Testing techniques

What are tests for?

he word "test" is usually used to describe a systematic procedure for obtaining a sample of student behavior, while "assessment" is often used to describe a broader process of collecting information. Whatever name you use -- test, assessment, examination -- all rely on the same basic technology. 

(Test definition)

Reasons for testing

1. Give the teacher information about where the students are at the moment, to help

decide what to teach next;

2. give the students information about what they know, that they also have an awareness of what they need to learn or review;

3. assess for some purpose external to current teaching (a final grade for the course, selection);

4. motivate students to learn or review specific material;

5. get a noisy class to keep quiet and concentrate;

6. provide a clear indication that the class has reached ' station’ in learning, such as the end of a unit, thus contributing to a sense of structure in the course as a whole;

7. get students to make an effort (in doing the test itself) which is likely to lead to

Better results and a feeling of satisfaction;

8. give students tasks which themselves may actually provide useful review or practice, as well as testing

9. provide students with a sense of achievement and progress in their learning.

Elicitation techniques

1.- Questions and answers.

2.- True/false.

3.- Multiple-choice.

4.- Gap-filling and completion.

5.- Matching.

6.- Dictation.

7.- Cloze.

8.- Transformation.

9.- Rewriting.

10.- Translation.

11.- Essay.

12.- Monologue.

13.- Projects.

14.- Text production (writing) --> E-mail, Diary entry, News report, Article, Poem, Short story, Play, Opinion column, Science report, Lyrics, etc.

15.- Oral production --> Interview, Debate, Speech, Appeal, Play, Commercial, News broadcast.