Diagnostic Materials - Tower Hamlets College

An East London Pathfinder Project

At Tower Hamlets College, we decided to produce our own diagnostic assessment activity packs for use at each level Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1+. These were piloted in term 3 2003/04 and the revised versions are available on these pages. Other providers are welcome to download these materials for use in their own institutions.

Each pack has been designed as followsed as follows:

At Entry 1, to be used with learners in groups of 3

At Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1, Listening, Reading & Writing skills are assessed as whole group activities; Speaking skills are assessed with learners in groups of 3

There are differentiated assessment tasks

The component skills for each assessment activity have been clearly identified

Component skills have been clustered in the assessment pack to enable the tutor to get an easy overview of learners' strengths and areas for development within each of the component skills included

The marking scheme gives guidance on how to mark and record the outcome for each diagnostic pack

ESOL Diagnostic assessment - general guidelines

Diagnostic assessment should take place towards the beginning of a course as part of the induction process. For new learners, this can be delivered as a 3 hour short course. It provides important information about the strengths and areas for development within each skill for the group as a whole. These inform the Scheme of Work and Learning Goals for that particular group. In addition, and equally as important, it highlights particular areas for individual development which can then be discussed, agreed and recorded as Personal Learning Goals on learners' ILPs.

Each diagnostic assessment pack includes the following:

Activities to assess learners' skills in speaking, listening, reading & writing

A sound file

Record sheets

Tutor guidelines

At Entry 1 and Entry 3, there is an additional differentiated reading task.


IMPORTANT:
Please read the guidelines for each diagnostic assessment pack. It is very important that this process does not feel like an exam or test for learners. Each element of the assessment needs to be carefully introduced and the context for the activity clearly set. If initial assessment shows that a learner is a beginner reader and writer, the current E2, E3 or L1 packs are not appropriate. A different version of each pack is being produced to respond to needs of beginner readers & writers.

Materials are available for the levels below. Use the links and download the files for the levels you require.

Entry 1 Diagnostic Materials pack
Entry 2 Diagnostic Materials pack
Entry 3 Diagnostic Materials pack
Level 1 Diagnostic Materials pack