Types of Assessment
What is formative assessment?
An assessment used during learning to help teachers adjust instruction.
What is face validity?
The extent to which a test looks appropriate and acceptable to users.
What is test-retest reliability?
A method where the same test is given twice to check score consistency over time.
What is an important rule when writing distractors?
They should be plausible.
What is washback?
The effect a test has on teaching and learning.
What is summative assessment?
An assessment given at the end of a course or unit to evaluate achievement.
What is predictive validity?
The extent to which test scores can predict future performance.
What is split-half reliability?
A method where a test is divided into two halves and the scores are compared.
What is one main advantage of MCQs?
They allow quick and objective scoring.
How can washback become positive?
By designing tests that encourage useful and meaningful learning practices.
What is a diagnostic test?
A test that identifies learners’ strengths and weaknesses before instruction.
Are reliable tests always valid? Why or why not?
No. A test can be consistent (reliable) but still not measure what it should (not valid).
Why does having more test items increase reliability?
Because more items provide a broader sample of skills and reduce the effect of chance.
What is one main disadvantage of MCQs?
Students may guess the correct answer.
What is one desirable quality of a test?
Validity – it measures what it is supposed to measure.
What is a placement test?
A test that places students into suitable levels in a program.
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How should distractors relate grammatically to the stem?
They should be grammatically consistent with the stem.
What is another desirable quality of a test?
Reliability – it produces consistent results.
What is an integrative test?
A test requiring multiple language skills at once (e.g., cloze test, dictation).
Why should answer choices be similar in length and detail?
To avoid giving students unintentional clues.
What is practicality in testing?
The degree to which a test is easy to administer, score, and interpret.