KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY -WC

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

NAME: AINOMUGISHA MERESIANO

REG NO: 2022-01-07867

COURSE UNIT: APPLIED LINGUISTICS

COURSE CODE: ENL 2201

LECTURER: MR.LUBEGA MUZAMIR

Question
1. Discuss the types of language tests and give their
advantages
What is Language Testing?

The assessment of communication proficiency is a rigorous process that requires conducting

wide categories of language testing. For the certification of communication proficiency, many
institutions have subjected their recruits to various language proficiency testing to discover the
candidate’s ability.

Here at ALTA, our language test cuts across multiple language skills, including writing, reading,
speaking, and interpreting. Book a free consultation with our language experts today to learn
how we can help meet your testing needs.

In this article, we will carefully explain everything you need to know about language testing,
including the language testing types, how to ace the speaking and writing language tests, etc.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in!

In 2010, Priscilla Allen from the University of Washington defined language testing as the
practice and study of the candidate’s ability to use languages effectively. Language testing
assesses a person’s ability to communicate in the spoken language effectively. They can also be
multiple-choice questions.

Language testing, among other things, demonstrates the abilities of the job candidate to
communicate effectively as required for a hiring process, government agencies, or in the
proposed country. In a layman’s understanding, the test measures a candidate’s ability to use a
target language in certain ways, for example, speaking and writing or in translation services.

Proficiency test

A proficiency test measures a learner's level of language. It can be compared with an

achievement test, which evaluates a learner's understanding of specific material, a diagnostic test,
which identify areas to work on, and a prognostic test, which tries to predict a learner's ability to
complete a course or take an exam. Proficiency tests are uncommon within the classroom but
very frequent as the end aim (and motivation) of language learning.

Example

IELTS and TOEFL are examples of proficiency tests.

Proficiency tests often have a significant backwash effect on the classroom, as learners' focus
narrows to preparing the test items. One way to make practice for exams more meaningful is by
asking learners to prepare their own practice questions for the group.

Language proficiency is the ability to use language in various contexts, settings, and topics.

It is to achieve real-world linguistic tasks and use them in day-to-day talk. Thus, it checks your
skills in these practical situations.

As a non-native speaker, you take the test to measure your overall language skills. So that you
can prove your knowledge and how good you are at it.

It’s beneficial to a company, a government agency, an educational establishment, or only for

yourself.

Language proficiency is the ability to use language in various contexts, settings, and topics. The
purpose of Language Proficiency tests is to determine your ability to handle a specific language
and to assess how well you know it. As a non-native speaker, you may take a language
proficiency test to measure your overall language skills so that you have documented proof of
your knowledge and how strong your skills are in the target language.

Oftentimes, people take language proficiency tests as part of their application for a job,
immigration, or to further their professional career with language-related certifications. People
who work in healthcare and other customer/patient related fields can use their scores on a
language proficiency test to bolster their job applications and appeal to the need of the employer
to have a competent foreign language communicator on staff. Furthermore, in today’s global
economy, employers are looking for candidates with the right language skills to effectively
communicate across cultural divides and to expand business operations around the world.

The Advantages of Language Proficiency Test

Acquire the right kind of language skills

You will learn the right skills to succeed in your studies when you take a focused academic
language exam.

These exams involve educational styles that use real-life language, tasks, issues, and topics.
It tells you to learn a range of practical scholarly abilities and develop real-life language
communication skills.

For example, you can develop various skills, such as

You can create long essays with a proper structure, introduction, flow, and a solid conclusion.

You can attend lectures and ask detailed questions to clear your doubts and improve your
wisdom.

You can read quickly enough to cope with the demands of an academic course.

Read books and study materials and grasp the key topics and ideas.

Give explicit opinions and presentations.

It enhances creative writing and makes you a better problem solver and a more logical thinker.

The test is open to everyone

As a language learner, you may need a degree or an official diploma for various reasons. So, you
study at a language institution to achieve your goal.

