Computer-based Assessment (CBA) of Foreign Language Speaking Skills

This paper presents results from investigations into the effect of allowing examinee autonomy in a computerized test of oral proficiency. It begins with a description of the computerized assessment, the Computerized Oral Proficiency Instrument (COPI), as operationalized in Spanish and Arabic. It then presents results from research on allowing examinee autonomy in the assessment. The talk will present the results to these investigations. Overall, examinee attitudes were very positive towards the choices that the COPI provided them and that, though preparation time and response time varied by proficiency level and complexity of the task on the COPI, students felt that the assessment format allowed them the opportunity to provide a demonstration of their current proficiency levels. Overall proficiency ratings on both test formats (COPI and SOPI) were comparable across languages. Investigating examinee autonomy