New Horizons

Abstract

This paper examines the proposed changes for the oral component of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) paper for 1996 and outlines several areas of potential weakness. It argues that several elements of the paper are inappropriate in that little or no accurate evaluation of the candidate's true ability in oral production is likely to take place, either because of the effects of the evaluation instrument on the students or because of the design of the instrument itself. It goes on to indicate how possible attempts by the examination to encourage a more "Target-Oriented" washback effect are likely to fail.

Finally, a system of regular, intra-school assessments is detailed and justified as a possible method of overcoming many of the weaknesses of the proposed HKCE examination and of genuinely fostering the principles of a "Target-Oriented Curriculum" (TOC).

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