What is Pretesting?

What is pretesting?

As part of our commitment to quality, we pretest all materials before they are used in live examinations. Pretesting ensures that each item in a live examination is at the right level and that the content is appropriate and fair, regardless of the candidate’s background, first language or gender. 

The data produced by pretesting is analysed in detail so that live exams are constructed with the assurance they are equivalent in difficulty and content, regardless which version the candidate takes. Pretesting ensures there are no questions likely to test anything but a candidate's language ability.

Depending on the exam, pretesting is now available in both digital and paper-based formats.

Benefits of pretesting

Pretesting is an essential part of the exam development process for Cambridge, but it also brings benefits to the students, schools and centres that take part.

• Pretesting is free. All costs of the test materials, including despatch of paper-based materials, are paid for by Cambridge. 
• It gives students the opportunity to practise taking an exam using real questions under exam conditions. This helps them to build their confidence in taking the exam, and to understand the format, whether digital or paper-based. This familiarisation with the exam process can make candidates feel more relaxed and better prepared when they do their live exams. 
• Students who take pretests receive results that help them and their teachers to understand which areas they need more practice in, and whether they are ready to take the live exam. 
• After taking the pretests, candidates and teachers have an opportunity to provide feedback that can influence the design and content of the exams. 
• Centres taking part in pretesting can practise exam administration under exam conditions. They can also develop their knowledge of assessment issues and show that they are committed to excellence by being an active part of Cambridge's world-renowned programme of research.
• Digital pretesting brings all the same benefits as paper-based, but it is faster and more efficient with no papers to manage, and it gives candidates the experience of taking the digital exams. For Cambridge English Qualifications Digital, centres use the same version of the Inspera Integrity Browser (IIB) as for the live exams, so there is no additional set-up, and pretests are an opportunity for centre staff to familiarise themselves with digital administration.

The pretesting process

A pretest is constructed of a number of tasks in the same format as the live exam or one which is very similar. 

Each pretest is taken by groups of students who are preparing to take the live exam in the next few months. In general, a sample of at least 100 students with a variety of first languages and backgrounds takes each pretest.

Once the pretest has been marked, statistical analyses are produced, and the tests are reviewed to see what level of difficulty each item has so we can ensure that the tasks are at the right level for the relevant exam. We also review feedback from candidates and teachers to ensure the items are fair to all. 

Items that aren’t working as expected may be amended, rewritten and then pretested again, or they may be rejected. 

How to get started

Centres that would like to participate in pretesting must register to become a pretesting centre by completing an online form. If you are unsure if you are already registered as a pretesting centre, please contact pretesting@cambridgeenglish.org.

Exam centres will be automatically approved for pretesting when the form is processed. If you are a preparation centre or school, we will approach a referee to endorse your application and agree that your school/institution/venue meets the security requirements as indicated below. The application form indicates a list of suitable contacts for the referee.

To offer digital pretesting you must have eligibility for the digital exams.  If not, the Centre Exams Manager must first complete the relevant onboarding course on Totara before submitting the exam authorisation form. The same technical specifications apply for devices for Cambridge English Qualifications Digital and Cambridge English Qualifications Digital for young learners pretests as for the live exams.

Security 

When applying to become a pretesting centre, you are agreeing to comply with the requirements of Cambridge's Pretesting Security Policy:

• All pretest materials are confidential. Photocopying of paper-based pretest materials is strictly forbidden.​
• All paper-based pretest materials must be checked on arrival and returned to Cambridge at the end of the session. Any unused materials must be securely destroyed at your centre. The Declaration of Security on the return envelope must be signed to confirm this.
• Paper-based pretest materials must be kept in secure storage areas (a locked safe or a locked room).
• The despatch of paper-based pretest materials back to Cambridge must be secure, using the provided My DHL+ account.
• Pretest institution staff are not permitted to open question papers in advance, or to discuss or go over the test with students before, during or after the test.
• The Instructions to Invigilators and Administrators give guidance on administering the pretests, which should be conducted as much as possible like a live examination.
• Any breach of this pretesting security policy must be notified immediately to Cambridge.

How to request pretests

Once you are registered as a Pretesting centre, please view the Pretesting calendar where you will see which exams are available when and key dates. Pretests for some exams are available “on demand”, subject to availability. For digital Cambridge English Qualifications exams, sessions can be booked up to one week in advance of the session window, which runs from 00:00 on Monday to 23:59 on Sunday (UK time). For Cambridge English Qualifications Digital, centres can choose which of the available components they wish to do. For on demand paper-based exams, allow at least four weeks’ notice to give time to despatch the materials. Other exams are available in session windows, which has a set deadline for requesting pretests – more information can be found in the Pretesting calendar. 

You can request pretests using the below forms:

Pretest Paper Request Form – Paper Based Cambridge English Qualifications, TKT, YL and MLA

Cambridge English Qualifications Digital Pretest Request Form

Cambridge English Qualifications Digital for young learners Expression of Interest Form

Available exams

We provide pretesting for a wide range of exams, including:

• Cambridge English Qualifications - Digital and paper-based
  • A2 Key/Key for Schools – Reading and Listening
  • B1 Preliminary/Preliminary for Schools – Reading and Listening
  • B2 First/First for Schools – Reading/Use of English and Listening
  • C1 Advanced – Reading, Use of English, Listening and Writing
  • C2 Proficiency – Reading, Use of English and Listening

Writing pretests are only available for C1 Advanced. For the other exams, we recommend Write & Improve is used to practise for the exam. 

• Cambridge English Qualifications Digital for young learners 
  • Pre A1 Starters Digital
  • A1 Movers Digital
  • A2 Flyers Digital (in trialling)

• Paper-Based Young Learners Tests
  • Pre A1 Starters
  • A1 Movers
  • A2 Flyers

• Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT)
  • TKT Module 1
  • TKT Module 2
  • TKT Module 3
  • TKT: YL (Young Learners)
  • TKT: CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning)

• IELTS
  • IELTS Academic
  • IELTS General Training 
• Michigan Language Assessment (MLA)
  • ECCE Writing
  • ECPE Writing
  • MET Writing