Supervised By:
Dr. Hind AL-Fadda
Kinds of tests and testing
        Arthur Hughes
Testing plays a crucial role in teaching and learning
English.The effect of testing on teaching and learning is
 known as backwash, and can be harmful or beneficial.
What is a test?
What is a test?
  A test or exam is an assessment
intended to measure a test-taker's
knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical
 fitness, or classification in many
     other topics (e.g., beliefs).
What is a test?
  A test or exam is an assessment
intended to measure a test-taker's
knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical
 fitness, or classification in many
     other topics (e.g., beliefs).
Testing is not the only way in which information about
people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one
                  form of assessment.
Testing is not the only way in which information about
people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one
                  form of assessment.

                     Assessment
Testing is not the only way in which information about
people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one
                  form of assessment.

                     Assessment
Testing is not the only way in which information about
people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one
                  form of assessment.

                     Assessment
Testing is not the only way in which information about
people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one
                  form of assessment.

                       Assessment



   is used it to check the
progress of students, to see
how far they have mastered
   what they should have
 learned, and then use this
 information to modify the
   future teaching plans.
Testing is not the only way in which information about
people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one
                  form of assessment.

                       Assessment



   is used it to check the        is used at the end of
progress of students, to see    term, semester, or year
how far they have mastered        in order to measure
   what they should have        what has been achieved
 learned, and then use this         by groups and by
 information to modify the             individuals.
   future teaching plans.
Test or testing system should:
Test or testing system should:

   consistently provide accurate
    measures of precisely the
      abilities in which we
          are interested.
Test or testing system should:

   consistently provide accurate
    measures of precisely the
      abilities in which we
          are interested.


       have a beneficial effect on teaching.
Test or testing system should:

   consistently provide accurate
    measures of precisely the
      abilities in which we
          are interested.


       have a beneficial effect on teaching.

          be economical in terms of time and
                     money.
The Purposes of Testing
The Purposes of Testing




To measure language proficiency.
The Purposes of Testing




       To measure language proficiency.

To discover how successful students have been in
  achieving the objectives of a course of study.
The Purposes of Testing




        To measure language proficiency.

 To discover how successful students have been in
   achieving the objectives of a course of study.
To diagnose students’ strengths and weaknesses, to
identify what they know and what they don’t know.
The Purposes of Testing




          To measure language proficiency.

  To discover how successful students have been in
    achieving the objectives of a course of study.
To diagnose students’ strengths and weaknesses, to
identify what they know and what they don’t know.

To assist placement of students by identifying the stage
   or part of a teaching program most appropriate to
                      their ability.
Assessment “Rumors”
Assessment “Rumors”
Rumor: Assessment is all about test-giving.
Assessment “Rumors”
Rumor: Assessment is all about test-giving.
Truth: Test-giving is only one of many ways to
  assess learning (e.g: discussions, drawing
    sketches to illustrate, and role-plays).
Assessment “Rumors”
Rumor: Assessment is all about test-giving.
Truth: Test-giving is only one of many ways to
  assess learning (e.g: discussions, drawing
    sketches to illustrate, and role-plays).

Rumor: Assessment is about finding weaknesses.
Assessment “Rumors”
Rumor: Assessment is all about test-giving.
Truth: Test-giving is only one of many ways to
  assess learning (e.g: discussions, drawing
    sketches to illustrate, and role-plays).

Rumor: Assessment is about finding weaknesses.
Truth: Assessment can be used also to accentuate
               student positives.
Assessment “Rumors”
Rumor: Assessment is all about test-giving.
Truth: Test-giving is only one of many ways to
  assess learning (e.g: discussions, drawing
    sketches to illustrate, and role-plays).

Rumor: Assessment is about finding weaknesses.
Truth: Assessment can be used also to accentuate
               student positives.

Rumor: Assessment is only for the teacher.
Assessment “Rumors”
Rumor: Assessment is all about test-giving.
Truth: Test-giving is only one of many ways to
  assess learning (e.g: discussions, drawing
    sketches to illustrate, and role-plays).

