BS English Literature Notes. w.w.w.bseln.

com
Lecture by Uffaq Zahra
YouTube Channel URL (https://www.youtube.com/c/BsEnglishliteraturenotes) For More Notes.

Testing and Evaluation Module in English

Test and Testing according to Language?

WHAT IS A TEST?

• A set of written or spoken questions used for finding out how much someone knows about a
topic (Macmillian Dictionary).
• A procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something,
especially before it is taken into widespread use.
• take measures to check the quality, performance, or reliability of (something), especially
before putting it into widespread use or practice.

Tests have many purposes.

• To assess a student’s understanding of a given topic within a subject and identify what they
have learned.
• To evaluate a student’s progress in a subject within a given period of time.
• To assess a student’s strength and weaknesses for focus, assistance or individual instruction.
• To determine who will receive awards, recognition and scholarships.

What is Testing?

• Testing Assesses What Students Have Learned

• This information may help the teacher create small groups or to use differentiated
instructional strategies. Educators can also use tests as teaching tools, especially if a student
did not understand the questions or directions.

Types of Tests

• Proficiency Tests
• Achievement Tests
• Diagnostic Tests
• Placement Tests
• Subjective Test
• Objective Test
• Aptitude Test
• Internal Test
• External Test
• Combination Test

Proficiency tests

• Proficiency tests are designed to measure people’s ability in a language regardless of any
training they may had in that language.
• Measure general ability in a language
BS English Literature Notes. w.w.w.bseln.com
Lecture by Uffaq Zahra
YouTube Channel URL (https://www.youtube.com/c/BsEnglishliteraturenotes) For More Notes.

• Regardless of previous training

• These tests check learner levels in relation to general standards. They provide a broad
picture of knowledge and ability. In English language learning, examples are the TOEFL and
IELTS exams, which are mandatory for foreign-language speakers seeking admission to
English-speaking universities. In addition, the TOEIC (Test of English for International
Communication) checks students’ knowledge of Business English, as a prerequisite for
employment.
• “Proficiency tests measure people’s ability in a language, regardless of any training they may
have had in that language.” Hughes, A. (2003)  Content: base on a specification of what
candidates have to be able to do in the language in order to be considered proficient (having
sufficient command of the language for a purpose)  E.g. test for a United Nations translator,
test for a course of study in a British university, test of arts, test of sciences

Achievement tests

• Measure how successful students are in achieving objectives of a lesson/course/curriculum

• Closely related to the content of a particular lesson/course/ curriculum
• Syllabus content approach OR course objectives approach?

2 Types of Achievement test

• Final achievement tests / progress achievement tests (formative assessment)

Progress (short term)/Achievement Test:

• It is designed to measure students’ language and their skill progress in relation to the
syllabus they have been following. This type is directly related to language courses and done
during the course.

Final Progress (long term)/Achievement Test:

• Students do this test at the end of the course to measure students’ achievement of the
course objectives or goals.

Purposes:

Measure how successful individual students, groups of students, or the course themselves have
been in achieving objectives

Diagnostic tests

• It is used to discover student problems, difficulties or deficiencies in a course. We use this

type of tests to know students’ strengths and weaknesses so as to be able to do something
about them.
• These tests are used o diagnose how much you know and what you know. They can help a
teacher know what needs to be reviewed or reinforced in class. They also enable the student
to identify areas of weakness.
• Identify students’ strengths and weaknesses
• To benefit future instruction
• Difficult to construct.

Purposes:
BS English Literature Notes. w.w.w.bseln.com
Lecture by Uffaq Zahra
YouTube Channel URL (https://www.youtube.com/c/BsEnglishliteraturenotes) For More Notes.

• identify learners’ strengths and weaknesses

• ascertain what learning still needs to take place
 Listening Speaking Reading Writing Grammar

Placement tests

 These tests are used to place students in the appropriate class or level. For example, in
language schools, placement tests are used to check a student’s language level through
grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing, and speaking questions. After
establishing the student’s level, the student is placed in the appropriate class to suit his/her
needs.
 It is used to place new students in the right class in a school. It assesses students’ productive
and receptive skills and designed to show how good a student is in English in relation to a
previously agreed system of levels.
 To assign students to classes/programs appropriate to their level of proficiency.
 Define characteristics of each level of proficiency
 Used to assign students to classes at different levels
 No one placement test will work for every institution
 The most successful one is those constructed for particular situations.

Aptitude Test:

Teachers design this test to discover whether a student has a talent or basic ability for learning a
new language or not.

Internal Tests

Internal tests are those given by the institution where the learner is taking the course. They are
often given at the end of a course in the form of a final exam.

External Tests

External tests are those given by an outside body. Examples are the TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, SAT, ACT,
LSAT, GRE and GMAT. The exams themselves are the basis for admission to university, job
recruitment, or promotion.

Objective Tests

Objective tests are those that have clear right or wrong answers. Multiple-choice tests fall into this
group. Students have to select a pre-determined correct answer from three or four possibilities.

Subjective Tests
BS English Literature Notes. w.w.w.bseln.com
Lecture by Uffaq Zahra
YouTube Channel URL (https://www.youtube.com/c/BsEnglishliteraturenotes) For More Notes.

Subjective tests require the marker or examiner to make a subjective judgment regarding the marks
deserved. Examples are essay questions and oral interviews. For such tests, it is especially important
that both examiner and student are aware of the grading criteria in order to increase their validity.

Combination Tests

Many tests are a combination of objective and subjective styles. For example, on the TOEFL iBT, the
Test of English as a Foreign Language, the reading and listening sections are objective, and the
writing and speaking sections are subjective.

Thank You for Watching!!!

Dos Share with Your Class Friends.

Subscribe for More.