2. Three reasons for Lg. Tests
Placement: to place ss appropriately in
the program.
Diagnosis: to diagnose ss´problems in L2
with accuracy.
Achievement assessment: to measure
achievement, if reached course/program
obj.
3. + Categorizations
Norm-referenced tests: Measure how a ss does compared
to others on the same test.
Applied on a large scale
“standardized”.
Ex. Simce, Cambridge certifications, Inicia.
Criterion referencing:How well a ss has met specific
objectives/ level of performance in a certain area.
Ex. Driver´s licence. (Pass/fail)
4. Indirect and direct testing
Indirect testing: Does not test actual
performance, tests enabling skills or
microskills that add up to what might
constitute actual performance.
Ex. A test of lexical items relating to history
Used to predict how well he would do in a
history class with competent speakers
5. Direct testing: Tests abilities actually used in a given
context. Predictions of student performance.
Ex. : After a lecture ( Important ideas)
- to write a summary
- to write an essay expressing opinions.
- to read and understand academic
written discourse.
- Performance tasks, performance checklist
and observations.
6. Discrete Point Tests v/s
Integrative Tests
Discrete point tests: Examine the
knowledge of specific elements in
phonology, grammar, and vocabulary in
order to determine proficiency in the 4
skills.
ex.:
• Difference between pill and bill?
• Past tense from present progressive’
7. Integrative tests: Examine a ss´s ability to use many
skills simultaneously to accomplish a task.
Exs. Can the student…
*answer a questions that is
typical of conversation?
* Tell a story ( understandable)
* Write an effective letter?
8. Important to consider
Tests that are integrative: both in task and
in evaluation: great for indicating the
proficiency levels of ss.
Tests that are integrative in task and
discrete point in evaluation may be best
used for Diagnostic purposes.
9. Pragmatic tests
John Oller, Jr ( 1979)
These tests may include:
Dictation
Cloze procedures ( supply missing words)
Paraphrase recognition
Question answering
10. Oral interviews
Essay writing
Narration
Translation.
*Ss who do well on one pragmatic test will also tend to
do well on others.
* These tests seem to provide the most reliable, valid
and usable approach to the measurement of lg.
ability.
11. Determining Placement
If our purpose is to divide ss according to
proficiency levels( beginning, interm. and
advanced), there is need of a
combination of:
Listening comprehension tasks
Oral interview
Some informal writing
Reading interpretation or paraphrasing
section.