Reading? How to read a test? What to look in the test? Things to take note of regarding tests.

1. READING A
TEST
By: Levin Medina

2. Tests Validity

3. Listening and Reading’s
Key Element

4. 1. The instructions of each part of the test must be simple, clear and
straightforward.
2. The wording must not be complicated so that the test taker is unable to
complete a task/item not because of lack of ability, but because of not
understanding what he/she is supposed to do.
3. On the other hand, instructions should not give away the right answer in
advance because of over explanation or exemplification
Important Points and
Considerations

5. 4. It is also crucial that the test be carefully reviewed and check by more
than one teacher before it is administered.
- A colleague might see flaws in the test that the test-writer might have
not noticed.
5. This does not only help ascertain validity but also reliability.
6. Typos and other mistakes in instructions or stems might affect
students’ performance
Important Points and
Considerations

6. 1. Deciding the appropriate weight might depend on the difficulty of the
task/items of each part or on the overall importance of the objectives
assessed in each part.
2. Each skill should have at least a part to represent it and each of these
parts should have equal weighting.
3. For each part there should be enough items or a task or set of tasks
that are representative of the skill/component
Important Points and
Considerations

7. 4. It is recommended that there is some relationship among the parts.
- For instance, the reading and the listening parts might be based on
two texts ( an oral and a written one) about the same topic.
- The writing component might imply the test-taker to write about that
very topic.
Important Points and
Considerations

9. 1. Many procedures and techniques employed in assessing reading can
be and have been adapted to assess listening as well.
- However, the cognitive demand has to be taken into account.
2. Others tasks that assess listening involve note-taking and dictation.
3. Other techniques that aim at testing or assessing speaking also include
a listening component ( such as role-plays, open dialogues and
interviews.
Procedures and Techniques
Employed

10. 4. Scoring scales for such tasks should include a scale or parameter
for assessing comprehension since it is vital for the learner to
produce a correct answer.
Important Points and
Considerations