But what if you want to do self-study or learn through books, a private teacher, apps, and internet
resources?After all, not everyone can attend conventional language programs.

A linguistic competence test is a solution!

It is the most effective way to increase your work opportunities. You can also further your
education and prepare for travel, study, or life abroad.

Everyone is welcome to take these exams, regardless of their language mastery, age, profession,
or nationality.

You don’t need to enroll in a course to show your skills and expertise. It is open to non-native
speakers with no fixed or minimum requirements.

You can prepare yourself. Then, select the test dates, locate the nearest testing center, and apply.

You will receive an internationally recognized certification once you pass.

Immigration to foreign countries

Do you want to settle in a country where your mother tongue is not the primary or the first
language there?

If that is the situation, what are you required to do?

You need to study that language and then take the language exam required by the immigration
authorities. Plus, universities, private companies, and government bodies also accept such tests.

But, aside from formal conditions, there are several reasons a language test could benefit you.

Do you know TCF Canada and IELTS scores add points to PR for Canada?

Boosts your confidence and motivates you

Another advantage of the language competency test is that it boosts your self-esteem and
confidence when you pass it.

Most of you study harder before a test. Research has shown that this can enhance your language
skills. Love or hate them, but exams surely motivate us to learn and work hard towards our
dream.Compared to other language lovers who did not take the examination, this shows success.

Having such a certification is exciting because you can talk about it with your friends and even
brag about it. It is also concrete proof that you have gained a specific level of language
proficiency.

It can support you in building your personality in your profession and social transition.

Finally, without a doubt, clearing the test is a tremendous confidence and morale booster.

Finding that dream job

In today’s globalized economy, speaking a foreign language provides access to job prospects all
around the world. It can help you find that dream job with an international organization or travel
to the biggest cities in the world to work at an organization’s headquarters.

Imagine if you were looking to work for a French organization or corporation that does business
with Francophone countries. In such a scenario, your documented French-speaking skills can
help distinguish your resume and put you ahead of other applicants. However, simply stating that
you are fluent in French would not give your potential employer an objective idea of your true
language skills. Language Proficiency scores would demonstrate how qualified you are to work
in that language.

Several job positions are available with language certifications, such as teacher, tour guide,
interpreter, translator, customer support, analyst, content writer, and many more. And as the
world becomes more connected, with the right skills, you can reach more exciting jobs than ever
before.

It improves your chances to study or work overseas

Do you dream of working or studying abroad? Are you driven by once-in-a-lifetime experiences,
different cultures and traditions, and exploring the world? Having documented language
proficiency will set you on the right path to get there.

If you are looking to travel the world, you should know that most immigration applications have
a language proficiency component. The applicant is required to demonstrate that they have a
certain level of language competence in order for their application to be considered. For
example, to get an immigration visa to Canada, the higher your level of French/English language
proficiency, the better your chances are. Other countries, such as the U.S., require the TOFEL
exam, while the UK requires the IELTS.

Furthermore, in most non-English-speaking countries, you need a good command of the local
language to be able to work there. Sometimes, it is a prerequisite to study at a foreign university
or take up a profession in the ever-growing business world. If you are looking to study in Spain,
you would need to do the SIELE, DELE exam.

Language tests can be a fantastic asset to your profile if you want to study overseas. They can
also improve your chances of getting accepted to foreign colleges as you will have demonstrated
the knowledge and language skills to succeed within their curriculum.

Further advance your career

Suppose you want to work as a multilingual support specialist. Then, strive for a higher-level
score on your proficiency tests. Demonstrating your skill level puts you in a better position to
bargain for a higher salary and to seek new opportunities.

So, if you wish to advance in your career or enhance your professional credentials, consider
taking an official test in your target language. It will give your CV that edge that you may have
been missing.

It improves your career prospects

Of all the motivations to learn a new language, career progress is the most important among
learners.

