The EmSAT English Exam: Past, Present, and Future

Professional Trainer: Paul Jaquith

Thursday, 7 March 2019 - From 09:00pm to 12:00pm
01:00pm to 04:00pm (repeated)

Course Description

In the last few years, the EmSAT exams have become a prominent part of the fabric of the education system of the UAE. For grade-12 students seeking admission into federal tertiary institutions it has become a rite of passage as a required part of their application process into the UAE’s top universities, UAEU, HCT, ZU, Khalifa University, and increasingly many other institutions in the UAE. Required subject exams for all students are Arabic, Mathematics, Physics, and English, with the addition of Chemistry for advanced students. Institutions use the scores on these exams to place students directly into degree programs, to pre-screen them for STEM-related areas, and in many cases for placement into the foundation year. For all intents and purposes, the EmSAT English exam has replaced the IELTS as the English-language exam of choice in the UAE. Students in grades 4, 6, 8 and 10 also take EmSAT exams during their school year, and the country’s leadership and decision makers in education pay careful attention to school performance. The aim of the course is to provide participants with a detailed understanding of the history of the EmSAT English Exam, its structure, how it is scored, future directions and how organizations and agencies might prepare their students for the exam.

Course Aim

This workshop will focus specifically on the EmSAT English Exam. It will provide participants with an understanding of the history of the exam, how it originated, how it has developed to its current state, and a glimpse into prospective future directions. Participants will learn about the different sections and item types, the computer-based interface, and how the writing is scored and integrated into the final score. We will also look at the CEFR, how the EmSAT maps up to the descriptors, and how the incredible scholarship of the English Profile Project has informed English language test development.

Anticipated Outcomes

Participants will gain an understanding of the
1. History of the exam, how it originated, how it has developed to its current state, and a glimpse into prospective future directions.
2. Different sections and item types of the exam, and of the computer-based interface.
3. Writing section, how it is scored and integrated into the final score.
4. Common European Frame of Reference (CEFR) and how it has revolutionized English language teaching and testing
5. EmSAT English tests map up to the CEFR descriptors
6. English Profile Project and how it can inform English language test development.