A Learning Environment for English for Academic Purposes Based on Adaptive Tests and Task-Based Systems

This paper introduces the environment CALEAP-Web that integrates adaptive testing into a task-based environment in the domain of English for Academic Purposes. It is aimed at assisting graduate students for the proficiency English test, which requires them to be knowledgeable of the conventions of scientific texts. Both testing and learning systems comprise four modules dealing with different aspects of Instrumental English. These modules were based on writing tools for scientific writing. In CALEAP-Web, the students are assessed on an individual basis and are guided through appropriate learning tasks to minimize their deficiencies, in an iterative process until the students perform satisfactorily in the tests. An analysis was made of the item exposure in the adaptive testing, which is crucial to ensure high-quality assessment. Though conceived for a particular domain, the rationale and the tools may be extended to other domains.