In today’s globalized economy, much employment requires you to speak a foreign language.
Plus, it provides access to job prospects all across the world.

Assume you’re looking to work for French organizations or corporations that do business with
Francophone countries.

In such a scenario, your French-speaking skills can help distinguish your resume.

The French proficiency tests score can assist the company in short-listing applicants.

“What DELF or DALF level did you achieve?” an interviewer is more likely to inquire in place
of “Do you speak French?”

It results from your French diploma included in your CV. Companies no longer depend on
assumptions and guesses; instead, they focus on precise fluency levels.

If you don’t have those exam results as proof, they will be unsure whether to call you for the
interview.

Likewise, HR won’t take your language ability seriously if you mention the languages you know
on your CV without having these certificates.

Unless you have passed such tests, your language ability is unclear. Passing these tests shows
your accurate level.
Several positions are available with these certifications, like a teacher, tour guide, interpreter,
translator, customer support, analyst, content writer, to name a few.

Suppose you want to work as a language specialist. Then, strive for a higher level, like B2/C1 or
similar. It can help you make more money if you speak that language fluently.

So, if you wish to get ahead in your career or enhance your professional credentials, think about
taking the official test in your target language. It will give your CV a significant edge.

You will know your actual level

If you have been learning a language for a while, you would certainly like to verify your
knowledge. That is where these tests can help.You will know your current level of understanding
and your weaknesses. Then you can concentrate on the areas that need improvement.

Without these tests, you would not know exactly which stage you’re at and what part you need to
develop to move forward.

To do better in the next exam, you might focus and pay special attention to your deficiencies.
Then you can set goals and improve your capabilities meaningfully.

It will also motivate you to pursue other language learning goals to assist you in upcoming tests.

Provides you with a deadline to focus on

The other excellent benefit of these language tests is that they hold you accountable for reaching
the goal on time.

They only conduct most language exams a few times a year and only at specific testing centers
worldwide. So, for instance, you can sit for JLPT twice a year and only at 8 test centers in India
or the USA.

There are few seats and fixed registration deadlines and exam dates. And since registration is on
a first-come, first-served basis, seats get filled quickly.

Decide well in advance if you truly want to take the test. Also, once you sign up for the exam,
you’ll have a few months to prepare yourself for it and, hopefully, pass it.
The exam registration fee makes you even more committed by requiring you to pay. The price is
high for most tests.

Each test costs anywhere from $50-$200 or more, like TEF Canada, from $300 to $350.As a
result, you’ll be more likely to take each exam seriously and study hard so that you don’t have to
retake it and pay the fee again.

Aptitude Test

An aptitude test is an exam used to determine an individual's skill or propensity to succeed in a

given activity. Aptitude tests assume that individuals have inherent strengths and weaknesses and
have a natural inclination toward success or failure in specific areas based on their innate
characteristics.

Aptitude tests are generally used for job placement, college program entry, and to help people to
get an idea of where their interests and aptitudes can take them regarding careers.

An aptitude test is an exam used to determine an individual's skill or propensity to succeed in a

given activity. Aptitude tests assume that individuals have inherent strengths and weaknesses and
have a natural inclination toward success or failure in specific areas based on their innate
characteristics.

Aptitude tests are generally used for job placement, college program entry, and to help people to
get an idea of where their interests and aptitudes can take them regarding careers.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

An aptitude test is used to determine an individual's abilities, assessing how they are likely to
perform in an area in which they have no prior training or knowledge.

Schools use aptitude tests to determine if students are inclined toward advanced placement
classes or specific areas of study, such as engineering or a foreign language.

Human resources departments at some companies will use career assessment tests to learn about
a potential candidate's strengths and weaknesses.
An aptitude test does not test knowledge or intelligence, only a particular skill or propensity.
Therefore, it is not a test for which a person can study.

