COMMON TEST
TECHNIQUES
FROM TESTING FOR
LANGUAGETEACHER
Test techniques


Means of eliciting behavior from candidates
that will tell us about their language
abilities.
We need techniques that :
* will elicit behaviour which is reliable and
valid indicator of the ability in which we are
interested
* will elicit behaviour which can reliably
scored
* are as economical of time and efforts as
possible
*will have a beneficial backwash effect,
where this is relevant.
Multiple Choice

Basic pattern :
Enid has been here ….. Half an
hour
a. during b. for c. while d.
since
“B” is the answer
“A, C,D” are called distractors
The Difficulties with Multiple
Choice






The tecniques test only recognition
knowledge
Guessing may have a considerable
but unknowable effect on test scores
The techniques severly restricts what
can be tested
It is very difficult to write succesful
items
Backwash may be harmful
Cheating may be facilitated
YES/NO and TRUE/FALSE
items

The test taker has merely to
choose between YES and NO,
or between TRUE and FALSE,
are effectively multiple choice
items with only two options.
Short-answer items


Items in which the test taker has to
provide a short answer are common,
particularly in listening and reading
tests.
Examples :
(1) what does It in the last sentence
refer to?
(2) how old was Hannibal when he
started eating human beings?
The advantages of Multiple
Choice





Scoring can be perfectly reliable,
rapid and economical
Guessing will (or should) contribute
less to test scores
The techniques is not restricted by
the need for distractors
Cheating is likely to be more difficult
Though great care must still be
taken, items should be easier to
write.
The Disadvantage of Multiple
Choice




Responses may take longer and
so reduce the possible number
of items
The test taker has to produce
language in order to respond
Scoring may be invalid or
unreliable, if judgement is
required.
Scoring may take longer
GAP FILLING ITEMS

Pattern :
Hannibal particularly liked to eat brains
because of their texture and colour.
The answer can be found in the text
Gap filling items for listening or reading work
best if the missing words are to be found in
the text or are straightforward, high
frequency words which should not present
spelling problems
Gap Filling Items


Also used for tests of grammar
and vocabulary
Examples :
He asked me for money, ….
Though he knows I earn a lot
less than him.
Gap filling Items

The advantage :
* it has the advantages of the
short answer techniques