1. Testing: Back to Basics.
Abdellatif Zoubair
zoubair2@hotmail.com
June 09

2. Outline
1. Definition
2. Main principles
3. Test types
4. Test design procedure
5. Use of statistics
6. Technolgy and testing
7. Bibliography
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3. I. Definition:
« a . . . . . . of measuring a person’s
ability, . . . . . . . . . . or . . . . . . . . . . .
in a given . . . . . . . . «
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4. « a method of measuring a person’s ability,
knowledge or performance in a given
domain. »
D. Brown, 2004.
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5. Terminolgy
-Performance vs knowledge
-Quiz vs test
-Testing vs assessment
-Assessment vs evaluation
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6. II. Main principles
1. Usefulness
2. Practicality
3. Validity
4. Reliability
5. Authenticity
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7. Main principles (cont’d)
6. Transparency
7. Washback
8. Security
9. Fairness
10. . . .
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8. III. Taxonomies
a. Henning (1987):
1. Diagnosis and feedback
2. Screening and selection
3. Placement
4. Program evaluation
5. Providing research criteria
6. Assessment of attitudes and socio-
psychological differences
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9. b. Alderson, Clapham and Wall (1995):
1. placement
2. progress
3. achievement
4. proficiency
5. diagnostic
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10. c. objective vs. subjective tests
d. high- vs. low-stakes tests
e. formative vs summative
-.....
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11. h. Traditional vs. Alternative
Assessment.
Refer to comparative chart
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12. Types:
-self-assessment
-portfolios
-student-designed tests
-projects
-presentations
-....
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13. IV. Test design procedure:
a. planning:
-decide on purpose
-check course content
-write specifications
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14. b. development:
-format
-grading
-piloting
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15. c. administration:
-test conditions and procedures
-organize equipment needed
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16. d. post-test
-grading
-statistics
-item analysis
-reporting
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17. e. reflection:
-purpose
-validity and reliability
-future changes
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18. V. Statistics:
a. what
b. rationale:
-information on students' performance
-test reliability
-course content
-teaching
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19. c. how:
-the mean
-the pass/failure rate
-histograms
- .....
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20. VI. Technology and testing
a. history:
-1935: IBM model 805
-1970: Book on computerized testing
(Holtzman)
-...?
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21. b. main uses:
-CMT/CAT
-CBT
-CAT
-Web/internet-based testing
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22. VII. Bibliography:
-Alderson, J. Charles, Caroline Clapham and Dianne Wall. 1995. Test
Construction and Evaluation. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University
Press.
-Bachman, Lyle F. 1990. Fundamental Considerations in Language Testing.
Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press.
-Brown, H.D. 2004. Language Assessment: Principles and classroom
practices. New York: Pearson Longman.
-Coombe, C., Folse, K., & Hubley, N. (2007). A Practical Guide to Assessing
English Language Learners. Ann Arbor, MI.: University of Michigan Press.
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23. -Fulcher, G. Computers in Language Testing. In Brett, P. and G.
Motteram (Eds) 2000, A Special Interest in Computers. Manchester:
IATEFL Publications, 93 – 107.
-Fulcher, G. & Davidson, F. 2007. Language Testing and
Assessment: An Advanced Resource Book. Routledge Applied
Linguistics Series.
-Fulcher, G. 1995. The Language Tester's Guide to Cyberspace.
Language Testing Update July 1995, 17, 62 - 65.
Last updated: 9th June 2008.
Also available at:
http://www.le.ac.uk/education/testing/ltrfile/cybertxt.html#top
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24. -Fulcher, G. Resources in Language Testing (website)
(http://www.dundee.ac.uk/languagestudies/ltest/ltr.html)
-Heaton, J. B. 1988. Writing English Language Tests.
Harlow, England:Longman Press.
-Hughes, Arthur. 2003. Testing for Language Teachers (2nd Edition).
Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press.
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25. Thank you for your patience!
June 09