An aptitude test measures your capabilities in specific areas. One aptitude test most people hear
of in high school is the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). The ASVAB tests
general science, arithmetic reasoning and mathematics, word knowledge, reading
comprehension, mechanical comprehension, and more. The information is used to place
applicants in job positions where they will have a better chance of succeeding.

Is an IQ Test an Aptitude Test?

An IQ test tries to measure your intelligence, while an aptitude test measures your ability to
apply your intelligence.

An aptitude test is designed to assess what a person is capable of doing or to predict what a
person is able to learn or do given the right education and instruction. The goal of an aptitude test
is to predict the ability to learn new skills. It represents a person's level of competency to perform
a certain type of task.

Aptitude tests are often used to assess academic potential or career suitability and may be used to
assess either mental or physical talent in a variety of domains.

So, is an intelligence test an example of an aptitude test? Not exactly. The two tests are similar,
but distinct in what they measure.

An intelligence test measures your current cognitive skills; on the other hand, an aptitude test
measures whether you have the potential to develop skills in the future in specific areas.

Aptitude Test Examples

People encounter a variety of aptitude tests throughout their personal and professional lives,
often starting while they are children going to school.

Here are a few examples of common aptitude tests:

 A test assessing an individual's aptitude to become a fighter pilot

 A career test evaluating a person's capability to work as an air traffic controller
  An aptitude test given to high school students to determine which type of careers they
might be good at
 A computer programming test to determine how a job candidate might solve different
hypothetical problems
 A test designed to assess a person's physical abilities needed for a particular job such as a
police officer or firefighter.

Advantages of using an aptitude test

We’ve listed 7 advantages that are gained from using an aptitude test. Each of these contributes
to successful talent acquisition and building a list of qualified candidates.

Evaluate core competencies

With an aptitude test, you can see if the individual is competent and updated with the industry
trends.

One of the most important factors is that they have the job skills to complete the work at a good
standard. Another quality to look out for is that they’re someone you can rely on – someone
that’s capable of getting results.

Hire based on data

Instead of hiring someone based on the information presented on their resume, you’re making a
decision based on how they perform.

Meaning, you’re taking an objective approach by observing their skills in a working

environment.

While a resume might tell you what they’ve done or achieved in the past, it’s not the best
indicator of their true capabilities. But since you’re gathering data about them in regards to their
expertise, it means taking a more unbiased approach to hiring.

Standardized tests

Since each test is standardized, you can be assured that each result shown is valid.
That means the assessments you give depict a fair and accurate insight into their level of skill. A
natural consequence of taking an objective hiring approach like this is that it can lead to
workplace diversity and inclusion.

Recruit better quality candidates

Focus on making recruiting decisions using quality as the core principle.

What this means is focusing on quality over quantity by seeing who’s the best match for the job
position based on competence. Plus, since you’re testing a variety of applicants, it’s more
straightforward to see who’s the best fit for the role.

Increased efficiency

Over the long-term period, you’re saving a vast amount of time and money as aptitude tests can
improve the recruitment process.

Instead of several back and forths, it’s more efficient when you’re able to get the information
you need in less time. As opposed to doing several interviews or questioning, you get to see how
they approach their work.

Get insight in the candidate’s potential

Aside from seeing where each candidate is currently at, you also get an insight into their
potential by identifying their strengths and weaknesses. The advantage of this is that you can
prepare for strategies to bridge those gaps or further reinforce the necessary skills.

Identify the skills gap

Using the results, identify the skills gap in your workplace to see what needs to be prioritized.

For instance, see what training is required and how they could improve in a particular area of
work. Once you know what these are and if a candidate in the pipeline has the right
competencies for your work environment, it helps with making a hiring decision.

Aptitude tests are a way to evaluate candidates’ cognitive prowess and mental ability related to
academics, vocations, and careers.
Aptitude testing can help identify an individual’s vocational strengths and weaknesses in specific
areas, which can help them succeed in a particular job or career.

