The document discusses the limitations of the English Inicia Test given to newly qualified teachers in Chile. It notes that the test only consists of 60 multiple choice questions, which assessment experts say only test factual knowledge, not the utilization of knowledge in teaching practice as outlined in 8 of the 10 teaching standards. As a result, test results cannot validly strengthen teacher education programs or support new teachers, and policies based on the test will be unfair and not improve education quality.

1. English INICIA Test, what does this test test?!
TESOL Symposium, August 2014!
The technical characteristics of the current English Inicia Test are too
restrictive to serve the purpose it was created for. The Ministry of Education
bid and the Quality Enhancement Program for Initial Teacher Education (DS,
96, 2009) state that this test serve as a diagnostic assessment of knowledge
and skill as referred to in the Initial Teacher Education Standards. Test results
are to be used for strengthening university teacher education programs as
well as initiation of newly qualified teachers’ work life. !
Now, if we have a look at the referenced Standards, we notice that in 8 out of
10 standards, knowledge serves as a platform that leads to effective teaching
practice; their central component is then the utilization of knowledge.!
If, on the other hand, we go to the specifications of the test in the Ministry’s
bid, we immediately notice that the test consists of 60 multiple choice items
with 4 alternatives.!
When we go to the literature and find what experts in assessment claims
about this kind of test items, we realize alternative questions, being reliable
and practical, have serious limitations to assess anything beyond factual
knowledge. Their upmost capability is assessment of higher cognitive skills.
Alternative questions cannot assess what is central to most of the Standards:
utilization of knowledge for effective teaching practice.!

2. The technical characteristics of the current English Inicia Test are too
restrictive to serve the purpose it was created for. What consequences will
this fact have? Information obtained from this test cannot be minimally valid in
order to strengthen teacher education programs or initiation of newly qualified
teachers’ work life. Furthermore, any educational policies emerging from
Inicia Test results will be extremely unfair and will not help the educational
system gain that quality we all long for.!
Pablo Silva Ríos, M.A.!
Facultad de Educación!
Universidad Alberto Hurtado