TESTING READINGMauricio ArrobaMay 24th, 2014.

INTRODUCTION

1. Specify what candidates should be able to do:

- Operations- Texts- Speed- Criterial level of performance

INTRODUCTION2. Make suggestions for setting appropriate test task- Selecting texts- Writing itemsPossible techniquesa) Multiple choiceb) Short answerc) Gap fillingd) Information transfer- Which language for items and responses- Procedures for writing items- Practical advice on item writing- A note on scoring

I. OPERATIONS

1. Straight forward activity2. Receptive skill3. Measured Skills ????????a) Slow

reading b) Flip the page reading

c) Search for Particular information reading

OPERATIONS

Diagnostic test?Achievement test?Placement and proficiency tests?

OPERATIONS

Learners´ reading skills

a. Expeditious reading operations

b. Slow and careful reading operations

TEXTS

TEXT TYPES TEXT FORMS GRAPHIC FEATURES

INTENDED READERSHIP

STYLE TOPICS

LENGTH READABILITYRANGE OF

VOCABULARY AND

GRAMMAR

SPEED

CRITERIAL LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE

a) Norm-reference testingb)Criterion-reference testing

II. SELECTING TEXTS

Select a representativ

e sample

Look for texts which have

discrete pieces of

information

Interesting article for candidates

Avoid texts of general

knowledge and already

read by candidates

Specified elements to

be scan

Appropriate length

Include as many

passages as possible

Clear organized

structure of the text

Do not choose texts that are too

culturally driven

WRITING ITEMS

POSSIBLE TECHNIQUES

When writin

g items

a) Multiple choice

b) Short Answers

Gap filling

Information

transfer

WHICH LANGUAGE FOR ITEMS AND RESPONSES?

-Writing items should not cause difficulties of comprehension- Less demanding than the text itself- Responses should make minimum demand on writing ability: candidates share the same language

PEOCEDURES FOR WRITING ITEMS

a. Careful reading of the textb. Ask yourself what one can get from the textc. Note main points or examplesd. Decide what candidates would be able to performe. Text and items should be presented to colleagues for moderation

PRACTICAL ADVICE ON ITEM WRITING

1.Scanning: present items in the order they are to be found in the text

2. Do not include items that candidates may be able to answer from general knowledge3. Make items independent of each other

4. Be ready to make minor changes of a text to improve the items.

A NOTE ON SCORING

ACTION Recall pieces of reading test in term of

the facts discuss in the presentation? a) Lengthb) Itemsc) Responsesd) Language level