1.3 tests of grammar and vocabulary: workshop CTS-Academic
1. Dr. Simon Phipps
Tests of Grammar and
Vocabulary: Workshop
MELİKŞAH UNIVERSITY, KAYSERI, 29-31 JANUARY, 2014
2.
3. Outline
! why
test grammar and vocabulary
! links
to beliefs
! links
to curricular specifications
! types
of grammar items
! guidelines
! types
for writing m/c items
of vocabulary items
! lexical
density
! considerations
when writing items
4. Why test grammar and vocabulary?
! encourage
! face
learners to study - positive backwash
validity – learner expectations
! content
! ease
validity – easy to select items/easier than skills
of administration – esp. placement tests
! grammar
and vocabulary can be tested directly (unlike
testing of skills)
! knowledge
of grammar and vocabulary is a prerequisite for using language skills
! diagnose
learners’ weaknesses/gaps
5. Links to beliefs about language learning
and the role of skills/language
Language vs skills
Beliefs
Grammar vs vocab
Collocation and
lexical phrases
testing
curriculum
6. Links to curriculum specifications
!
Grammar specifications
Achievement and Progress tests
" Placement tests
" Sampling - Proficiency tests
"
!
Vocabulary specifications
#
#
#
#
#
!
!
General indication of size of learner’s vocabulary
Word lists vs course-books
Sampling – frequency vs usefulness
Collocations and lexical phrases
Lexical density of texts used to test grammar and skills
Positive backwash – achievement/progress
Testing at recognition vs production level
7. Types of items for testing grammar
! discrete point m/c
!
gap-fill (with/without m/c options)
!
cloze test
!
transformation
!
sentence completion
!
error detection
" Problems
with multiple choice (see handout)
8. Types of items for testing vocabulary
! gap-fill (with/without m/c options)
!
cloze test
!
C-test (first letter/part given)
!
word-building
!
sentence completion
!
vocabulary size test
" Formative
assessment – vocab journals