一直以來，雅思試題背后的各種故事都是考生津津樂道的話題，對于多年浸淫考試文化的數(shù)十萬中國考生而言，任何有關(guān)試題的內(nèi)幕都是絕對不可放過的異寶奇珍，無不想觀之而后快。這其中，劍橋官方如何從無到有“變出”白紙黑字的雅思試題這一試卷開發(fā)流程更像是一位蒙著神秘面紗的美女，分外迷人卻難睹真容。今天，筆者就帶領(lǐng)大家走進這位“美女”——雅思試卷開發(fā)流程，揭開她身上的神秘面紗。

首先來看一張圖表。

這就是今天的主題：雅思試卷開發(fā)流程。很清楚，從Commissioning of Material for Question Papers直至Live Test Release，該過程主要涉及9大基本環(huán)節(jié)，而在Pre-editing and Editing of Material以及Pretest Review兩個階段則各存在一次“檢定”——通過則繼續(xù)，否則棄之或推倒重來（Rejection or Revision of Material）。具體而言，雅思考題從無到有這一步步走來經(jīng)過了哪些波折？接下來就為大家分別做一解讀。

Commissioning of Material for Question Papers: 委托編選試題素材

There are one or two commissions each year for each of our item writing teams. These feed material into the question paper production process. To reflect the international nature of IELTS, test material is written by trained groups of item writers in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the USA and is drawn from publications sourced anywhere in the world. Overall test content is the responsibility of both externally commissioned language testing professionals – the chairs for each of the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking sub-tests – and of Cambridge ESOL staff.

Item writers work from test specifications. These specifications detail the characteristics of the IELTS sub-tests, outline the requirements for commissions and guide writers in how to approach the item writing process including selecting appropriate material; developing suitable items and submitting material for pre-editing and editing.

解讀：雅思考試每年有1到2次試題素材的委托編選，材料的選擇體現(xiàn)了雅思考試的國際性，既有來自英國、澳大利亞、新西蘭及美國的專業(yè)編寫人員根據(jù)考試要求完成的文章，也有從全球范圍內(nèi)遴選的出版物。負責人員既有對外委托的語言測試專家（他們將擔任聽說讀寫四個分項測試開發(fā)團隊的負責人），也來自劍橋考試委員會自身。

Pre-editing and Editing of Material: 試題編寫

Pre-editing is the first stage of the editing process and takes place when commissioned materials are initially submitted in draft form by item writers. A meeting is held involving chairs and Cambridge ESOL staff to review the material.

The purpose of pre-editing is to ensure that test material is appropriate in terms of: