Language Measurements bgg Prepared by: Rowena J. Utod and Shermina H. Pelaez
The P urpose of a L anguage Test The purpose of a language test is to determine a person's knowledge and/or ability in the language and to discriminate that person's ability from that of others. Such ability may be of different kinds, achievement, proficiency or aptitude.
Types of Language Testing Language Proficiency Tests Proficiency testing measures a person’s level of skill in a language, independent of how they learned it.
Aptitude Tests An aptitude test does not measure how well someone uses a specific language, but how well they acquire language skills in general.
Diagnostic Tests Proficiency tests usually provide a general assessment of a person’s full language skillset. In contrast, diagnostic tests identify specific strengths and weaknesses within that skillset.
Placement & Achievement Tests These tests are used exclusively in language learning environments. A placement test measures skill in order to group similarly skilled learners together.
EVALUATION OF TEST Make a judgment about the quality or worth of an educational program Give students the opportunity to show what they have learned. Motivate the students. Give the teacher useful information