Exams and Testing

Why do we test?

• To check their level. (Diagnostic Test)

• To check their progress. (Progress Test)

• To see how they responded to the course (Summative test)

So what tests do we need at the school?

How do we make a good summative test?

Face Validity Expectations

• The test should look familiar to the student. (Don’t introduce a new type of question in the test. If they have never done a word re-order don't put it in the test.)

• The test should look like it tests what it is meant to.(A listening test should have a listening script, a writing a writing test should have freer writing)

• They should have studied it before.(If you didn’t do an exercise in the textbook, make sure it doesn't come up in the test.)

• It should cover all 4 skills.(The test should feature parts which test reading, listening and speaking.)

How do we make a good summative test?

Content Validity

• It should give them the opportunity to showwhat they know…

• Multiple choice.

• Gap fill.

• Question and Answer

• Write about ….

• Talk about….

• Write a definition

• Comprehension questions

• It should give them the opportunity to showwhat they know…

What types of questions are in a test?

Basically they fall into 2 different types…

• Discrete item testing -> There’s only one right answer

• Subjective testing -> Many different responses.Free Writing and Speaking are generally subjective.This means they need a criteria to be reliable.

• We need to make sure our tests have both types. They also need to have good answer guide so anyone can give the test.

Basically they fall into 2 different types…

Scoring System• In our school we use a 3 grade scoring system for their

grades.

• ◎　Very good

• ⚪　Pass

• △　Needs improvement

• Try to make your grading system similar to this for subjective tests.

For example: T: What drink do you like? S: I like hot chocolate. ◎

S: Hot chocolate. ⚪ S：drink…. △

Finally.

• We want to use these tests to see if the students are strong enough to go up to the next level. Last year we did this by letting them do a higher level test.

• To make this test valid, make sure that any students who take the test would be able to answer the questions. (e.g. Don’t specifically refer to characters or stories in your textbook in the questions.)

Thank you!