Criteria for Evaluating Language Tests
Work in groups of four and
look carefully at the following test questions. Try to do the questions. What
observations do you have to make about them relating to issues of validity,
reliability, practicability, and washback effect.
1. Complete the following statements by
selecting one answer from the four provided:
i.
Jakarta is a large
city_________ on the shores of the Java
Sea.
a. is situated b. situated
c. situates d. which situated
ii.
Tokyo, which is Japan’s
capital, is also ________ largest city.
a. this b. its
c. the d. that
2. Look at the sentences
which follow and rearrange them to form a dialogue.
John Oh, well I’m in a bit of a hurry myself. I
don’t think that I’ve got time to walk all that way and back again.
John Oh I see. Actually, I am going to the city
centre as well. Mind if I join you?
John Yes, I suppose so.
Mary Well, if you don’t mind I think I’d rather walk.
It’s such a lovely day and it seems a pity not to enjoy the weather.
John Yes. Bye
John Good morning, Mary!
Mary see you around sometime
Mary Good morning, John!
Mary Goodbye, John.
Mary Oh well, we’ll have to go our separate ways
then!
Mary Oh I’m just going down to the bank to get a
new cheque book.
Mary Sure. I was planning to walk – is that OK
with you?
3.
The sentences which follow should be examined with
great care and, if any verb forms are found to be incorrect, they should be
corrected. Answers should be written in the answer booking such a way that, in
each case, the correct form precedes the incorrect one.
i John is a teacher
ii Mary were a doctor
iii Sometimes it snow in the Atlas Mountains.
iv The teacher went to London
last week.
4.
Vocabulary test
Choose one answer
from those provided to complete the sentences:
I Mary was angry whilst John was
positively ____________
A. anorexic B. apoplectic
C. artichoke D. artesian
II This beautiful little animal is called
a ____________
A. marmoset B. margrave
C. marimba D. martinet
III Animals such as cows generally
______________
A. rummage B. rusticate
C. roseate D. ruminate
5.
Listening Test
Look at the following
passage and then listen to the questions from the tape recorder. The questions
will be repeated once. Write the answers to the recorded questions in the
answer books. Do not write the answers in this test booklet.
Princess Diana has announced
that she will be retiring from public life in the near future. She has indicated
that this decision has been caused because the pressure of press attention has
become unbearable for her. She intends to spend more time with her sons, Prince
William and Prince Henry. Today’s newspapers have devoted many pages to
discussions of the crisis.
[Tape recorded questions]
1.
What are the names of Princess Diana’s sons?
2.
Why has the Princess decided to retire from public
life?
3.
How has the press reacted to the Princess’ decision?
6.
Test of Communicative Competence
Put all the verbs in the
following passage into the correct form.
Once upon a time there (be)
a teacher (call) John. John (live) in a
city in the North of England. John (travel) a lot for his job; in one year he
(visit) nine different countries. All John’s friends (think) that John (be) very
lucky because he (can) travel so much. However, John actually (hate)
aeroplanes, and so every overseas visit (be) torture for him! Yet he never
actually (admit) his problem to his colleagues because he (worry) that he
(lose) his job.
7.
Elementary Level Test
Write a letter to your local
councilor complaining about some aspect of local government services – for
example, rubbish removal.
8.
Test of Spoken English
Look at the timetable below
and tell your teacher about it.
Malaysia Rail Timetable
Ipoh Kuala Lumpur
07 00 10 05
09 00 12 05
11 00 14 05
1400 17 05
p/s: Don't hesitate to ask.
