A type of assessment that occurs at the end of a course; learners receive a final score, usually without feedback
What is summative assessment?
100
Its conditions are met if the test:
• stays within budgetary limits
• can be completed by the test-taker within appropriate time constraints
• has clear directions for administration
• appropriately utilizes available human resources
• does not exceed available material resources
• considers the time and effort involved for both design and scoring
What is practicality?
100
It assesses students' level of language ability so they can be placed in an appropriate course or class.
What is a placement test?
100
An assessment in which learners choose the best answer from a group of options.
What is multiple choice?
200
A type of assessment given during the course, not at the end, so that learners can improve; it always includes feedback.
What is formative assessment?
200
Its conditions are met if:
• is consistent in its conditions across two or more administrations
• gives clear directions for scoring/evaluation
• has uniform rubrics for scoring/evaluation
• lends itself to consistent application of those rubrics by the scorer
• contains items/tasks that are unambiguous to the test-taker
What is reliability?
200
This kind of test identifies language areas in which a student needs further help.
What is a diagnostic test?
200
A list of statements, some of which are correct and some of which are incorrect.
What is true/false?
300
Some characteristics of this kind of assessment: formal, standardized, "high-stakes", norm-referenced, proficiency, indirect, objective.
What is traditional assessment?
300
• measures exactly what it proposes to measure
• does not measure irrelevant or "contaminating" variables
• relies as much as possible on empirical evidence (performance)
• involves performance that samples the test's criterion (objective)
• offers useful, meaningful information about a test-taker's ability
• is supported by a theoretical rationale or argument
What is validity?
300
The content of this kind of test is generally based on the specific course content or on the course objectives and it is usually administered at mid and end point of the semester.
What is an achievement test?
300
A form of assessment in which the learner must match pairs of elements.
What is matching?
400
A general category of assessment where learners are evaluated on what they produce. Its types may include role-plays, student-created commercials, group projects, or written reports.
What is performance-based assessment?
400
Its conditions are met if the test:
• contains language that is as natural as possible
• has items that are contextualized rather than isolated
• includes meaningful, relevant, interesting topics
• provides some thematic organization to items, such as through a story line or episode
• offers tasks that replicate real-world tasks
What is authenticity?
400
They are administered at various stages throughout a
language course to determine what students have learned, usually after certain segments of instruction have been completed. They cover less material and assess fewer objectives.
What is a progress test?
400
A longer written assessment that can be submitted as a series of drafts.
What is an essay?
500
Some characteristics of this kind of assessment: informal, classroom, "low-stakes", criterion-referenced, direct, achievement, subjective, authentic.
What is alternative assessment?
500
Its conditions are met if the test:
• positively influences what and how teachers teach
• positively influences what and how learners learn
• offers learners a chance to adequately prepare
• gives learners feedback that enhances their language development
• is more formative in nature than summative
• provides conditions for peak performance by the learner
What is washback (consequential validity/ impact validity)?
500
They assess the overall language ability of students at varying levels. They may also tell us how capable a person is in a particular language skill area (e.g., reading). In other words, these tests describe what students are capable of doing in a language.
What is a proficiency test?
500
A paragraph with missing words or gaps; learners must supply the missing words—this can be audio-based or text-based.