José Carlos Maya
Carmona Marina Sánchez
Revuelta
TESTING GRAMMAR
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WHY TEST GRAMMAR?
-Grammatical ability or the lack of it sets limits
to what can be achieved in other skills.
-It is useful to diagnose what gaps exist in the
repertoire of students.
-It is helpful to inform teachers and learners
to take responsability for filling the existing
gaps.
TESTING GRAMMAR
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WRITING SPECIFICATIONS
Achievement tests
Placement
tests
Specification on content Specifications will
include all the
should be
straightforward
structures identified
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SAMPLING: will reflect the
selection of the structures identified
TESTING GRAMMAR
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WRITING ITEMS:
It is important to be written in gramatically
correct language.
TECHNIQUES FOR TESTING GRAMMAR:
1. Gap filling
Productio
2. Paraphrase
n
3. Completion
Recognitio
4. Multiple choice
n
TESTING GRAMMAR
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1. Gap filling
 He arrived late,
was a surprise.(which)
 He displayed the wide, bright smile
had
charmed so many people before.(which, that).
 Computers have had the ability to play chess for many
years now,[…]able
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2. Paraphrase: equivalent meaning
When we arrived, a policeman was questioning the bank clerk.
When we arrived, the bank clerk
TESTING GRAMMAR
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3. Completion: test a variety of structures
-Mr Gilbert: And when…………..?
+Mr Cole: In 1972, at the end of the summer term.
4. Multiple choice: useful when gap filling does
not test what we really want.
Example: use of could
A. They left at seven. They
be home by now.
B. Yes, but we can’t count on it, can we?
a. Can b. could c. will
d.must
TESTING GRAMMAR
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SCORING PRODUCTION GRAMMAR TESTS
- Gap filling and multiple choice: items should cause
no problems
We should take into account…
-If we focus on one element we have to reward just on
this element.
-Two elements are test: points may be assigned for
each of them
TESTING VOCABULARY
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WHY TEST VOCABULARY?
- Essential when using a language, so is important to test it.
- Is supported with the inclusion of grammar.
Problem and solution in testing vocabulary
- Apparently usefulness of vocabulary test are not as much
as in grammar test.
- One alternative is to use published test of vocabulary or
construct one for our group of students.
TESTING VOCABULARY
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WRITING SPECIFICATIONS
Achievement tests
All the items should
be included.
Placement & Proficiency tests
Important to make reference to one
of the published word lists.

SAMPLING: Words can be grouped
according to frequency and usefulness.
TESTING VOCABULARY
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WRITING ITEMS
1. Testing recognition ability
a) Recognise synonyms
multiple
b) Recognise definitions
c) Recognise appropriate word for context choice
2. Testing production ability
a)Picture
b)Definitions
achievement
test c)Gap filling
TESTING VOCABULARY
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a) Recognise
Choose
the alternative (a, b, c or d) which is closest in meaning to the word
synonims
on the left on the page.
Gleam
a) Gather b) shine c)welcome d) clean
b) Recognise definitions
Loathe means…
a)Dislike intensely
b) Become seriously ill
c) Search carefully
d) Looks very angry
c) Recognise appropriate words in context
The strong wind
a)Disabled
the man’s efforts to put up the tent.
b)hampered
c)deranged
d)regaled
TESTING VOCABULARY
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a) Pictures : the main difficulty in testing productive
lexical ability is the need to limit the candidate to the
lexical item that we have in mind. The best way to solve
this is using pictures. (achievement test)
Each of the objects below has a letter against it. Write
down
the names of the
objects:
a……
d………
…
b……
…
c……
.
e………
.
f……….
TESTING VOCABULARY
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b) Definitions: It is important to be careful when
selecting a word, because it can be ambiguous
… … … … . . is frozen water
c) Gap filling
Because of the snow, the football
match
until the following week.
was
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THANKS FOR YOUR
ATTENTION