Testing can also help identify an individual’s level of intelligence, which can help them learn
more effectively and achieve their goals.

Testing can also help employers by identifying the best candidates for positions, allowing them
to make better hiring decisions.

The tests can also help employers by giving them a good idea of how much training or retraining
is needed for a particular job, so they can determine if the employee has the necessary skills for
the position.

They can also help students by allowing them to focus their studies on the areas in which they
excel.

They can also be used in conjunction with other tests, such as a verbal test, to help identify
strengths and weaknesses.

An aptitude test can also be used to find the best candidates for training programs or internships,
which can be an effective way to increase the number of qualified applicants.

Placement Tests

Placement tests, sometimes called placement exams, are tests that act as indicators of a student’s
academic abilities. Placement tests are given to students entering educational institutions to
measure their overall knowledge in various subjects before assigning the students their aptitude-
appropriate-level courses. Placement tests indicate individual scholastic readiness, specifically
for skills in English, math, and reading.

It is a test usually given to a student entering an educational institution to determine specific

knowledge or proficiency in various subjects for the purpose of assignment to appropriate
courses or classes.

The goal of a placement assessment is to establish exactly where the candidate is in their
cognitive ability. These findings are used by the facilitator to improve their facilitating and by
learners to improve their learning.
Placement tests are given across all levels of schooling. Placement tests can be implemented in
middle schools to graduate programs.

Advantages

Primed for Learning

Many schools advise students to study basic math and reading skills prior to taking a placement
test. Studying doesn't just help students raise their scores, though. It also gets them to focus on
the skills they'll be working on when they begin classes. Summer breaks tend to cause students to
lose focus on learning and forget some of the information they've learned in the previous year.
But when college students are encouraged to study for placement exams, they may re-learn
forgotten information and be better prepared for beginning college.

Proper Class Placement

Students whose classes are properly tailored to their academic needs may learn more. A student
in a class that moves too slowly is missing out on learning opportunities and may become bored
while a student in a class that's way over her head could become frustrated and overwhelmed.
Placement exams ensure that students enroll in classes that meet their academic needs and
educational skills.

Remedial Help

High school students may not come to college fully prepared, and the National Conference of
State Legislatures reports that about 34 percent of public college and university students need at
least one remedial class, while 43 percent of community college students do. Placement exams
help colleges develop remedial curricula tailored to the specific learning deficits of incoming
students and ensure that students who have knowledge gaps get the basic skills they need to
succeed in college.

Data and Tracking

Placement exams provide schools with valuable information about incoming freshmen, and the
results of these exams can influence a wide variety of decisions. A school that notices students
from a particular high school tend to have more problems might reach out to the high school or
recruit fewer students from the school. The information from these exams can also influence
course descriptions and requirements and help professors tailor their class plans. Placement
exams can also help schools track student progress. A student who begins in remedial math and
ends with a math degree has made rapid progress, and this sort of data can be helpful in
promoting the school.

Placement tests are meant to determine a student’s language skill level so that with the test
results in hand, an adviser and student can sit down and determine a course that would best suit
the student. A class below the student’s ability would not benefit their education, and a class far
above their ability could prove frustrating. The test scores help find a course that will challenge
the student without seeming impossible to understand. At least that’s the idea.

A placement test is an invaluable benefit contributing to the students’ academic success. Firstly,
it gives students a reliable standardised measurement of their language skills. Secondly, as it is
based on the CEFR, it is an accurate reflection of classroom expectations. Thus, the student can
effectively be placed in a productive learning environment. Thirdly, the placement test is in
essence a truncated certificate or proficiency test, using the same measurement system and the
same methodology.

A well-designed placement test, such as the DPT, gives the student the best opportunities for
success – in the classroom, in a proficiency exam and later in practice.

