Index to

Language Testing Objectives

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Click on the links below for answers to the following questions:

What basic questions should a teacher/tester ask himself/herself before setting a test?
What are the relationships between learning, teaching & testing?
What are the main reasons for testing?
What are the essential differences between a classroom test and an external examination?
Briefly describe the following types of test in terms of their objectives: a) aptitude b) placement c) diagnostic d) achievement e) proficiency.
How far is it possible to predict student success in language learning?
Can one measure a student's progress in learning a L2? What are the difficulties?
How does one specify test objectives? How far does the way objectives are defined influence subsequent assessment?
What are the main language skills and their components? Are there other skills that should be tested?
What are discrete-point tests? What are tests of integrative skills? Discuss their relative advantages and disadvantages. Is the distinction valid?
What factors influencing language learning should be tested? How?
How has language testing been influenced by varying contemporary views on language and language learning?
What is (a) objective and (b) subjective testing?
What are the main subjective testing techniques?
What are the main objective testing techniques?
What are standardized tests: psychometric objective & linguistic realistic?
What are the main requirements of an efficient test?
The problem of test rubric: How far do format and instructions affect assessment?
What is test discrimination? When is it not needed?

What is item analysis? What is the facility value of an item? What is its discrimination index?
What are the main difficulties and limitations of language testing?
What are the problems of assessing communication in a L2?
What are norm-referenced tests? Criterion-referenced tests?
What is test reliability? What are the aspects of reliability that are most important for the teacher/tester?
How can the reliability of a test be established? What can be done about the findings?
What is test validity? What are the most important aspects of validity for the teacher/tester?
How can the validity of a test be established? What can be done about the findings?

Developing a Placement Test
Designing a Multiple Choice Test for quick marking and optimum validity

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