The document discusses different types of reading and considerations for testing reading ability. It outlines four purposes of reading tests: diagnostic, achievement, placement, and proficiency. When developing a reading test, specific factors must be accounted for, including the type of text, reading speed, and task difficulty level. Effective techniques for testing reading ability include short answer questions to evaluate understanding of referents, context clues, and distinguishing facts from opinions. Gap filling can assess recognizing detail and scanning ability.

1. Different ways of reading
- Slowly and carefully, word by word (following a philosophical argument)
- Page to page ( getting the gist of something)
- Look quickly down a column of a text ( searching a particular piece of information)
* INCLUDE THESE DIFFERENT KINDS OR READING IN THE SPECIFICATIONS OF A TEST
Purpose of the test
A. Diagnostic test: Detailed strengths and weaknesses in reading abilities.
B. Achievement test: Development of the reading skills.
C. Placement test: Rough and ready indication of reading.
D. Proficiency test: “Overall” measure of reading ability.
“TESTING READING”

2. Quick and efficient
reading checklist
Slow and careful
reading checklist

3. Features to take into account in a reading test
1. Specific texts ( type, form, topic, style, length, difficulty, vocabulary, grammar)
2. Speed of reading
3. Criterial level of performance ( test tasks)
Setting the tasks
- Selecting texts (representative, appropriate, many passages, discrete pieces, clearly
structure, specified elements)
- Writing items
- Possible techniques (multiple choice, short answer , gap filling or “summary cloze”)
Remarkable techniques for testing the ability
 Short answer: A) To identify referents. B) To predict the meaning of unknown words from
context. C) To make various distinctions (fact / opinion).
 Gap filling: A) To recognize detail presented to support a main idea. B) To scan items