Achievement Test

An Achievement test is an assessment of developed knowledge or skill. The most common type
of achievement test is a standardized test, such as the SAT, required for college entry in the
United States. Achievement tests are developed to measure skills and knowledge learned in a
given grade level, usually through planned instruction, such as training or classroom instruction.
Achievement tests are often contrasted with aptitude tests.

Achievement test refer to assessments which scores are often used to determine the level of
instruction for which a student is prepared. High achievement scores generally indicate that a
level of mastery of grade-level material has been reached, and that the student is prepared for
advanced instruction. Conversely, low achievement scores can indicate the need for further
remediation or repeating a course grade level.
The achievement tests that most people are familiar with are the standard exams taken by every
student in school. Students are regularly expected to demonstrate their learning and proficiency
in a variety of subjects. In most cases, certain scores on these achievement tests are needed in
order to pass a class or continue on to the next grade level.

The role of achievement tests in education has become much more pronounced since the passage
of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. This legislation focused on standard-based education
which was used to measure educational goals and outcomes. While this law was later replaced by
the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act, achievement testing remains a key element in measuring
educational success and plays a role in determining school funding.

But achievement tests are not just important during the years of K-12 education and college.
They can be used to assess skills when people are trying to learn a new sport. If you were
learning dance, martial arts, or some other specialized athletic skill, an achievement test can be
important for determining your current level of ability and possible need for further training.

How do we determine what a person knows about a certain subject? Or how do we determine an
individual's level of skill in a certain area? One of the most common ways to do this is to use an
achievement test. An achievement test is designed to measure a person's level of skill,
accomplishment, or knowledge in a specific area.

The achievement tests that most people are familiar with are the standard exams taken by every
student in school. Students are regularly expected to demonstrate their learning and proficiency
in a variety of subjects. In most cases, certain scores on these achievement tests are needed in
order to pass a class or continue on to the next grade level.

The role of achievement tests in education has become much more pronounced since the passage
of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. This legislation focused on standard-based education
which was used to measure educational goals and outcomes. While this law was later replaced by
the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act, achievement testing remains a key element in measuring
educational success and plays a role in determining school funding.

But achievement tests are not just important during the years of K-12 education and college.
They can be used to assess skills when people are trying to learn a new sport. If you were
learning dance, martial arts, or some other specialized athletic skill, an achievement test can be
important for determining your current level of ability and possible need for further training.

Examples of Achievement Tests

Some more examples of achievement tests include:

A math exam covering the latest chapter in your book

A test in your social psychology class

A comprehensive final in your Spanish class

The ACT and SAT exams

A skills demonstration in your martial arts class

Each of these tests is designed to assess how much you know at a specific point in time about a
certain topic. Achievement tests are not used to determine what you are capable of; they are
designed to evaluate what you know and your level of skill at the given moment.

As you can see, achievement tests are widely used in a number of domains, both academic- and
career-related. Students face an array of achievement tests almost every day as they complete
their studies at all grade levels, from pre-K through college. Such tests allow educators and
parents to assess how their kids are doing in school, but also provide feedback to students on
their own performance.

An achievement test measures how an individual has learned over time and what the individual
has learned by analyzing his present performance. It also measures how a person understands
and masters a particular knowledge area at the present time. With this test, you can analyze just
how quick and precise an individual is in performing the tasks that they consider an
accomplishment.

An achievement test is an excellent choice to analyze and evaluate the academic performance of
an individual.

For instance, every school requires its students to show their proficiency in a variety of subjects.
In most cases, the students are expected to pass to some degree to move to the next class. An
achievement test will record and evaluate the performance of these students to determine how
well they are performing against the standard.

Advantages

They keep a fair record of student achievement and help to ensure that teachers and the school
itself are accountable to the taxpaying public who are funding their salaries and equipment. To
ensure that schools are running effectively and that students are being taught what it is agreed
that they should know, standardized tests are a useful tool.

