Testing Terminology

What is the purpose of a diagnostic test in language learning?

• To place students in a group or class at the appropriate level

• To measure general ability or skill without reference to any specific course of study

• To show what language skills or knowledge a learner already has before beginning a course

• To measure the language taught during a period of time

What does a placement test help to determine for a student?

• The student's progress during a course

• The student's overall ability after a course has been completed

• The appropriate degree or knowledge level for grouping students

• The specific elements of language skill a student possesses

What is the difference between an integrative test and a discrete point test?

• An integrative test measures general ability while a discrete point test measures specific elements

• An integrative test measures specific elements while a discrete point test measures general ability

• An integrative test measures language skills together while a discrete point test measures a single element at a time

• There is no difference; both tests measure language skills in the same way

What is the main focus of an achievement test in language learning?

• To assess students' progress during a course

• To determine the abilities underlying a language skill

• To measure the language taught during a specific period of time

• To evaluate speaking and writing tasks

What is the primary goal of formative assessment in education?

• To test what language skills or knowledge a learner already has

• To check students' progress and guide future teaching and learning

• To place students in the appropriate level for their degree or knowledge

• To test the language skills at the end of a course or programme

When is summative assessment typically conducted in the context of instruction?

• Before beginning a language course

• During a course to shape teaching and learning

• At the end of a course or programme of instruction

• At any time to measure specific language elements

What type of test compares test takers to each other rather than against external criteria?

• Criterion referenced test

• Adaptive test

• Normative Test

• Cloze test

In a Cloze test, how often are words or phrases deleted from a text?

• Every third word

• Every fifth word

• Every second word

• Randomly throughout the text

What is an Adaptive test often used to refer to?

• A test with a fixed set of questions

• A test where items are selected based on their difficulty

• A test that measures only one skill

• A computer administered test

What does content validity ensure in a test?

• The appearance of the test is acceptable

• The test measures what it is set out to measure

• The test items are representative of the area of knowledge to be tested

• The test items are selected during the test based on difficulty