Summary

The website titled ‘Reading for UMAC admission examination’ has been designed to facilitate the development of five readings skills essential for intermediate to upper- intermediate (CEFR level B1 to B2) Form-6 students in Macao SAR to tackle reading comprehension questions in the UMAC English admission exam. Whilst reading instruction in regular school programmes usually fails to provide effective skills training for the target learners to succeed in the exam, this set of web-based materials could better address their needs. The levels of reading comprehension theory is adopted as the underlying learning theory for the materials. Theoretical underpinnings of using CALL to foster reading ability and applying certain principles to design webpages have been reviewed. Advantages in using CALL for the materials include individualisation, flexibility, immediate feedback and stronger learning motivation; disadvantages and limitations are limited artificial intelligence of computer, insufficient feedback, limited interactivity and other imperfections of Hot Potatoes materials...