一直以来，雅思试题背后的各种故事都是考生津津乐道的话题，对于多年融入在考试文化的数十万中国考生而言，任何有关试题的内幕都是一定不可放过的异宝奇珍，无不想观之而后快。这其中，剑桥官方如何从无到有“变出”白纸黑字的雅思试题这一试卷开发流程更像是一位蒙着神秘面纱的美女，分外迷人却难睹真容。今天，笔者就带领大家走进这位“美女”——雅思试卷开发流程，揭开她身上的神秘面纱。

首先来看一张图表。

这就是今天的主题：雅思试卷开发流程。很清楚，从Commissioning of Material for Question Papers直至Live Test Release，该过程主要涉及9大基本环节，而在Pre-editing and Editing of Material以及Pretest Review两个阶段则各存在一次“检定”——通过则继续，否则弃之或推倒重来（Rejection or Revision of Material）。具体而言，雅思考题从无到有这一步步走来经过了哪些波折？接下来将为大家分别做一解读。

Commissioning of Material for Question Papers: 委托编选试题素材

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.

解读：雅思考试每年有1到2次试题素材的委托编选，材料的选择体现了雅思考试的国际性，既有来自英国、澳大利亚、新西兰及美国的专业编写人员根据考试要求完成的文章，也有从全球范围内遴选的出版物。负责人员既有对外委托的语言测试专家（他们将担任听说读写四个分项测试开发团队的负责人），也来自剑桥考试委员会自身。

Pre-editing and Editing of Material: 试题编写

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:

• topic

• topicality

• level of language

• suitability for the task

• length

• focus of text

• style of writing

• focus of task

• level of task. 

At this stage, guidance is given to item writers on revising items and altering texts for resubmission. This is seen as an important element in item writer training and advice is also offered on any rejected texts and unsuitable item types.

Following pre-editing feedback, material is completed and submitted for editing. Editing takes place at meetings involving Cambridge ESOL staff and chairs. Item writers are encouraged to participate in editing meetings dealing with their material. This is seen as another important part of their ongoing training.

At editing, texts and selected items are approved for pretesting or are sent back to a writer for further revision. Revised material is then re-edited at a subsequent meeting.

解读：雅思试题编写实际分为预编写和正式编写两个步骤。听说读写每个单项组负责人与剑桥工作人员之间首先将进行一次编辑会议，就试题素材的题材、时效性、语言难度、长度、文体等9大方面进行商讨，确定其是否适合用于试题编写；接下来，试题编写团队得到指令，正式开始题目编写及素材改编，在此期间编辑会议将不断进行。

Pretest Construction: 生成先期测试题

Pretesting: 进行先期测试

IELTS pretests are very similar to the tests that will be used in live administrations.  The tasks are in their final form including task rubrics (instructions) and examples. Listening pretests are professionally recorded to ensure that they are of acceptable quality. Listening and Reading pretests are administered to IELTS candidates at selected centres or to prospective candidates on IELTS preparation courses. The pretests are marked at Cambridge ESOL and statistically analysed. Writing and Speaking pretests are administered to representative samples of candidates to assess the appropriateness of this material for use in live tests, and to establish that the tasks are capable of eliciting an adequate sample of language to allow for the assessment of candidates against the scoring criteria.

解读：一旦编写工作初步完成，先期测试题就将生成并进行现场测试以检验试题是否达到标准。先期测试题和实际的考试用题非常相似，其中听读两个部分会在选定的考点或正参加雅思备考课程的潜在考生中进行，而说和写则通过代表性的考生样本群体来测试，为试题效果分析提供数据。