Online Language Testing and Assessment in the Pandemic: Opinions from Test Administrators and Examiners

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted foreign language education in general and assessment practices in particular. Many changes have been implemented regarding the mode of language testing and assessment when conventional face-to-face examinations cannot be applied. One radical change is the emergence and acceptance of online at-home assessments. The University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University (VNU-ULIS), has followed this trend with numerous online testing and assessment activities during the 2021-2022 period. These activities assess learners' language learning progress and proficiency via different tests. To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of online testing and assessment during the period, the researchers surveyed more than one hundred test administrators and examiners on their opinions and experiences in virtual exams. The participants shared valuable information on their experiences with the online system and their beliefs on the advantages and drawbacks of online at-home assessments. As a result, the research project can develop and later expand its sample as well as utilize other data collection methods to gain multi-dimensional information.