologize, for a birthday, how to tell time); the meaning/use of prepositions (not the associate cases); generally can address issues of appropriate not just “correct” language use.
The following items are representative of the kind of questions students are asked to answer.
1. Sprich nicht mehr davon! Das können wir ______ nicht leisten.
a. euch
b. uns
c. dich
d. sich
2. X: Was wollt ihr zu Weihnachten bekommen?
Y: Wir ______ viele schöne Geschenke bekommen!
a. mögen
b. mochten
c. wollten
d. möchten
3. Das ist das Ende, ______ ihr alle lange gewartet habt!
a. für die
b. bis die
c. auf das
d. an das
4. Max ______ nicht, wann der Bus ankommen soll.
a. wissen
b. weißt
c. weiß
d. wisst
5. Vergessen Sie bitte nicht, ______ .
a. machen alle Lichter aus
b. alle Lichter auszumachen
c. alle Lichter ausmachen
d. auszumachen alle Lichter
6. Die Klasse hat ______ Wörter schnell gelernt.
a. alle fremden
b. allen fremden
c. alle fremde
d. allen die fremden
7. X: Wo ist das neue Einkaufszentrum?
Y: ______ Neumannstraße.
a. In der
b. Zu der
c. Von der
d. Bei
8. Im Mai ______ ich 20 Jahre alt.
a. würde
b. wird
c. werde
d. will
9. Frau Müller ______ .
a. hat seit 15 Jahren in Amerika gelebt
b. haben seit 15 Jahren in Amerika gelebt
c. lebt seit 15 Jahren in Amerika
d. ist seit 15 Jahren in Amerika gelebt
10. X: Haben Sie frische Milch?
Y: Ja, ______ ist ganz frisch.
a. es
b. sie
c. er
d. ihn
The correct answers are: (1) B, (2) A, (3) C, (4) C, (5) B, (6) A, (7) A, (8) C, (9) A, (10) B
As a context-based complement to the previous Language Usage Module, the Cloze Passage Module seeks to test learners' ability to select proper grammatical forms and vocabulary based on formal and meaning cues from context. This passage appeals to learners' ability to comprehend in detail formal, functional, and lexical aspects of language as well as to their ability to supply contextually correct and appropriate language. Although not a truly productive component, the Cloze Passage Module approximates the testing of learners' accuracy in language production as much as is possible in a multiple-choice format.
After reading the following short anecdote once from beginning to end, read it again, selecting the appropriate words from the given choices in order to complete the story.
Benzin kostet so viel. Wir müssen daran denken, wie wir 1 sparen können. Das Hauptproblem ist, dass wir einen Geländewagen fahren, und der verbraucht so viel Benzin. Wir müssen also einen Wagen mit einem 2 Motor kaufen. Ich will einen VW Jetta, der gut im 3 ist. Mein Freund denkt, wir sollten mit dem Bus und dem 4 fahren. Oder sollten wir einfach zu Fuß gehen?
1. a. Mais
b. Zucker
c. Geld
d. Zeit
2. a. kleinerer
b. kleineres
c. kleinerem
d. kleineren
3. a. Verbrauch
b. Verdacht
c. Nutzen
d. Austausch
4. a. Schiff
b. Besen
c. Wagen
d. Zug
The correct answers are: (1) C, (2) D, (3) A, (4) D
Rejoinder items aim to capture learners’ ability beyond formal accuracy. They assess learners’ understanding of what is situationally appropriate and thereby emphasize a functional and fuller definition of communication. Learners select the most appropriate response from four formally correct options. They judge the appropriateness of the four rejoinders relative to the situational criteria implied in the prompt. Criteria relate to the relationship between speakers, features of speech acts (apologies, compliments, requests, congratulations, etc.), and scripted conventions of language use in certain common and recurring speech events, such as wishing a happy birthday, ordering in a restaurant, taking one’s leave, etc.
Carefully read the following brief exchanges. Then, from the given lists, select the choice that most logically completes the exchange.
1. Was halten Sie von der bayerischen Küche?
a. Prima, sie ist groß und hell.
b. Es gibt wenige Protestanten, aber viele Katholiken!
c. Leider habe ich nichts mitgenommen.
d. Nicht schlecht, aber es gibt zu viel Fleisch und zu wenig Gemüse.
The correct answer is: (1) D
Since each institution determines its own placement procedures, it is difficult to generalize about what placements result from this test. Nonetheless, two key factors have emerged in our use of this instrument.
