Testing and Evaluation

After the teacher has taught something, it is natural for him/her to want to know how much the students have learned, what level they are at, and what things need to be considered for the improvement of the students. Tests tell the teacher about the effectiveness of his/her teaching. The basic purpose of an evaluation is to make a judgment about the quality or worth of an educational program, or proficiency of a student’s attainments. The second purpose of evaluation and testing is to give students the opportunity to show what they have learned rather than catching them out or to show what they have not learned. The third purpose of evaluation and testing is also to motivate the students and show them how well they have learned the subject matter. The last purpose of testing and evaluation is to give the teacher useful information about how to improve their teaching methods. 

Kinds of tests and testing:

Proficiency Tests

It tests people’s ability in a language regardless of the learning process that one has gone through 

Achievement Test

It can be final achievement tests like your final exams

can be progress achievement tests or progress monitored tests: should relate to objectives of the language use & also the way feedback is given

Diagnostic Tests

It is used to identify learners’ strengths and weaknesses

generally used in ESP (English for Specific Purposes)

Placement Tests

It intended to provide a certain goal or objective in which the students are supposed to fit in

Norm-referenced testing

It is dependent on the test scores of other students e.g. percentile scores

does not tell much about what the student is capable of

most achievement tests are norm-referenced

Criterion-referenced testing

It provides information about what the student can perform in the language

the criteria are pre-defined and the students know why they are tested for. 

Testing has 3 key Concepts :

Validity

can be of two types – content validity and criterion-related validity

content validity depends on what the test is meant for and whether it is testing that

criterion-related validity relates to examining the test results to highly dependable and independent alternative sources

Reliability

depends on two factors: whether the test can be used repeatedly; and whether the test can be used for various levels of students

Backwash

It is an effect that tests have on learning and teaching

can be of two types – negative and positive

What is Validity and Reliability? 

Validity pertains to the connection between the purpose of the research and which data the researcher chooses to quantify that purpose. 

Reliability, on the other hand, is not at all concerned with intent, instead asking whether the test used to collect data produces accurate results. In this context, accuracy is defined by consistency (whether the results could be replicated).

What's the purpose of Test? 

The purpose of a test is to prepare a child mentally for the study one has done.It emphasizes one to be responsible and be hardworking towards its sector.It also seeks the understanding of the study one has done and to promote one for further studies.

Practicality Of Test : 

Practicality in assessment means that the test is easy to design, easy to administer and easy to score. 

 

No matter how valid or reliable a test is, it has to be practical to make and to take this means that:

It is economical to deliver. It is not excessively expensive.

The layout should be easy to follow and understand.

It stays within appropriate time constraints.

It is relatively easy to administer.

Its correct evaluation procedure is specific and time-efficient. 

What is Backwash?

In a non-technical context, "backwash" is the motion of a receding wave on the shore. In testing, backwash refers to the effect of a test on teaching and reaming. Two types of backwash are frequently addressed in language testing: beneficial backwash. Beneficial backwash results when the objectives of the test are in agreement with the objectives of the instructional program. Negative backwash results when the objectives of testing are not in agreement with the objectives of an instructional program. The concept of backwash simply refers to the relationship between a language instructional program and a language testing program. Whether language learners are preparing for a test or studying a homework assignment, they should be engaged in the activities that the program seeks to develop.

Difference between assessment and evaluation :

Assessment

assessment is to review the data about something or someone from different sources in order to make improvement in the current performance.

assessment is an ongoing process.

The purpose of assessment is to improve the quality of performance.

The assessment is an individualized process and is not done against already set standards.

assessment is process oriented.

The outcome of assessment is constructive feedback.

The criteria of assessment is decided by the mutual understanding of both parties involved in the process.

Evaluation

evaluation is to judge the performance of something or someone by measuring the performance on the basis of existing standards.

evaluation provide closure on the existing process.

The purpose of evaluation is to judge the performance.

The evaluation is applied against the set standards.

evaluation is product oriented.

The outcome of evaluation is to show shortcomings.

The criteria of evaluation is solely decided by the evaluator.

How do you define good Assessment? 

Assessments refer to a “wide variety of methods that educators use to evaluate, measure, and document the academic readiness, learning progress, and skill acquisition of students.” Simply put, assessments are how instructors and teachers evaluate whether or not students have learned the taught material. Assessments can range from pop quizzes to final exams to.