State and local officials can look at standardized as an unbiased look at student achievement. If
all students from all districts take the same tests, state and local officials can measure their
achievement by comparing their scores. This is a superior method, it is argued, to evaluating
learning based on grades from teachers who have a personal interest in presenting good scores
and favorable reflections on their teaching. Standardized tests are used to make sure that all
students are learning the appropriate material for their grade level and class.

Achievement tests have their pros and cons. On the pro side, achievement tests allow for data to
be collected about student achievement and learning that helps to inform educators, curriculum
planners and the state officials who can help to determine the budget for a school.

Standardized testing also helps to pinpoint instructional leaders who are falling short of their
duties and whose students are performing below standards. Very often, the data gained from
standardized tests have helped to improve and ameliorate failing education systems, remove
instructors who are no longer effective in the classroom, and reshape curriculums that may have
been less than effective. In these ways, having a measure or metric of student achievement is
important and useful, particularly when instructors are teaching a large volume of students every
day, and have few opportunities to do large assessments.

Research has also shown that standardized testing has a high effect on student achievement. This
could be because teachers begin to tailor their curriculum specifically so that students perform
well on achievement tests as opposed to coming away from their learning with a real sense of the
subject matter, but regardless, the test results do point to an understanding of the presented
subject matter in a way that demonstrates effective classroom instruction.
Another argument in favor of standardized testing is that the tests are non-discriminatory because
the content evaluated on the tests has been presented to all students. This ensures that all content
given to all students is the same, and that there are not different tests given to disabled or
minority children, which helps create educational equity in our schools.

Worldwide educational research has shown that students in nations, like China, who have long
histories of standardized testing routinely perform better in reading, math and science than
students from other nations.

Accurate Performance Indicator

Used appropriately, achievement tests can provide an accurate snapshot of how well students are
performing in various subjects against a national comparison group, according to W. James
Popham, a professor emeritus and testing expert from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Parents appreciate having such information to pinpoint areas where children can do better.
Teachers also benefit from the ability to objectively measure a student's comparative strengths
and weaknesses.

Effective Venue for Change

Educational policymakers often use standardized test results in deciding how to allocate
resources. According to Popham, such funds are best used in districts whose scores suggest that
serious action is required. Examples include special funding to support staff development
activities or after-school tutorial sessions for low-performing students. Test scores can help in
rallying parents and residents to change how a school district operates.

Efficient to Administer

Standardized assessment tests remain the preferred medium for evaluating large groups of
students. All scoring is done by computer, which takes human error out of the process, while
greatly reducing the time that's needed to grade tests. The use of computers also helps local
districts track a child's academic progress as he moves through the school system.

Negative Pressures on Schools

Funding and salary improvements are frequently tied to standardized test score results. The
resulting pressure affects school districts negatively in several ways, according to the League of
Women Voters of Greater Las Cruces Education Committee. Administrators may try to rig test
scores, because schools that don't measure up suffer budget cuts. Low-performing students may
be written off and placed in classes that don't challenge them. The outcome leaves students and
teachers feeling demoralized and unmotivated.

Not All Skills are Measured Equally

No achievement test, no matter how unbiased it seems, can equally measure what children learn.
Critics like the National Education Association's president, Dennis Van Roekel, contend that
such systems lack credibility when the subject matter is tied to what teachers do in the
classroom. Additionally, the multiple choice format of such tests measures knowledge and skills,
not creativity and problem-solving.

Questions About Fairness

Although public attitudes remain broadly supportive of standardized testing as a concept,

questions persist whether the scores reflect a level playing field. For example, the gap in
achievement results between rich and poor students has swelled to around 60 percent since the
1960s, TIME magazine reports. African-Americans and Latino students also perform less well
than Asians and whites, although decades of research have not identified the reason for this.

Diagnostic tests

Diagnostic tests are used to determine a student's proficiency level in English before they begin a
course. These kinds of tests are meant to help pinpoint what students know and don’t know.
Students with similar scores in a diagnostic test will often be put together in the same class
according to language level. However, in a school where students are grouped together according
to their age, diagnostic tests can be used to help choose the appropriate coursebook and also help
the teacher to know what to teach.