Rumor: Assessment is about finding weaknesses.
Truth: Assessment can be used also to accentuate
               student positives.

Rumor: Assessment is only for the teacher.
 Truth: Assessment can be used to teach
        students how to succeed.
Assessment “Rumors”
Assessment “Rumors”
Rumor: Assessment is an end in itself.
Assessment “Rumors”
Rumor: Assessment is an end in itself.
Truth: Assessment is not an end in itself, but
    the beginning of better instruction.
Assessment “Rumors”
Rumor: Assessment is an end in itself.
Truth: Assessment is not an end in itself, but
    the beginning of better instruction.


Rumor: Assessment is separate from curriculum.
Assessment “Rumors”
Rumor: Assessment is an end in itself.
Truth: Assessment is not an end in itself, but
    the beginning of better instruction.


Rumor: Assessment is separate from curriculum.

Truth: Assessment is part of the curriculum
design process and both of them are closely
          tied to learning goals .
Kinds of tests
Kinds of tests
Kinds of tests
Proficiency Test
Achievement Test
Diagnostic Test
Placement Test
Proficiency Tests
Proficiency Tests

    They are designed to measure people’s ability in
language, regardless of any training they may have had in
                     that language.
Achievement
   Tests
Achievement
   Tests

  They are directly related to language courses.
Achievement
   Tests

  They are directly related to language courses.
Achievement Tests
Achievement Tests
Achievement Tests

    Final       Progress
Achievement   Achievement
   Tests          Tests
Final Achievement Tests
Final Achievement Tests

* They are administered at the end of a course of a
                       study.
 * They may be written by ministries of education,
    official examining boards, or by members of
                teaching institutions.
* It should be based on syllabus content approach.
Final Achievement Tests

* They are administered at the end of a course of a
                       study.
 * They may be written by ministries of education,
    official examining boards, or by members of
                teaching institutions.
* It should be based on syllabus content approach.

 * Disadvantage:If the syllabus is badly designed, or
the books and other materials are badly chosen, the
         results of a test can be misleading.
Progress Achievement Tests
Progress Achievement Tests

* They are intended to measure the progress that
               students are making.
  * These tests should relate to objectives, since
  progress is towards the achievement of course
                    objectives.
Progress Achievement Tests

 * They are intended to measure the progress that
                students are making.
   * These tests should relate to objectives, since
   progress is towards the achievement of course
                     objectives.

       In addition to more formal
  achievement tests, teachers should
feel free to set their own pop quizzes.
Diagnostic
       Tests

   * They are used to identify learners’ strengths and
                       weaknesses.
* They are intended primarily to ascertain what learning
                still needs to take place.
Placement Tests
Placement Tests
* They are intended to provide information that will help
   students at the stage of the teaching program most
              appropriate to their abilities.
 * They are used to assign students to classes at different
                          levels.
Activity - 1
Direct   Indirect
Testing   Testing
Direct                Indirect
        Testing                Testing
*It requires the candidate
 to perform precisely the
    skill that we wish to
           measure.
 * It is easier to carry out
  when it is intended to
 measure the productive
   skills of speaking and
            writing.
Direct                Indirect
        Testing                Testing
*It requires the candidate
 to perform precisely the       *It attempts to
    skill that we wish to        measure the
           measure.              abilities that
 * It is easier to carry out     underline the
  when it is intended to        skills in which
 measure the productive              we are
   skills of speaking and         interested .
            writing.
Direct testing has a number
       of attractions:
Direct testing has a number
             of attractions:
 First: It is relatively straightforward to create the conditions
      which will elicit the behavior on which to base our
                              judgements.

   Secondly: The assessment and interpretation of students’
  performance is also quite straightforward, especially in the
                 case of the productive skills.

Thirdly: Since practice for the test involves practice of the skills
Direct testing has a number
             of attractions:
 First: It is relatively straightforward to create the conditions
      which will elicit the behavior on which to base our
                              judgements.

   Secondly: The assessment and interpretation of students’
  performance is also quite straightforward, especially in the
                 case of the productive skills.

Thirdly: Since practice for the test involves practice of the skills


Semi-direct Testing where candidates for example respond to
   tape-recorded stimuli, with their own responses being
                  recorded and later scored.
Discrete
           Integrative
 point
             Testing
Testing
Discrete
                 Integrative
     point
                   Testing
    Testing


Testing of one
 element at a
time, item by
     item.
Discrete
                  Integrative
     point
                    Testing
    Testing


Testing of one    It requires the
 element at a     candidates to
time, item by    combine many
     item.           language
                 elements in the
                 completion of a
                        task.
Discrete
                  Integrative
     point
                    Testing
    Testing


Testing of one    It requires the
 element at a     candidates to
time, item by    combine many
     item.           language
                 elements in the
                 completion of a
                        task.
Discrete
                                  Integrative
          point
                                    Testing
         Testing


    Testing of one                 It requires the
     element at a                  candidates to
    time, item by                 combine many
         item.                        language
                                  elements in the
*Discrete point tests   indirect. completion of a
  *Integrative tests    direct.          task.
Norm-       Criterion-
referenced   referenced
  Testing      Testing
Norm-                 Criterion-
      referenced             referenced
        Testing                Testing

It relates one candidate’s
  performance to that of
     other candidates.
Norm-                        Criterion-
      referenced                    referenced
        Testing                       Testing

It relates one candidate’s   Tests are designed to know
  performance to that of     what he can actually do in
     other candidates.              the language.
Objective   Subjective
 Testing     Testing
Objective    Subjective
          Testing      Testing


* If no judgement
is required on the
part of the scorer.

* Example: short
   answers for
  questions in
reading passage.
Objective    Subjective
          Testing      Testing


* If no judgement       * If judgement is
is required on the      required on the
part of the scorer.         part of the
                               scorer.
* Example: short
                          * Example:
   answers for
                          scoring of a
  questions in
reading passage.         composition.
Computer Adaptive Testing
Computer Adaptive Testing
Computer Adaptive Testing
Communicative
Language Testing
Communicative
Language Testing
Activity - 2
References

Al-Mutawa, Najat and Taiseer Al-Kailani (1989). Methods of
Teaching English to Arab Students. Longman, London

Hughes, A. (2003). Testing for language teachers. University
Press, Cambridge.

Tomlinson, C. (2008). Learning to Love Assessment.
 Informative Assessment, 65(4), 8-13.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_(assessment)

Testing

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Kinds of testsand testing Arthur Hughes
  • 3.
    Testing plays acrucial role in teaching and learning English.The effect of testing on teaching and learning is known as backwash, and can be harmful or beneficial.
  • 4.
    What is atest?
  • 5.
    What is atest? A test or exam is an assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics (e.g., beliefs).
  • 6.
    What is atest? A test or exam is an assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics (e.g., beliefs).
  • 7.
    Testing is notthe only way in which information about people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one form of assessment.
  • 8.
    Testing is notthe only way in which information about people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one form of assessment. Assessment
  • 9.
    Testing is notthe only way in which information about people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one form of assessment. Assessment
  • 10.
    Testing is notthe only way in which information about people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one form of assessment. Assessment
  • 11.
    Testing is notthe only way in which information about people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one form of assessment. Assessment is used it to check the progress of students, to see how far they have mastered what they should have learned, and then use this information to modify the future teaching plans.
  • 12.
    Testing is notthe only way in which information about people language ability can be gathered , it’s just one form of assessment. Assessment is used it to check the is used at the end of progress of students, to see term, semester, or year how far they have mastered in order to measure what they should have what has been achieved learned, and then use this by groups and by information to modify the individuals. future teaching plans.
  • 13.
    Test or testingsystem should:
  • 14.
    Test or testingsystem should: consistently provide accurate measures of precisely the abilities in which we are interested.
  • 15.
    Test or testingsystem should: consistently provide accurate measures of precisely the abilities in which we are interested. have a beneficial effect on teaching.
  • 16.
    Test or testingsystem should: consistently provide accurate measures of precisely the abilities in which we are interested. have a beneficial effect on teaching. be economical in terms of time and money.
  • 17.
  • 18.
    The Purposes ofTesting To measure language proficiency.
  • 19.
    The Purposes ofTesting To measure language proficiency. To discover how successful students have been in achieving the objectives of a course of study.
  • 20.
    The Purposes ofTesting To measure language proficiency. To discover how successful students have been in achieving the objectives of a course of study. To diagnose students’ strengths and weaknesses, to identify what they know and what they don’t know.
  • 21.
    The Purposes ofTesting To measure language proficiency. To discover how successful students have been in achieving the objectives of a course of study. To diagnose students’ strengths and weaknesses, to identify what they know and what they don’t know. To assist placement of students by identifying the stage or part of a teaching program most appropriate to their ability.
  • 22.
  • 23.
  • 24.
    Assessment “Rumors” Rumor: Assessmentis all about test-giving. Truth: Test-giving is only one of many ways to assess learning (e.g: discussions, drawing sketches to illustrate, and role-plays).
  • 25.
    Assessment “Rumors” Rumor: Assessmentis all about test-giving. Truth: Test-giving is only one of many ways to assess learning (e.g: discussions, drawing sketches to illustrate, and role-plays). Rumor: Assessment is about finding weaknesses.
  • 26.
    Assessment “Rumors” Rumor: Assessmentis all about test-giving. Truth: Test-giving is only one of many ways to assess learning (e.g: discussions, drawing sketches to illustrate, and role-plays). Rumor: Assessment is about finding weaknesses. Truth: Assessment can be used also to accentuate student positives.
  • 27.
    Assessment “Rumors” Rumor: Assessmentis all about test-giving. Truth: Test-giving is only one of many ways to assess learning (e.g: discussions, drawing sketches to illustrate, and role-plays). Rumor: Assessment is about finding weaknesses. Truth: Assessment can be used also to accentuate student positives. Rumor: Assessment is only for the teacher.
  • 28.
    Assessment “Rumors” Rumor: Assessmentis all about test-giving. Truth: Test-giving is only one of many ways to assess learning (e.g: discussions, drawing sketches to illustrate, and role-plays). Rumor: Assessment is about finding weaknesses. Truth: Assessment can be used also to accentuate student positives. Rumor: Assessment is only for the teacher. Truth: Assessment can be used to teach students how to succeed.
  • 29.
  • 30.
  • 31.
    Assessment “Rumors” Rumor: Assessmentis an end in itself. Truth: Assessment is not an end in itself, but the beginning of better instruction.
  • 32.
    Assessment “Rumors” Rumor: Assessmentis an end in itself. Truth: Assessment is not an end in itself, but the beginning of better instruction. Rumor: Assessment is separate from curriculum.
  • 33.
    Assessment “Rumors” Rumor: Assessmentis an end in itself. Truth: Assessment is not an end in itself, but the beginning of better instruction. Rumor: Assessment is separate from curriculum. Truth: Assessment is part of the curriculum design process and both of them are closely tied to learning goals .
  • 40.
  • 41.
  • 42.
  • 43.
  • 44.
  • 45.
    Proficiency Tests They are designed to measure people’s ability in language, regardless of any training they may have had in that language.
  • 46.
  • 47.
    Achievement Tests They are directly related to language courses.
  • 48.
    Achievement Tests They are directly related to language courses.
  • 49.
  • 50.
  • 51.
    Achievement Tests Final Progress Achievement Achievement Tests Tests
  • 52.
  • 53.
    Final Achievement Tests *They are administered at the end of a course of a study. * They may be written by ministries of education, official examining boards, or by members of teaching institutions. * It should be based on syllabus content approach.
  • 54.
    Final Achievement Tests *They are administered at the end of a course of a study. * They may be written by ministries of education, official examining boards, or by members of teaching institutions. * It should be based on syllabus content approach. * Disadvantage:If the syllabus is badly designed, or the books and other materials are badly chosen, the results of a test can be misleading.
  • 55.
  • 56.
    Progress Achievement Tests *They are intended to measure the progress that students are making. * These tests should relate to objectives, since progress is towards the achievement of course objectives.
  • 57.
    Progress Achievement Tests * They are intended to measure the progress that students are making. * These tests should relate to objectives, since progress is towards the achievement of course objectives. In addition to more formal achievement tests, teachers should feel free to set their own pop quizzes.
  • 58.
    Diagnostic Tests * They are used to identify learners’ strengths and weaknesses. * They are intended primarily to ascertain what learning still needs to take place.
  • 59.
  • 60.
    Placement Tests * Theyare intended to provide information that will help students at the stage of the teaching program most appropriate to their abilities. * They are used to assign students to classes at different levels.
  • 61.
  • 62.
    Direct Indirect Testing Testing
  • 63.
    Direct Indirect Testing Testing *It requires the candidate to perform precisely the skill that we wish to measure. * It is easier to carry out when it is intended to measure the productive skills of speaking and writing.
  • 64.
    Direct Indirect Testing Testing *It requires the candidate to perform precisely the *It attempts to skill that we wish to measure the measure. abilities that * It is easier to carry out underline the when it is intended to skills in which measure the productive we are skills of speaking and interested . writing.
  • 65.
    Direct testing hasa number of attractions:
  • 66.
    Direct testing hasa number of attractions: First: It is relatively straightforward to create the conditions which will elicit the behavior on which to base our judgements. Secondly: The assessment and interpretation of students’ performance is also quite straightforward, especially in the case of the productive skills. Thirdly: Since practice for the test involves practice of the skills
  • 67.
    Direct testing hasa number of attractions: First: It is relatively straightforward to create the conditions which will elicit the behavior on which to base our judgements. Secondly: The assessment and interpretation of students’ performance is also quite straightforward, especially in the case of the productive skills. Thirdly: Since practice for the test involves practice of the skills Semi-direct Testing where candidates for example respond to tape-recorded stimuli, with their own responses being recorded and later scored.
  • 68.
    Discrete Integrative point Testing Testing
  • 69.
    Discrete Integrative point Testing Testing Testing of one element at a time, item by item.
  • 70.
    Discrete Integrative point Testing Testing Testing of one It requires the element at a candidates to time, item by combine many item. language elements in the completion of a task.
  • 71.
    Discrete Integrative point Testing Testing Testing of one It requires the element at a candidates to time, item by combine many item. language elements in the completion of a task.
  • 72.
    Discrete Integrative point Testing Testing Testing of one It requires the element at a candidates to time, item by combine many item. language elements in the *Discrete point tests indirect. completion of a *Integrative tests direct. task.
  • 73.
    Norm- Criterion- referenced referenced Testing Testing
  • 74.
    Norm- Criterion- referenced referenced Testing Testing It relates one candidate’s performance to that of other candidates.
  • 75.
    Norm- Criterion- referenced referenced Testing Testing It relates one candidate’s Tests are designed to know performance to that of what he can actually do in other candidates. the language.
  • 76.
    Objective Subjective Testing Testing
  • 77.
    Objective Subjective Testing Testing * If no judgement is required on the part of the scorer. * Example: short answers for questions in reading passage.
  • 78.
    Objective Subjective Testing Testing * If no judgement * If judgement is is required on the required on the part of the scorer. part of the scorer. * Example: short * Example: answers for scoring of a questions in reading passage. composition.
  • 79.
  • 80.
  • 81.
  • 82.
  • 83.
  • 84.
  • 86.
    References Al-Mutawa, Najat andTaiseer Al-Kailani (1989). Methods of Teaching English to Arab Students. Longman, London Hughes, A. (2003). Testing for language teachers. University Press, Cambridge. Tomlinson, C. (2008). Learning to Love Assessment. Informative Assessment, 65(4), 8-13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_(assessment)