actually tests what it intends to test.

matches course objectives.

Draw up test specifications
Give each section a percentage weighting

Rewrite these sentences, using the cues provided.

Hes too weak to lift that table. (so that)

Testing grammar
or writing?

Complete the following open dialogue.

A Hello. May I _____, please?
B Im sorry he ______. Can you leave ____?
Testing
speaking?

Listen and choose the right word.

Thank you (1) _____ (to / from / for / on) your
letter. Im in the countryside with my friend Thanh.
She (2) _____ (leaves / lives / be / sees) in a
beautiful house. Theres a flower garden in front of
the house. Theres a (3) _____ (table / trees /
vegetables / field) garden behind the house. To the
left of the house, there is a lake. To the right of the
house, there are (4) _____ (small / a tall / a small /
tall) trees. Here is a photo.
Testing listening /
grammar /
vocabulary?

A. Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced

differently from that of the others. (2 items)
B. Choose the word whose main stress is not the same as that
in the rest. (2 items)
C. Choose the most suitable word or phrase. (8 items)
D. Choose the word (a, b, c, or d) that best fit each of the blank
space. (8 items)
E. Choose the underlined word or phrase (A, B, C or D) that
need correcting. (4 items)
F. Use the correct form of the word given in each sentence.(8
items)
G. Read the passage and then decide True or False (4 items)
H. Transformation (4 items)

Testing listening
? writing?

produces consistent results (different markers /

different times)
is affected by

objective vs subjective tests => marking

test administration (e.g. machines, temperatures, )
test instructions
test questions
timing
personal factors (e.g. nervousness, sickness)

Open dialogue
Nam: Hello, Long. (1) __________?
Long: Yes, I do. I live on Nguyen Trai
Street.
Nam: Is there a market near your house?
Long: (2) __________?
Nam: Is it Ben Thanh market?
1. Do you go by bus?
Long: (3) __________?
2. Do you live in town?
Nam: (4) __________?
3. We go by bus
Carelessly written
test question

4. Do you want to go to
Ben Thanh market?

Multiple choice
1. _____ do you and your brother leave?
a. What b. Where c. When d. Why
2. What time is it? It a quarter past noon.
a. 12:15 b. 11:45 c.12:25 d. 12:45
Task or
instruction?

Mismatch!

REWRITE
1. There is a big yard in front of my house.
A big yard ______________________.
2. We have History on Monday and Friday.
___________________? (make question)

A series of items
each testing a
particular
grammar point
or lexis

The markers
personal judgment
-> detailed marking
scheme

A combination of
many language
elements

Discrete

Integrative

Subjective

Objective

No personal
judgment,
time-taking,
easy to mark

Write test
specifications

Determine the
weighting

Based on course
objectives? Required
levels?

List of what
to test

Marking scheme based on the

importance of language aspects or
skills

Write test
items

Proofread the test

Try the test

out

Edit the test