A language test is defined as a procedure to gather evidence of language abilities through tasks designed to provide a basis for predicting real world language use. Language tests serve several purposes: as gateways for education and employment, to help teachers and administrators make placement decisions, and to allow researchers to measure language proficiency. Tests also provide a common standard to allow comparisons across students, helping students learn from preparation and feedback, and helping teachers understand what students know and don't know so they can improve instruction.

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Topic 1: Purpose of Language Test
(Hughes, 2003, Chapter 1; McNamara, Chapter 1;
Tomlison, 2005, pp. 39-46)
Hoa Nguyen

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1. What is a language test?
• A language test is “a procedure for
gathering evidence of general or specific
language abilities from performance on
tasks designed to provide a basis for
predictions about an individual’s use of
those abilities in real world contexts”
(McNamara, p. 11).

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2. Purpose of a language test
– Gateways at important transitional moment in
people’s lives (education, employment, migration)
– Teachers and administrators using information from
tests to make decision on the placement of students
on particular courses.
– Researchers of language study use test (existing or
one’s own designed) to measure language proficiency
of participants in the study.
– The need for a common yardstick to make
comparisons: a test.

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3. Using language testing to learn
• 3.1 Students
• - Learn from teachers and by themselves
while preparing for the tests
• - Learn from the constructive feedback
they receive during and after the test

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3. Using language testing to learn (cont.)
• 3.2 Teachers and test designers
- what sts know and what they don’t know
- what sts can do and what they can’t do
- what sts need to learn
- what should be done to help sts
- what sts can do and know in comparison
with other sts

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Analysing concepts of a test

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Analysing concepts of a test

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Analysing concepts of a test

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Questions for discussion
1. What are purposes of a language test in
Vietnamese education?
2. Are these purposes always clear to those
involved in the test?
3. What are problems and possible
solutions to this issue?