Errors in the tests

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

There are a couple of things that could use some repair in the "Retail Sales Phrases" test:

http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic26475.html#how_not_to_greet_a_customer
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic26474.html#odd_use_of_will

In addition, the words 'used to' are not separated in question 7 of the same test. While you're fixing that, you might also want to consider using more the more typical word order "should NOT be used" in the question (instead of "should be NOT used"):
- Which of the following phrases should NOT be used to say that a product is not available at the moment?
.

[Torsten]

Hi Amy,

Many thanks for that. I've made the changes and they'll go online with the next update.
Regards,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

This may be a little more difficult to repair than a typo in a text, but the MP3 audio version of question 1 in this test uses one of the wrong choices:
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic3349.html#96162

The correct choice is 'reporter' and the written version also has 'reporter' as the correct choice. However the audio version of that test sentence uses the word 'introducer' (which is one of the incorrect choices).
.

[Yankee]

Hi Slava, Torsten, Alan, MM (or whoever is currently repairing the tests)

This test seems to have a typo:
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic962.html
.

[Mister Micawber]

.
I can't get to that one, Yankee, but I'm sure Torsten or Slava can.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Alan]

Hi,

It's probably because it's one of my tests - I think I'll wait for my old mate Slava to sort it out when he returns from Russia as he well knows I'm not the world's greatest at using the editing tool!

A
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story New year resolutions

[Yankee]

.
It looks like Slava is going to have his work cut out for him when he gets back what with all the new spam "member" registrations.

If there is anything I can do to help Slava with that, just let me know.
.

[Alan]

Hi,

If you could kindly remind him about the dodgy members, I'd be most grateful - just in case I have a senior moment and forget.

Thanks again

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story A funny thing happened...

[Torsten]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick note to let you know I've changed the expression to "at the last minute" and the new version will appear online next week.

Many thanks for your great support,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Torsten]

[Torsten]

[Yankee]

This test needs some repair:
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic1890.html#100445
My suggestion would be to change the option with 'dumb' to something that would be universally incorrect, or to give both 'stupid' and 'dumb' as correct answers.

Simply deleting comments doesn't fix the test.
.

[Torsten]

Your comments are here. We only delete spam or completely inappropriate messages.
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

I see. Well, it's lucky I posted in the original thread again, then, isn't it? Otherwise test-takers might have continued to get very limited information (amounting to misinformation, in my view) about the usage of those two words. How have you decided to actually correct the test?
.

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

Have I now provided you with enough information to convince you that that test needs repair?

When there is a difference in usage between two major forms of English (BE and AmE), I feel that removing all of the information about American usage from a test-thread, and leaving only information about British usage there is the equivalent of purposely misleading and misinforming ESLers.

I simply cannot comprehend why there must sometimes be such massive resistance to simple corrections in the tests -- corrections which will be beneficial to learners.
.