Comparing Rating Modes: Analysing Live, Audio, and Video Ratings of IELTS Speaking Test Performances

This mixed methods study compared IELTS examiners' scores when assessing spoken performances under live and two 'non-live' testing conditions using audio and video recordings. Six IELTS examiners assessed 36 test-takers' performances under the live, audio, and video rating conditions. Scores in the three rating modes were calibrated using the many-facet Rasch model (MFRM). For all three modes, examiners provided written justifications for their ratings, and verbal reports were also collected to gain insights into examiner perceptions towards performance under the audio and video conditions. Results showed that, for all rating criteria, audio ratings were significantly lower than live and video ratings. Examiners noticed more negative performance features under the two non-live rating conditions, compared to the live condition. However, richer information about test-taker performance in the video mode appeared to cause raters to rely less on such negative evidence than audio raters when awarding scores. Verbal report data showed that having visual information in the video-rating mode helped examiners to understand what the test-takers were saying, to comprehend better what test-takers were communicating using non-verbal means, and to understand with greater confidence the source of test-takers' hesitation, pauses, and awkwardness.

Automated summary

This study compared IELTS examiners' scores when assessing spoken performances live, through audio recordings, and video recordings. Results showed that audio ratings were significantly lower than live and video ratings, as examiners noticed more negative features under non-live conditions. Video mode provided richer information leading to less reliance on negative evidence during scoring.