Testing Times Emma Cresswell Check if the teaching

Testing Times Emma Cresswell

Check if the teaching program is doing its job Compare students with eachother Why do we assess our students’ learning? See if students meet a particular standard Help the students’ learning

What to test? Fill the gap with an appropriate verb in the correct form. 1) Mr Smith normally __________ a red Mercedes

No negative backwash Valid What makes a test a good test? Practical Reliable

Test Validity • Content Validity Does the test what it’s supposed to? • Construct Validity Does the test only test what it’s supposed to? • Face Validity Does the test appear to test what it’s trying to?

Construct Validity Fill the gap with an appropriate verb in the correct form. 1) Mr Smith normally __________ a red Mercedes In order to answer this question, the students must:

Construct Validity Fill the gap with an appropriate verb in the correct form. 1) Mr Smith normally __puts______ a red Mercedes How correct is this answer? How many marks should we give it?

Content Validity • Imagine we want to test whether a class of beginners can produce examples of the present simple for describing routines. We need to ensure that: – The questions are on the present simple for routines (not present simple for future) – The verbs tested are ones beginners are likely to know – We ask students to produce the answers, and not just recognise them

Reliability • Test – If it was possible to give the same person the same test at the same time, would the result be the same? • Scorer – If you gave the same test to two different people to mark, would they give the same score?

Test Reliability • Use varied testing techniques – Don’t give the answer to question 2 in question 7 • Use familiar techniques – Students should have seen all the techniques during the course of the year • Use clear instructions – Use appropriate level of language

Scorer Reliability • It’s important to negotiate and agree on the criteria that will be used to mark the test: – Break down the answers to their component parts – If half marks are to be given, include them in the key.

1) 1 a 2 b 2) He go 3 d 4 a 5 d to the cinema 3) John get up and open de eyes. The sun is shining and de brids are sinning. He tink “Is a beautiful day. Today I no go to work, but I go to the beach. ” But when he is driving in her car, he see Mr Smith, his boss, who say him, “Why you not it work? ”

Resources • Evaluating your students Baxter, A (Richmond, 1997)