Impact of testing on

teaching

Good tests and good teaching

Exams that test real-life skills can be prepared






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for by real life work in the classroom

In real life skills are integrated, and good exams
do this
Students need to transfer skills from the
classroom to real life and good tests do this
Teaching feels real

Multiple choice questions

What are the advantages and disadvantages of
this type of test?

Other types of testing items

True false

Gapped texts

Cloze passages

Sentence transformations

Multiple matching

Open gap-fill
Lake Titicaca, often known (0) the holy lake, is
situated in South America on the border between
Bolivia and Peru. The lives of the people (13)
tools and pottery have found on its shores have
long remained a mystery. However, scientists
taking (15) in an exploration project at the lake
have found what they believe to (16) a 1000year old temple under the water.

Sentence transformations
Complete the second sentence so that it has a
similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
word given. Do not change the word given.
You must use between two and five words,
including the word given.

Sentence transformations

The two boys were sitting by themselves in the
classroom
OWN
The two boys were sitting .. in the
classroom
on their own

Sentence transformations

I had never met Pias husband before
FIRST
It .. I had ever met Pias
husband

was the first time

KET reading

You cannot eat this
meal in the evening a)

b)

c)
9

Closed for lunch

Come back later
Special Lunch
Until 2.30 p.m.
4.50
COUNTRY FARM SOUP
100% fresh vegetables

For teachers

Enables them to develop real life skills

Gives diagnostic information across skills

Provides framework and goals within real






10

contexts
Links to the CEFR
Provides a clear syllabus
Avoids repetitive exam practice

For students

Provides motivation

Allows them to measure real progress of






11

language in use
They can see the relevance of classwork to real
life
Avoids the temptation to concentrate on
repetitive exam practice
They like it!

Round up

Task types test appropriately

Different skills are tested in different ways

Skills are transferable

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