Principles of language assessment

1. NRC: 18234
University of the Armed Forces ESPE
Degree in National and Foreign Languages Pedagogy
Level
Subject : EVALUATION AND EVALUATION
Topic: Principles of language assessment
Student: Lourdes Magdalena Moreno Agama
Quito, 2023

2. • Principles of language assessment refer to
fundamental guidelines governing the design,
implementation, and evaluation of language testing.
• These principles emphasize fairness, validity,
reliability, and practicality. Fairness ensures
impartiality and equity for diverse test takers.
• Validity ensures that a test measures what it
intends to assess. Reliability ensures consistent
and dependable results.
• Practicality ensures that assessments are feasible
within resource constraints.
• Together, these principles guide the ethical and
effective development of language assessments.
DEFINITION

3. Practicality
Reliability
Washback effect
Authenticity Validity
Principles of language assessment

4. Practicality
Brown and Douglas
• Administrative process
• Evaluating an instrument
The main qualities of a practical test:
• It does not exceed budget limits
• Is completed in the time allotted
• It has clear instructions
• It uses human and material resources
appropriately
• addressing cost
• time
• results.
Assessment involves
objectives, exceeding time, resource limits, or lacking
coherence.
Impractical tests hinder

5. Reliability Concerns consistency in test results over time.
Learner-Related reliability
Inter-rater reliability
Test administration reliability
Test reliability
Test-taker factors impact results.
Consistent agreement among scorers.
Exam conditions affect reliability. Examples include photocopy quality,
lighting, noise, temperature, and furniture quality.
Reliability hinges on minimizing errors.

6. Validity
• Ensures a test measures what it intends
• A writing test should assess writing, maintaining
alignment for accuracy. CONTENT-RELATED VALIDITY
CRITERION-RELATED VALIDITY
CONSTRUCT-RELATED VALIDITY
TYPES
Ensures a test measures important
sections of the subject.
Validity is the agreement between a
measure and an external standard.
Ensures a test measures the
intended educational content
accurately.

7. Authenticity
• Authentic assessments mirror real-world situations for
practical application of knowledge.
• Grant Wiggins emphasizes authenticity in
assignments for real-life relevance.
• Authentic evaluations involve problem-solving
exercises, requiring justification of responses.
• Authentic tasks differ from traditional assessments,
linked to the real world.
• Teachers invest time planning and assessing
authentic assignments.
CHARACTERISTICS

8. Washback effect • Educators align teaching with exam
expectations for better results.
• Washback influences teaching practices, shaping
instruction towards exam content.
• Teachers adjust methods to mirror summative
assessments, impacting classroom strategies.
1.Test Influences Teaching Practices:
Exam impacts teaching methods.
2.Alignment with Summative Evaluation:
Teaching mirrors final assessment.
3.Washback Enhances Learning Preparation:
Test influence aids student readiness.
4.Beneficial Feedback for Improvement:
Early feedback fosters language development.
5.Advance Test Format Knowledge:
Learners benefit from format awareness.
CHARACTERISTICS
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