Approaches in Language Testing

KHAIRANI HAPSHAH P/ 2193121018

 The essay-translation approach

Tests usually consisted of writing articles, translating, and analyzing

grammar. No special skills or experience in testing is required. But this
test also heavy in literary and cultural bias and it is referred to
pre-scientific stage of language testing.

Strength:
• Easy to follow because teacher will simply use their subjective judgement.
• May be used for testing any level of examines.
Weakness
• Subjective judgement
The structuralist approach
The structuralist approach involves structural linguistics in which the importance
of constructive analysis and the need to identify and measure the learners’
mastery of the separate elements of the target language such as phonology,
vocabulary and grammar. In testing the skills of listening, speaking, reading and
writing are separated from another as much as possible.

Strength:
• This approach may objectively and surely be used by testers.
• Many forms of tests can be covered in the test in a short time.
• This approach will help students find their strength and weaknesses in every skills they
study..
Weakness
• It tends to be a complicated job for teachers to prepare questioners using this approach.
• This approach considers measuring non integrated skills more than integrated skills.
The integrative approach
This approach involves the testing of language in context and is thus
concerned primarily with meaning and the total communicative
effect of discourse. Integrative tests are concerned with a global
view of proficiency.

Strength:
• This approach can view students proficiency with a global view.
• The approach to meaning and the total communicative effect of discourse will
be very useful for students in testing.
Weakness
• The scoring is not efficient and not reliable.
The Communicative Approach

Communicative tests are concerned primarily with how language

is used in communication. Language use is often emphasized to
the exclusion of language usage. Communicative testing results in
an attempt to get different profiles of a learner’s performance in
the language.

Strength:
• This Communicative tests are able to measure all integrated skills of students.
• The test using this approach face students in real life so it will be very useful
for them.
Weakness
• This approach doesn't emphasize learning structural grammar.
Thank you!
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