STANDARDIZED TESTING

What is Standardization?
A standardized test presupposes certain standard objectives, or criteria, that are held constant
across one form of the test to another.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Standardized Tests
Advantages of standardized testing include, foremost, a ready-made previously validated
product that frees the teacher from having to spend hours creating a test.
Disadvantages center largely on the inappropriate use of such tests, for example, using an
overall proficiency test as an achievement test simply because of the convenience of the
standardization.
Developing a Standardized Test
How are standardized tests developed? The first is a test of general language ability or
proficiency. The second is a placement test at a university. And the third is a gate-keeping
essay test that all prospective students must pass in order to take graduate-level courses.
There are patterns for evaluating and developing a classroom test :
1. Determine the purpose and objective of the test
2. Design test specifications
3. Design, select, and arrange test tasks/items
4. Make appropriate evaluations of different kinds of items
5. Specify scoring procedures and reporting formats
6. Perform ongoing construct validation studies
Standardized Language Proficiency Testing
Tests of language proficiency presuppose a comprehensive definition of the specific
competencies that comprise overall language ability. The specifications for the TOEFL
provided an illustration of an operational definition of ability for assessment purposes.
Four Standardized Language Proficiency Tests
Four commercially produced standardized tests of English language proficiency are described
briefly in the section : the TOEFL, the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery
(MELAB), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and the Test of
English for International Communication (TOEIC).