One of the most important factors related to placement scores is number of years studying German. Not surprisingly, students' scores on the placement test are in direct relationship to the number of German courses they took in middle and high school: the more German courses taken, the higher the placement. We have also noticed that the assumed high school/college equivalence may be somewhat different from what we expected in the past. Generally speaking, it appears that three years of high school German are roughly equivalent to one year (two semesters) of college study.
Another crucial factor that has emerged from the pilot studies conducted to develop this test is that time away from studying German appears to have detrimental consequences. Our statistics show that students who take German in the senior year of high school generally place higher than students who do not take German in their senior year, even when they both have had the same number of years of German classes overall.
These two factors support the recommendation that students spend as many years as possible in German courses and that, once begun, their study should not be interrupted until the time when they have decided that no more course work in college will be needed.
We do not advise that teachers offer special sessions, materials or practice to prepare students specifically for the placement test. Since the purpose of the placement test is to provide a realistic measure of where students should be placed to begin their study of German in college courses, it would do a disservice to students to help them inflate their scores by “teaching” them the test. This is, of course, why all actual test material is confidential.
It may be useful, however, to help students develop the skills measured on the test, as part of your regular curriculum. We hope that this placement test, along with the DPI curriculum guidelines for foreign language testing, will provide impetus toward more communicative and proficiency-based teaching.
The following suggestions are presented as ideas to use in the classroom to help students do well both on the placement test and in their subsequent college coursework.
1. Use authentic texts in class, drawn from a variety of sources such as newspapers, magazines, advertisements, short stories, and poems.
2. Tell students stories in German and work with audio and video recordings, thereby including regular and diverse listening activities in classroom instruction. Above all, conduct your class in German as much as possible.
3. Create reading and listening exercises that look beyond factual information to general understanding, analysis, synthesis and basic interpretation.
4. Encourage expansive vocabulary building through independent assignments as well as course work.
5. Maintain some focused study of grammar, but do not let it take up so much time that functional language use in reading, listening, writing and speaking is neglected.
You may have to teach less grammar, but concentrate on helping students to master it well.
6. Challenge and build students’ intellectual approach to thinking so that they question, guess intelligently, and make logical inferences and conclusions.
7. Do not let the placement test, or any other, overshadow what you know to be good, sound teaching for your students. A good test will measure knowledge and skills no matter how they are attained. We believe that this placement test is such an examination.
As already stated, the best preparation is solid work in as many German courses as possible continuing through senior year. Since all three sections are of a global nature, specific preparation beyond course work is not required. For those interested, however, here are some suggestions to help students expand their German study beyond the classroom and to maintain their language skills over the summer.
1. Read German newspapers, periodicals, and short stories of your choice for enjoyment, for general meaning, and to expand your vocabulary.
2. Listen to audio and videotape materials, guessing at general meaning and recalling as many specific details as possible. Consider the expressed attitude of all speakers, why they say what they do, and the consequences of their remarks.
3. Review your mistakes on grammar and vocabulary worksheets and tests from your past German classes, consulting your textbooks to clarify points you do not understand.
4. As for taking the test itself, be sure you are well-rested the night before and try to remain as relaxed as possible during the test. We intend that the experience be an enjoyable, yet challenging one for you. Remember that all students are not expected to answer all items correctly. Intelligent guessing will most likely help you achieve a higher score.
The two sections will continually be reviewed and analyzed to be sure the material is current and meaningfully related to the curricula in the introductory German courses around the UW System. We will also be continually adding new questions to a growing bank of questions now being written. In addition, we will be trying to develop new and different kinds of question formats so the test remains current with the best practices in language testing and also retains its usefulness for placing students into our courses. The new cloze and logical rejoinder modules are good examples of how we are constantly looking to new types of items to help us gain a more complete picture of students’preparedness to transition to college-level German. Data on how each question functions under actual testing conditions has been and will continue to be used to replace items that are no longer functioning well.
Although we subscribe to the philosophy that listening, writing and speaking are essential components to German proficiency, it is unlikely that they will become integral parts of the German Placement Test because the cost in time and money for administering and scoring such sections would be exorbitant. Also, because these components are taught and assessed in such dramatically different ways at both the high school and post-secondary levels, our research has found that listening, speaking, and writing tests do not help improve college placement. However, because these skills are vital to success in the language, UW instructors in the introductory German sequence routinely assess their students with respect to the full compliment of skills during the first week of classes, and advise their students to move up or down a course, as appropriate.