If I ____________ my life to live over, as the song goes, I would do it all over again

Unit 7

Evaluation and Testing

Progress tests

Diagnostic tests

Practice tests Progress tests should be used periodically to gauge what language has been remembered or acquired and what language has been forgotten. These tests are useful to let teachers and students know what language items need more work. Such tests also tend to encourage students to review and revise, which is never a bad thing!

Progress tests should include a balance of all four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) as well as grammar and vocabulary that have been covered. Please note that progress tests should only include language items covered within the prescribed period.

Some schools keep progress tests on file to match topics and language from the course books in use, otherwise progress tests can often be taken from the relevant teacher's book. If neither of these options is available, the teacher will have to devise his/her own test. Activities for tests can often be unused exercises taken from the work book, or other resource books.

Many teachers are not in favor of formal testing as it is often more of a test of memory than actual knowledge. Such teachers believe that as they see the students on a regular basis, they are able to measure their progress by ongoing observation in the classroom. Even if you agree with this viewpoint, it is a fact that most schools will require you to formally test the students as well.

Diagnostic tests are basically similar in content to placement tests, and are sometimes more extensive. They are given at the start of the course to see what the students already know, and to help the teacher to prepare lessons and materials that will enable students to work on the areas of difficulty identified by the test.

Practice tests should follow the format and the structure of the external examination that they are being given in preparation for. Some of the most common external exams are given on the following page.

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