In the field of international education, accurately assessing students' English language proficiency is of vital importance for teaching guidance and student development. 

The WIDA test, as a widely applied evaluation system, is playing a key role. It can not only measure students' English proficiency, but also assess their ability 

to use English in the learning of various subjects, providing a strong basis for personalized teaching.

I. What is WIDA testing

WIDA, which stands for World-class Instructional Design and Assessment, is a joint assessment system developed by 20 states in the United States. 

It is designed for non-native English speakers in American primary and secondary schools to evaluate their language proficiency. 

Today, WIDA is used in over 300 international schools in more than 80 countries around the world, including Beijing Haijia International Bilingual School, 

Beijing Canadian International School, as well as BES International School in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, 

Nanjing and other places, and newly established private schools like Hangzhou Renmin University High School.

Ii. Forms of WIDA Testing

For international schools, the WIDA Education Alliance offers two forms of examinations:

1. WIDA Selection Examination (WIDA Screener) : It is conducted in written form.

2. WIDA Model Online Test: It is an online examination.

The contents of the two forms of examinations are the same, but there are some differences in their positioning.

Iii. Contents and Time Arrangement of WIDA Test

The WIDA test comprehensively examines students' listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, with a total duration of 105 minutes.

1. Reading: No more than 25 minutes. The reading content includes academic scenarios such as language arts, mathematics,

 science and social sciences, etc. Students are required to master the subject vocabulary needed for attending classes

 in international schools and accurately position their academic English comprehension level.

2. Listening: No more than 30 minutes, also covering academic scene content.

3. Oral: The answering time should not exceed 15 minutes.

4. Writing: The answering time should not exceed 30 minutes.

Iv. Characteristics of WIDA Testing

1. Based on standards: The examination content and marking criteria of the WIDA Education Alliance in the United States are all based on the

 WIDA English Development Standards, and the examination results truly and objectively reflect the English proficiency of the candidates.

2. Comprehensive assessment: Students are evaluated in four areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. During the comprehensive assessment, 

seven scores are provided, including individual scores in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as comprehensive 

scores in speaking, reading, and writing, providing a strong reference for admission to international schools.

3. Flexibility: It has a difficulty grading system, which can flexibly adapt to students' English proficiency, 

achieve individualized assessment, and help students fully demonstrate their abilities in the exam.

V. WIDA Test Score Report

The WIDA test report presents students' various achievements in detail:

1. Individual subject scores: Provide scores for listening, speaking, reading and writing.

2. Comprehensive score: It includes three comprehensive scores: listening and speaking (50% listening + 50% speaking),

 reading and writing (50% reading + 50% writing), and the total score (30% listening and speaking + 70% reading and writing).

3. Form of Grades: Each grade has two forms: Scale Score (the score range is 100-600, rounded to the nearest whole number) and Proficiency

 Level (6 points, with a total of 6 levels). For example, students may reach Level 2 in writing; Oral English is relatively weak, with an average 

Level of Level 1 in listening and speaking. Reading and listening are close to the Level of Level 2, while reading and writing are at the level of Level 2.

 The overall assessment is at a slightly weaker Level close to Level 2. Through the transcript, one can predict a student's learning situation

 after entering an international school, such as possible problems they may encounter in classroom listening, 

speaking, writing and reading, providing directions for improvement in subsequent studies.

Vi. Comparison with Other Tests

1. Comparison with MAP:

- Similarities: Both belong to adaptive subject examinations. Scores are given on the spot after the examination. 

The reports have strong timeliness. Both belong to the type of formative assessment and can effectively feed back to teaching.

The difference is that MAP is more powerful in data observation and can even predict students' future ACT test scores through data models.

2. Comparison with TOEFL and TOEFL Junior:

- Differences: TOEFL and TOEFL Junior are standardized English proficiency tests, non-adaptive, and the results will be available one week later.

 They belong to diagnostic assessment. WIDA belongs to formative assessment. Besides measuring English proficiency, it also measures 

the application ability of English in four aspects: Chinese, mathematics, science and society, with a greater emphasis on learning subject knowledge through English.

The WIDA test, with its comprehensiveness, flexibility and focus on subject-based English proficiency, 

has become an important tool for English assessment in international schools, providing valuable guidance for students' learning and growth.