TESTING READING
Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz
Record Teacher Observations
One of the most effective ways for teacher to assess
a student’s reading comprehension is through
teacher observation (Routman 1994).
TYPES OF TEACHER
OBSERVATION




Think Alouds, probes and
interviews.
Strategies checklist or
Rating scales.
Miscue and Running
Records.
Anecdotal Records.
INTRODUCTION
1. Specify what candidates should be able
to do:
Operations
Texts
Speed
Criterial level of performance
INTRODUCTION
2. Make suggestions for setting appropriate test task
Selecting texts
Writing items
Possible techniques
a) Multiple choice
b) Short answer
c) Gap filling
d) Information transfer
Which language for items and responses
Procedures for writing items
Practical advice on item writing
A note on scoring
I. OPERATIONS
1. Straight forward activity
2. Receptive skill
3. Measured
Skills ????????
a) Slow
reading
b) Flip the
page reading
c) Search for
Particular information
reading
OPERATIONS
Diagnostic test?
Achievement test?
Placement and proficiency tests?
OPERATIONS
Learners´ reading skills
a. Expeditious
reading
operations
b. Slow and
careful reading
operations
TEXTS
TEXT TYPES
TEXT FORMS
INTENDED
READERSHIP
STYLE
LENGTH
READABILITY
GRAPHIC
FEATURES
TOPICS
RANGE OF
VOCABULARY
AND GRAMMAR
SPEED
CRITERIAL LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE
a) Norm-reference
testing
b)Criterion-reference
testing
II. SELECTING TEXTS
Select a
representative
sample
Appropriate length
Include as many
passages as
possible
Look for texts
which have
discrete pieces of
information
Specified elements
to be scan
Clear organized
structure of the text
Interesting article
for candidates
Avoid texts of
general knowledge
and already read
by candidates
Do not choose texts
that are too
culturally driven
WRITING ITEMS
POSSIBLE TECHNIQUES
a) Multiple
choice
Information
transfer
When
writing
items
Gap filling
b) Short
Answers
WHICH LANGUAGE FOR ITEMS AND
RESPONSES?
-Writing items should not cause
difficulties of comprehension
- Less demanding than the text itself
- Responses should make minimum
demand on writing ability: candidates
share the same language
PEOCEDURES FOR WRITING ITEMS
a. Careful reading of the text
b. Ask yourself what one can
get from the text
c. Note main points or
examples
d. Decide what candidates
would be able to perform
e. Text and items should be presented to
colleagues for moderation
PRACTICAL ADVICE ON ITEM WRITING
1.Scanning: present items in the order they are to be
found in the text
2. Do not include items that candidates may be able to
answer from general knowledge
3. Make items independent of each other
4. Be ready to make minor changes of a text to
improve the items.
A NOTE ON SCORING
ACTION

a)
b)
c)
d)
Recall pieces of reading test in term of the facts
discuss in the presentation?
Length
Items
Responses
Language level
CONCLUSIONS


Assessment of reading must include decoding skills
and reading comprehension strategies.
Include student attitudes and feelings toward
reading.