So, diagnostic tests differ from other forms of assessment in two key ways. Firstly, they are
conducted at the start of a course (before any teaching has taken place on that particular course).
Secondly, the content of the test is not based on what has been taught in the preceding classes (as
often there haven’t been any). The aim of diagnostic tests is also fundamentally different as they
are often designed to encompass a wide range of levels, making it possible to give the same test
to all the students and, from the results, place them in the appropriate level.

It's essential to assess students' level of knowledge before exposing them to a new topic. For this
reason, diagnostic tests are made specifically for this. Diagnostic tests are a simple way to
determine your students' levels of understanding.

Diagnostic tests enable you to simplify your course material and teaching strategies, which is one
of its key advantages. In other words, you may modify your whole teaching to meet the unique
needs of your students. You can improve your teaching model through diagnostic tests.

A diagnostic test in education is a sort of pre-evaluation that enables the instructor to learn the
extent of the student's subject-matter knowledge. In other words, it is used to determine the
extent of a student's knowledge and to identify any potential learning gaps. They occur at the
start of a learning experience, such as the start of a unit, lesson quarter, or time period.

Diagnostic assessments are also considered “low-stake” as they are not graded and do not help in
deciding if the student should move on to the next class. However, these assessments are helpful
in knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the student regarding a specific field of study.

How does a diagnostic assessment work? For example, you have started a new mathematics
topic on quadratic equations. In that case, you can conduct a simple test to understand how much
information is already known to the student about that particular topic.

What are the Features of a Diagnostic Test in Education?

To call an assessment a “diagnostic test”, it must meet the following criteria:

A diagnostic evaluation is required to take place at the start of the new semester or lesson unit.

It needs to concentrate on comprehending a student's current knowledge base.

A diagnostic test in education must pinpoint the student's strengths and potential growth areas.

It must not be graded.

In order to measure student improvement, it should set a baseline to compare what they
understood before a class and what they learned after.

Advantages of Diagnostic test

Connecting learning outcomes to clear goals and objectives is beneficial.

Diagnostic tests offer valuable information for developing a curriculum that enhances students'
learning results.

Focusing on the material that has to be taught, it improves the effectiveness of both teaching and
learning.

Both the instructor and the pupils benefit from the fulfilling and cordial learning atmosphere it
fosters.

The test enables the educator and students to recognize issues that they have with the subject.

At the end of each chapter, the teacher conducts a diagnostic test. With the help of the diagnostic
test, the teacher can know the level of understanding of a particular chapter in children.

It also provides a way to identify the part which makes the child slow down in the learning
process and provide appropriate feedback to the child.

It helps in finding the gaps in children’s understanding and resolving their issues.

The diagnostic test doesn't give importance to the marks.

A diagnostic test is a means by which an individual profile is examined and compared against
certain norms or criteria.

The diagnostic test focuses on an individual's educational weakness or learning deficiency and
identifies the gaps in pupils.

The diagnostic test is more intensive and acts as a tool for analysis of Learning Difficulties.

Hence, we can conclude that the purpose of the diagnostic tests in language learning is to know
the gaps in learner's understanding.
REFERENCES

Bachman, L.F. (1990). Fundamental Considerations in Language Testing. Oxford, UK: Oxford
University Press.

Bachman, L.F. (2005). Building and supporting a case for test use. Language Assessment
Quarterly 2:1–34.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. A Principled Approach to

Language Assessment: Considerations for the U.S. Foreign Service Institute. Washington, DC:
The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25748.

Alderson, J. C. (2005). Diagnosing foreign language proficiency: The interface between learning
and assessment. London: Continuum.

Boylan, H. R. (1983). A review of diagnostic reading tests. Research in Developmental

Education , 1 (5), 1-6.