Assessment Types & Principles
This type of assessment is planned and systematically conducted.
Formal assessment
A test that determines students’ language level before a course.
Placement test
A task where students choose between two options, such as "true" or "false."
T/F task
The first step in conducting research.
Formulating research questions
The process of choosing an appropriate test for a learning objective.
Test selection
This assessment occurs spontaneously during class activities.
Informal assessment
A test that measures a learner’s potential to learn a language.
Aptitude test
A task where students complete missing words in a text.
Cloze task
A research method involving direct classroom involvement and experimentation.
Classroom investigation
The step-by-step process of designing a language test.
Steps for constructing a test
This type of assessment provides feedback during the learning process.
Formative assessment
A test that evaluates overall language ability rather than course content.
Proficiency test
A type of assessment where students organize ideas into categories.
Matching task
A method where a researcher watches and records classroom activities.
Classroom observation
The process of analyzing and improving an existing test.
Test revision
This assessment is conducted at the end of a course to measure achievement.
Summative assessment
A test that diagnoses students’ strengths and weaknesses.
Diagnostic test
A task where students modify words to fit different grammatical forms.
Word formation task
A structured way of collecting qualitative data through spoken responses.
Structural interview
A type of assessment that focuses on real-world application of skills.
Authentic assessment
Two key characteristics of a high-quality test.
Validity and reliability
A test that measures students' performance against set criteria rather than comparing to others.
Criterion-referenced test
A technique where students compile their work over time for evaluation.
Portfolios
An approach where students reflect on their own learning process.
Self-study
The effect that testing has on teaching and learning.
Washback