Penerbit PELITA INSANI Semarang

Compiled by Hartoyo, M.A., Ph.D.

Language
Assessment
Language Assessment
ii ii
Diterbitkan & dicetak oleh :
Penerbit PELITA INSANI Semarang
Bumi Wana Mukti F1 No. 5 Sambiroto, Semarang
Telp./Fax. 024-6711806, Hp: 081914518929
Email: pelitainsani_semarang@yahoo.com
Language Assessment
Hartoyo, M.A., Ph.D.
420
Lan Language Assessment
Hartoyo, M.A., Ph.D--
Semarang: Pelita Insani Semarang, 2011.
vi, 162 hlm. 21 cm.
ISBN 978-979-1365-53-6
1. Language Assessment
I. Hartoyo, M.A., Ph.D.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written
permission from the publisher.
Language Assessment
iii iii
PREFACE
Increased interest and use of English as a world language
accompanied by rapid development of technology inevitably
unearth a number of basic questons related to language
assessment, such as what is the best way to assess learners ability?,
What are the most practcal instruments available?, Are current
standardized tests of language prociency accurate and reliable?,
In an era of communicatve language teaching, do our classroom
tests measure up to standards of authentcity and meaningfulness?,
How can a teacher design tests that serve as motvatng learning
experiences rather than anxiety-provoking threats?, Where and
how does technology t in language assessment? Such questons
stmulates the need for writng this book which carefully outlines
some basic knowledge and theories, concepts, and principles of
language assessment and testng.
This introducton starts with the general concept and
objectves of language assessment. The clear deniton and
discussion about, measurement, evaluaton, assessment and
test also will be delivered. Those subjects indeed inherent,
though, students must deeply bear in their mind that they are not
synonymous. The book then addresses about types of test, how
to design language test, standardized and non standardized test,
assessing language skills and its components, evaluatng the test
and interpretng the results. In each chapter, examples are given to
beter illustrate the concept oered. Both concepts and examples
are drawn from books and journal artcles covering knowledge
and expertse from a number of English Language Assessment
experts.
This book was prepared as a reference as well as a text for
graduate students of the English Educaton Development to gain
and enrich their knowledge of language assessment.
Language Assessment
iv iv
Language Assessment
vv
Contents
PREFACE
1. Language Testng: General Concept and Objectves ...... 1
1.1 Measurement, Evaluaton, Assessment,
and Testng ............................................................. 1
1.2 Concept of Language Assessment .......................... 7
1.3 Purposes of Language Assessment ......................... 9
1.4 The Essence (Functons) of Language
Assessment ............................................................. 10
1.5 Approaches and Methods of Language
Assessment ............................................................. 11
1.6 Current Trends in Language Assessment/ test ........ 14
2. Types of Test ............................................................... 30
2.1 Based on its Method .............................................. 30
2.2 Based on its Purpose .............................................. 31
2.3 Based on the Nature of Answer .............................. 33
2.4 Alternatve in Assessment ...................................... 46
3. Designing Language Test .............................................. 55
3.1 Determining the Purpose ........................................ 55
3.2 Identfying and Determining Learning Outcomes ... 56
3.3 Formulatng Specicaton of Test ........................... 62
3.4 Some Consideratons in Constructng Tests ............ 67
3.5 Constructng the Test .............................................. 73
4. Standardized and Non-Standardized Tests ................... 76
4.1 Standardized Test and Non Standardized Test ... 76
4.1.1 Samples: TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS ..................... 80
5. Assessing Language Skills and Components ................. 88
5.1 Assessing Listening ................................................ 88
5.2 Assessing Speaking ................................................. 92
5.3 Assessing Reading ................................................... 103
Language Assessment
vi vi
5.4 Assessing Writng .................................................... 109
5.5 Assessing Language Components: Grammar,
Vocabulary, Pronunciaton ...................................... 114
6. Evaluatng the Tests ................................................... 128
6.1 Item Analysis: Discriminaton Power (DP) and
Level of Di culty (LD) ............................................. 128
6.2 Validity and Reliability ............................................. 135
7. Interpretng Test Results and Grading .......................... 151
7.1 Criterion Reference Interpretaton ...................... 151
7.2 Norm Referenced Interpretaton ......................... 155
7.3 Grading .......................................... ......................... 158
REFERENCES ....................................................................... 161