DISCREET POINT AND INTEGRATIVE TESTING

You may see or hear these words when being asked to assess or even write a test so
lets see what they mean.
Discrete Point tests are based on an analytical view of language. This is where
language is divided up so that components of it may be tested. Discrete point tests aim
to achieve a high reliability factor by testing a large number of discrete items. From
these separated parts, you can form an opinion which is then applied to language as an
entity. You may recognise some of the following Discrete Point tests
!. Phoneme recognition.
". Yes#$o, True# False answers.
%. &pelling.
'. (ord completion.
). *rammar items.
+. ,ost multiple choice tests.
&uch tests have a down side in that they take language out of conte-t and usually bear
no relationship to the concept or use of whole language.
Integrative tests
.n order to overcome the above defect, you should consider Integrative tests. &uch
tests usually re/uire the testees to demonstrate simultaneous control over several
aspects of language, 0ust as they would in real language use situations. 1-amples of
.ntegrative tests that you may be familiar with include
!. 2lo3e tests
". Dictation
%. Translation
'. 1ssays and other coherent writing tasks
). 4ral interviews and conversation
+. 5eading, or other e-tended samples of real te-t