Examining the predictive validity of the Duolingo English Test: Evidence from a major UK university

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the university admissions and proficiency testing landscape. One change has been the meteoric rise in use of the fully automated Duolingo English Test (DET) for university entrance purposes, offering test-takers a cheaper, shorter, accessible alternative. This rapid response study is the first to investigate the predictive value of DET test scores in relation to university students' academic attainment, taking into account students' degree level, academic discipline, and nationality. We also compared DET test-takers' academic performance with that of students admitted using traditional proficiency tests. Credit-weighted first-year academic grades of 1881 DET test-takers (1389 postgraduate, 492 undergraduate) enrolled at a large, research-intensive London university in Autumn 2020 were positively associated with DET Overall scores for postgraduate students (adj. r = .195) but not undergraduate students (adj. r = −.112). This result was mirrored in correlational patterns for students admitted through IELTS (n = 2651) and TOEFL iBT (n = 436), contributing to criterion-related validity evidence. Students admitted with DET enjoyed lower academic success than the IELTS and TOEFL iBT test-takers, although sample characteristics may have shaped this finding. We discuss implications for establishing cut scores and harnessing test-takers' academic language development through pre-sessional and in-sessional support. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Language Testing is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Travel Prepared and Travel Well: Advice for New (and Experienced) Admissions Professionals

While some of these staff members travel to unfamiliar locations, even the most experienced travelers can benefit from shifting their thinking based on changing environments, such as civil unrest, crime, and weather. [...]it is vital for travelers to always be cognizant of their personal safety. Never accept a room if the check-in clerk calls out your name or room number. ♦ Do not get into an elevator if you do not feel safe. ♦ Check your cell phone coverage before traveling. According to the Centers for Disease Center and Prevention (CDC), road traffic crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States for people aged one-54, and they are the leading cause of non-natural death for u.s. citizens residing or traveling abroad

HODNOCENÍ BAKALÁŘSKÝCH PRACÍ JAKO PŘIJÍMACÍ KRITÉRIUM DO NAVAZUJÍCÍHO MAGISTERSKÉHO STUDIA: PSYCHOMETRICKÁ KAZUISTIKA

V roce 2020 epidemie covid-19 znemožnila konání přijímací zkoušky do navazujícího magisterského studia psychologie na Masarykově univerzitě formou běžného písemného znalostního testu. Zvolili jsme proto náhradní formu v podobě hodnocení bakalářských prací. Tento článek je „psychometrickou kazuistikou", která dokumentuje celý postup od tvorby hodnotících kritérií s ohledem na obsahovou validitu přes volbu designu až po výsledky. Každou práci hodnotili dva náhodně vylosování hodnotitelé, jejichž „přísnost" byla vyvážena využitím logistického lineárního testového modelu (LLTM) v rámci paradigmatu teorie odpovědi na položku (IRT). Výsledkem byl jednodimenzionální skór, férově vyvážený napříč dvěma přijímacími termíny (n1 = 82, n2 = 48) a 18 hodnotiteli. Jeho rehabilita, rxx, = 0,869, byla srovnatelná s písemnými testy v jiných letech. Přísnost hodnotitelů a obtížnost kritérií se nelišily napříč oběma termíny, výsledné hodnocení se zdá být validním ukazatelem a srovnatelně férové s písemným testem. Navržená procedura tak může posloužit jiným pracovištím a k jiným účelům, než je jen přijímací test;z těchto důvodů sdílíme analytický skript a veškeré materiály nezbytné pro replikaci celé procedury.Alternate :The COVID-19 pandemic influenced admissions testing for the master's degree program of psychology at Masaryk University in 2020. The administration of the standard paper-and-pencil knowledge test was not possible;therefore, we chose the bachelor's thesis ratings instead. This paper is a psychometrical case study that covers the development of criteria related to content validity, design selection, and results. Two randomly selected raters evaluated each thesis, and we equated their severity using a linear logistic test model (LLTM) under the item response theory (IRT) paradigm. This procedure resulted in unidimensional and unbiased scores equated across 18 judges and 2 terms (n1 = 82, n2 = 48). The reliability was comparable to the standard tests, rxx, = 0.869, and judge severity and criteria difficulty did not differ across them. The resulting ratings seem to be valid and no less fair than the written exam. The proposed method can serve other departments and other goals, not only as an entrance test. We share an analytical script and all the necessary materials to enhance the use of this method.

THE IMPACT OF TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS ON STUDENT DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN INDIA

COVID-19 drove universities throughout the world forcing Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to go online or virtual. Admissions advertising and student recruitment were two of the sectors that were severely hit. Internet-based advertising has to entirely replace the old advertising environment. Although certain institutions were still able to conduct virtual tours, forums, and information sessions, the amount of involvement differed among colleges and universities. An exploratory study was conducted to investigate how effective Internet advertisements were in influencing students' admission decisions. During the academic year, 2020-21 at several institutions in India's western region, data were collected using the snowball sampling approach on 930 freshly enrolled students. The findings show that the efficacy of Internet ads for university admission is negatively correlated with the student's age group. Surprisingly, the study discovered that both rural and urban students were equally interested in online ads, and that family background had no impact on receptiveness to internet advertisements. © 2021 The authors. All right reserved.

Why a Consideration of Race is Important to Medical School Admissions.

The tremendous toll that COVID-19 has taken on this country's minority population is the most recent reminder of the health disparities between people of color and people who classify themselves as white. There are many reasons for these disparities, but one that gets less attention than it deserves is the lack of physicians of color available to treat patients of color.