EALT Test of Listening Overview

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Test Format	The EALT Test of Listening is an adaptive internet-mediated test of aural comprehension in the context of aeronautical communications.
Timing	40 minutes (approx)
Number of sections	A maximum of 5
Number of recordings	25
Number of responses	A maximum of 100
Text Type	The recordings used in the EALT Test of Listening range from short standard transmissions to longer communications and are a combination of simulated and authentic radio-telephone and telephone communications concerning routine and non-routine events (both emergency and non-emergency).
Task Type	The identification of factual details or information contained in the communication and the demonstration of understanding by the selection of an appropriate response from a multiple choice provided.
Task Focus	Understanding specific information and detail.
Answer format	Candidates indicate their response by the movement of an on-screen cursor and selection of a radio button corresponding to their choice of response.
Marks	Credit is awarded for each correct answer.

STRUCTURE AND TASK

Candidates are required to understand each aviation-related radio-telephone communication as a whole in both gist and detail and to demonstrate their understanding of the communication by the correct identification of specific factual information contained in the communication.

The communications are drawn randomly from a bank of recorded listening items appropriate to the candidate’s area of aviation operations. At the end of each communication, candidates will hear between two and six statements relating to that communication and intended to check the candidate’s comprehension of its meaning and content. Each comprehension check statement requires the identification of details or information that may or may not have been contained in the communication. The statements are delivered as part of the recordings heard by the candidates. The statements are heard at the conclusion of the communication to which they refer after a pause of 5 seconds. The statements are not presented to the candidate in written form at any time.

The single task type is the indication of comprehension by the identification of factual details and specific information contained in the communications. Candidates indicate their comprehension by means of a three-option multi-choice.

In relation to the communication to which they refer, the comprehension check statements require the candidates to indicate whether the details and/or information contained are:

wholly correct according to the communication (candidates select the AFFIRM option)

wholly or partly incorrect according to the communication (candidates select the NEGATIVE option)

not contained in the communication (candidates select the NOT STATED option)

After a comprehension check statement has been heard, candidates have 5 seconds to indicate their response to it by their selection of a radio button. After the 5 seconds has lapsed, the next statement is heard. Candidates are able to review and alter any or all of their responses until 5 seconds after the final statement has been heard. A candidate’s failure to indicate a response is seen as an indication of non-comprehension.

The comprehension check statements are presented in the same order as the information is presented in the communication.

The communications and statements are played ONCE only unless a candidate selects the SAY AGAIN option. Candidates may select the SAY AGAIN option at any time while the recording is playing and its selection will cause that recording (communication and comprehension check statements) to be played again in its entirety. The selection of the SAY AGAIN button also voids any responses the candidate may have entered in relation to that recording.

Candidates are not penalised per se for selecting the SAY AGAIN option, but each time the option is selected and a recording is repeated, the total number of different recordings the candidate will hear is reduced by one.

Dependent on an individual candidate’s performance, that candidate may be presented with up to a maximum of five sections. Each consecutive section exposes the candidates to communications of increased linguistic complexity and requires the candidates to respond to an increasing number of comprehension check statements. The recordings and statements in each of the different sections assess the candidate’s aural comprehension at a specific level in accordance with the ICAO Language Proficiency Rating Scale allowing the assessment of comprehension to be made across the six levels of the Scale (Pre-Elementary Level 1– Expert Level 6).