Testing and revising

Which of the following activities can be deemed to be testing? If so what do they

test?

a. Dictation – spelling and listening skills, grammar and vocabulary

b. Gap-fill task – depends on the purpose of the task, also spelling
c. Reading or Listening comprehension tasks – reading and listening
d. Writing homework – writing skills, spelling, grammar and vocabulary
e. Exercises requiring students to re-write sentences in a different way using a
given word – spelling, grammar, vocabulary
f. Pairwork comparison of answers before class feedback – speaking and
listening skills
g. Class feedback – speaking and listening skills
h. Multiple choice questions on vocabulary learnt - vocabulary
i. Matching exercises on pronunciation - pronunciation

Discuss the following questions in pairs:

1. What is the purpose of the end of term exam? To assess whether students
are ready to progress to the next level
2. How do you know if your students are ready for the exam? Their portfolio
of work done, progress tests, homework completed, classroom
performance
What do you do to help them? Get them to re-write their writing
homework with corrections completed
What else can be done to help them prepare? revision
3. Do you have students who would not benefit from taking the exam – if so
why not? New students may be demoralized if not ready
Students whose aims of study is solely to improve on a particular skill – eg
speaking/conversation or pronunciation