TESTING
TYPES OF TESTS
· PROGRESS TESTS – to find out how well the students have mastered the language areas and
skills which have just been taught; they look back at what SS have achieved
They asses what students have been taught and what students are familiar with.
· DIAGNOSTIC TESTS – helps to check Ss’s special weaknesses and problems they may have encountered
· PLACEMENT TESTS – enables us to sort Ss into groups according to their ability at the beginning of a course
· PROFICIENCY TESTS – is used to measure how suitable candidates will be for performing a certain tasks or following a specific course, e.g.: to study at universities
CRITERIA OF GOOD TESTS
RELIABLE – a test should measure precisely whatever it is supposed to measure: the test
taken on two occasions must result the same
VALID – a test should measure whatever it is supposed to measure and nothing else;
e.g.: it must measure ability to write in English but, not an interest in a topic
PRACTICAL – a test should be easy to score and administer
TYPES OF TEST ITEMS
DIRECT TEST ITEMS – when they ask students to perform the communicative skill which is
being tested
INDIRECT TEST ITEMS - when they try to measure SS’s knowledge and ability by getting
at what lies beneath their receptive and productive skills
1. multiple –choice
2. matching (i)
3. gap-filling (b)
4. completition/
a) the option form (C)
b) the inflection form (E)
c) free-response form(G)
5. true/false
6. cloze test (d)
7. error recognition (j)
8. re-ordering / re-arrangement (h)
9. copying
10. broken sentences (f)
11. dictation
12. transformation (a)
13. open questions
14. free writing
Examples of test items:
a) Do you know what the time is, John?' asked Dave.Dave asked John __________ (what) _______________ it was.
b) Check the exchange ______________ to see how much your money is worth.
c) He _________________________ a lot of money last year. (does/did)
d) This is the kind _____ test where a word _____ omitted from a passage every so often. The candidate must _____ the gaps, usually the first two lines are without gaps.
e) He __________________________ now. (sing)
f) Thanks /lot /your letter
g) If I were a rich man, _____________________________________________________ .
h) very / I / you / much / love /
i) good boring
bad interesting
j) I very love you.
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