Assessing Listening

Start with listening types

The mind map titled Assessing listening outlines intensive, responsive, extensive and selective listening. Use it as a starting point for distinguishing the types. As you study, make a short note of what each type asks a listener to do, then return to the map to check your description.

Another map on assessing listening looks at the mental process of listening, including recognizing speech sounds and holding a temporary impression of them. Read it alongside the map on listening types to compare the process of listening with the ways it can be assessed.

Compare assessment approaches

The note on approaches to assessing listening introduces the discrete point approach and the idea of identifying and isolating elements of language. Compare that perspective with Authentic Listening Tasks, a mind map that discusses features such as communication and interaction in listening tests.

A further mind map on authentic assessment in the listening comprehension classroom presents a study overview and theoretical background. These resources offer different starting points for thinking about what a listening assessment might ask learners to do.

Connect listening with other skills

Assessing skills considers the relationship between language skills and the assessment of those skills. Another map on Assessing Listening discusses the connection between listening and speaking and the use of multiple measures. A map on assessment principles also asks teachers to consider more than a single performance.

These connections place the topic within Language Assessment and Testing, a unit in Education and pedagogy (incl. teaching methods, curriculum, educational psychology). Use the maps to trace how listening assessment relates to assessing language skills more broadly.

Check your understanding

This collection has no quizzes, but you can write practice questions from a mind map. Ask yourself how the listening types differ or why a map suggests considering multiple performances. Answer from memory, then return to the relevant branches and add anything you missed.

Choose a map to explore and use it to make your own practice questions.