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In addition to the pedagogical
reasons for choosing a particular test type, tutors need to consider the
value in employing a variety of testing techniques with any one
group of students. There are several reasons for doing this:
- No single test can
be absolutely reliable; therefore the more varieties of testing
that are employed, the less likelihood there is of bias or distortion
affecting the assessment process.
- Students are known
to have different learning styles (see Module
12) and respond differently to styles of teaching and techniques
of testing; only through variety can we make allowance for this.
- Different students
excel in different areas of language. Traditionally, tests have
focused on grammar and writing to the exclusion of other aspects
of language, but not all students are good at grammar. More creative
users of the language, in particular, can easily be discouraged
by such a narrow focus, since the things they are good at are
not tested. So the wider the range of areas covered by our testing,
the fairer this will be to all.
- Since tests are a
harsh fact of life in all language learning, including even 'leisure'
courses, employing a variety of informal and formal testing techniques
helps to get students used to this reality from the start.
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Activity 5
Consider assessment practices in your department, or in one you are familiar
with either as tutor or student, and decide which of the following statements
is most applicable:
| In my department…. |
Yes
|
No
|
- writing is favoured
as the main means of testing students.
|
|
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- students are tested
regularly both formally and informally.
|
|
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- assessments of particular
skills feature more than one test type.
|
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- students are given
opportunities to 'shine' in speaking skills.
|
|
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- listening and reading
are regularly tested.
|
|
|
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