This document discusses child-friendly placement testing. It aims to help teachers understand different types of assessment and provide a positive testing experience for students. Placement tests are given at the start of a course to properly place students at their level, which allows teachers to better plan lessons, differentiate instruction, and personalize learning for a mixed-ability classroom. A good placement test for young learners should be child-friendly, include visuals and variety, feel familiar and achievable, and provide meaningful scores to influence both teaching and learning.
2. Aims of the session
• to understand the pedagogical background
• to understand different types of assessment
• to help teachers provide a positive testing experience
• to show how placement testing will help target teaching
3.
4. What is the first word that
comes into your head when
you think of assessment?
Activity
6. Why do we test our students?
• to monitor and aid progress
• to assess level against a norm
• to compare students within a group
• to provide evidence of progress and increase motivation
• to monitor our performance and plan future work
• to provide information for parents, colleagues, authorities etc.
7. Types of assessment tools
When?
A. Start of course
B. During the course
C. End of course
Proficiency
Test
8. Types of assessment tools
When?
A. Start of course
B. During the course
C. End of course
Placement
Test
9. Types of assessment tools
When?
A. Start of course
B. During the course
C. End of course
Progress
Test
10. Types of assessment tools
Hands up if you agree:
You do a Diagnostic Test at the
end of a course.
11. Types of assessment tools
Hands up if you agree:
You do Mini quizzes at regular
intervals during a course.
12. Types of tests
Placement:
Progress:
Proficiency:
When?
Prior to study
Different stages
throughout
course
End of study
Why?
Place student in a
class; choose materials
Measure learning of
specific content
Measure overall
language level (e.g.
CEFR)
What?
Sample of
language skills
and knowledge
Syllabus-related
areas
All four skills
Diagnostic:
Different stages
throughout
course
Find out strengths
and weaknesses
Syllabus-related
areas / skills
13. Testing timeline
COURSE OF STUDY
End of course
Proficiency
During
course
Mini-
quiz
During
course
Mini-
quiz
During
course
Mini-
quiz
Diagnostic
During
course
Progress
Diagnostic Diagnostic
During
course
Progress
During
course
Progress
DiagnosticStart of course
Placement
14. We placement test our students …
• to monitor and aid progress
• to assess level against a norm
• to compare students within a group
• to provide evidence of progress and increase motivation
• to monitor our performance and plan future work
• to provide information for parents, colleagues, authorities etc.
15. What do you need to test
for placement testing?
Language Use
Listening
Reading
Writing & Speaking
16. What to test for placement testing
• Language Use
• Listening
17. A0
PLACEMENT TEST
MIXED ABILITY CLASS
• Better planning
• Personalised learning
• Better outcomes
More than just streaming
A1 A2 B1
18. A good young learner
placement test should …
A. Have visuals
B. Be achievable
C. Be fun
D. Have variety
19. A good young learner placement test should …
• be child-friendly
• have visuals
• have a context
• have variety
• be familiar
• be achievable
• be fun
• have a meaningful score
