KULLIYYAH OF EDUCATION

FINAL EXAMINATION SEMESTER 2, 2019/2020

EDLE 7221
LANGUAGE TESTING

TOTAL MARKS: 100

Name:

Matriculation No:

Section:
 EDE 7221

Language Testing

Final Examination Open Book Examination

1. This is an open book examination.

2. There are 4 pages, including this one.
3. You are NOT ALLOWED to discuss the questions nor your answers with anyone else. You
must answer all questions on your own. If you are found to have discussed the questions or
answers with anyone else or copy from others, you will be subjected to disciplinary actions
by the Kulliyyah.
4. You may refer to any materials you wish. However, please provide the reference list at the
end of each question.
5. You will be given 24 hours to complete the examination. There are 7 questions altogether;
and you must answer ALL questions.
6. All answers must be written in a word file. Provide your Matric No on the first page of your
answers.
7. Submit your anwers in the google classroom folder provided in the respective goggle
classroom of this course.
8. Please read all questions carefully and make sure you understand the questions and
information given before you begin answering. Answer as clearly and be as concise as
possible.
9. You should allocate your time wisely in completing all questions within the given time.
10. All the best!
Question 1:

a) Explain the difference between formative and summative assessment, in terms of purpose
and characteristics. Which type of assessment is important to enhance and monitor student
learning? Support your answer by giving relevant examples. (10 marks)
b) Explain why a norm-referenced test/interpretation is suitable or unsuitable for the following
type of tests:
i. diagnostic test
ii. achievement test
iii. proficiency (6 marks)
(Total: 16 Marks)

Question 2:

Traditional and alternative assessment

a. Explain clearly, and with examples, how alternative assessment differs from traditional
assessment, with regard to any ONE of the four language skills. (USE THESE TERMS: paper-
based, assessment for learning, assessment of learning, subjective testing). (8 marks)
b. Describe how reading or writing skill can be assessed using alternative assessment.
(4 marks)

(Total: 12 Marks)

Question 3:

Reliability & Validity

a. Guidelines in item writing are provided to teachers in order to ensure test items are valid
and reliable. What does this mean?
(4 marks)
b. Give ONE guideline in writing subjective test items and ONE guideline in writing objective
test items that you feel are important for teachers in your school to know for the purpose of
constructing quality test questions. Explain each guideline in the context of testing reading,
writing OR listening. Provide ONE example of test item for each guideline based on actual
tests conducted in your school.
(8 marks)
(Total: 12 Marks)
Question 4:

a) Explain how holistic and analytic scoring rubrics influence the reliability and validity of raters’
scoring. (10 marks)
b) Give an example of a scoring rubric for oral proficiency that you have used in your school
and explain the validity of its use in measuring oral proficiency of your ESL learners.
(10 marks)
(Total: 20 Marks)

Question 5:

a) Explain why ‘mean’ is a more useful indicator of central tendency, compared with ‘median’
and ‘mode’? (5 marks)
b) From the table below, explain the performance of School 6 based on the relevant indicators
given? (5 marks)
c) Draw two normal distributions that can represent two of the schools below in relation to
the average performance of all schools. (5 marks)

Table 1: Student Test Performance of Six Schools as Indicated by Mean and Standard Deviation

Participants Mean
School Standard Deviation
N (min, 0, max.7)
School 1 80 4.7 2.0
School 2 85 4.0 1.6
School 3 90 4.1 1.8
School 4 75 4.5 1.6
School 5 71 4.0 2.2
School 6 101 6.3 1.4
TOTAL 502 4.6 Not given

(Total: 15 Marks)
Question 6:

The table below provides the description of two MCQ items and the respective information based on
the item analyes results. The bold option is the key to each question. Answer the questions that
follow.

Item DISTRACTOR ANALYSIS

Item Difficulty
Item Discrimation A B C D
Index
Index
2. According to
the article, in
the heat 0.22 0.29 22% 0% 54% 24%
________

3. Which of the
following is
NOT a 0.75 0.47 6% 75% 7% 12%
symptom of
Lyme disease?

a. Describe the utility of item analyses in item banking using the examples above. (3 marks)
b. Explain the difference between item 1 and item 2 above in terms of difficulty and
discrimination indices. (4 marks)
c. What can you say about the functionality of the options of both items? Explain with
reference to the distractor analysis.
(3 marks)
(Total: 10 Marks)

Question 7:

Discuss the following considerations in assessing any of the language skills or elements (grammar
and vocabulary) in achievement testing:

a. Authenticity (5 marks)
b. Practicality (5 marks)
c. Washback (5 marks)

(Total: 15 Marks)