Web Enhanced Language Testing System (WELTS) launched

The WELL Project has created an online language testing system to enable participating institutions to create unique, secure tests for their students. The system gives students immediate feedback on exercises and gives tutors a record of results for whatever tests they want to see. 8 universities have collaborated on question production. For the start of the autumn semester there will be around 10,000 questions in the database in French, German, Italian, Spanish, ESOL, Portuguese, and Dutch.

How does it work?

There is a central database of cloze and multiple-choice questions from which each institution creates its own tests, determining, for example:

• number of questions
• when the test is accessible to students li>
• type of feedback
• whether the exercise is formative or summative in nature

Some questions use graphics or audio files.

How complicated is it?

Ease of use is one of the main features of this system. When you log on, the system recognises whether you are a student, a tutor or an administrator, and shows you only the relevant options.

Is it secure?

Yes. Confidentiality of results is guaranteed. The only people who have access to student results in a specific institution are the nominees of that institution. It is not possible for anyone to access the results of other institutions.

I want to use the system. What do I do next?

You can try the system at http://www.well.ac.uk/languageExercises/. If you want to use it fully, the "entry ticket" for any UK HE institution is the submission of a set of 100 questions on an agreed topic in a given language. Then any users in your institution can access all resources in all languages. Contact William Haworth to discuss this - william@well.ac.uk - 0151 231 3835

(Original press release issued 2/7/00)