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Constructing Discrete Point Test

The document discusses various types of grammar tests including multiple choice questions, error correction, fill-in-the-blank, transformation items, and sentence combining exercises. It provides examples of each test type and discusses advantages and disadvantages. Guidelines are provided for constructing different test items such as using the same number of distractors for multiple choice questions and ensuring only one term fits each blank for fill-in-the-blank questions. The document emphasizes that grammar tests should assess meaningful communication and production of language rather than just recognition.

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Marian Diaconescu
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
631 views

Constructing Discrete Point Test

The document discusses various types of grammar tests including multiple choice questions, error correction, fill-in-the-blank, transformation items, and sentence combining exercises. It provides examples of each test type and discusses advantages and disadvantages. Guidelines are provided for constructing different test items such as using the same number of distractors for multiple choice questions and ensuring only one term fits each blank for fill-in-the-blank questions. The document emphasizes that grammar tests should assess meaningful communication and production of language rather than just recognition.

Uploaded by

Marian Diaconescu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Constructing discrete point

test :Grammar
Areas Constituting Grammar in Language Testing:
Sentence structure, using and identifying parts of speech, punctuation, spelling, and
capitalization.
Types of test:
Transforming items : Another type of grammar item makes use of transformations. In
this type of item, test takers are given a sentence and the first few words of another
sentence to change the original sentence without changing the meaning.
Example :
1. Jim hasnt been home in a long time.
Its been a long time _________________________.
sentences combining exercises :
Sentence combining exercises can play a part in testing grammar as well as its more
traditional use as part of composition testing and training. Exaample :
I met Sallys daughter
She has just got back from Afghanistan
.
errors analysis : An error correction item is one in which the testee is given a sentence
with an error. Four words or phrases in the sentence marked with letters and the testee
needs to decide which of the words or phrases has the error. For example,
(a) Most of students (b) believe that they (c) should be getting better grades (d) than they
are.
words changing items : Another type of item is one in which the test takers are given a
sentence and a word which they need to fit into the sentence by changing the form of the
word.
Example : I have In Paris for the past two years (be)
fill in the blank : example : Fill in the gaps in the story with verbs in the Present
Simple. Choose verbs from the list (some verbs are extra). To ask, to ask, to earn
(negative form).
Slim Skinty and Ellie Trampter are very poor. They____1), so they____2) any money .
However, they ..3) their lives. Slim Skinty often____4) under a bridge or in the park.
He____5) food in rubbish bins and____6) his clothes in the river.
multiple choice :
The test maker gives the testee a sentence with a blank and four or five choices of a word

or phrase which completes the sentence correctly.


For example,
Because my mother was sick,
I _____ to go home last week.
A. Had
B. Have
C. Has
D. Hadnt
To give the testees an utterance, and have them decide which of four or five utterances an
appropriate response is.
Example:
I think that tuition is much too high here.
a) I do so
b) Do I so
c) I so do
d) So do I
To give testees a sentence and ask them to choose which of four or five alternatives has
the same meaning.
For example:
The school should have expelled him.
a) The school didnt expel him, which was wrong.
b) The school expelled him, because it was necessary.
c) The school might have expelled him, if it had known.
d) The school will probably expel him in the near future
The Basics of Constructing Grammar Tests
Rea Dickins says that in order for a test to measure communicative grammar it must have
five characteristics.
1. The test must provide more context than only a single sentence.
2. The test taker should understand what the communicative purpose of the task is.
3. He or she should also know who the intended audience is.
4. He or she must have to focus on meaning and not only form to answer correctly.
5. Recognition is not sufficient. The test taker must be able to produce grammatical
responses.(pg. 125)

Advantages and disadvantages Multiple choice questions


Advantages :
- A large number of ideas can be addressed in a short period of response time.
- These questions are easily and quickly scored.
- Questions can elicit responses from all cognitive levels, from knowledge to
evaluation.
- Questions can be improved over time by analyzing them in light of student
performance.
Disadvantages :
- It is time-consuming to write good items, especially those at higher cognitive levels.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Error Correction
Advantages :

- It can increase the students sensitivity in assessing the sentences that they read
Disadvantages :
- Its difficult to construct the sentence without making the error looks obvious
Advantages and disadvantages Completion items or fill in the blank
Advantages :
- Test production, not just recognition.
- It is possible to require a phrase instead of a word in each blank
- While it is probably not realistic for large- scale testing situations, it is something that
is useful for classroom teachers who want to help their students develop an ability to
produce appropriate grammatical forms in context.
- A lot of vocabulary can be assessed in a minimal time
- Construction is relatively easy
Disadvantages :
- Need to be marked by hand and there will be some cases where the marker needs to
make judgments about whether a response is correct.
- It is not always easy to write items for which there is only one possible answer.
- The understanding assessed is likely to be trivial (recall/knowledge level)
- Difficult to avoid ambiguity in constructing questions
- Scoring requires careful reading for unanticipated but correct answers
Advantages and disadvantages transform items
Advantages :
- To add grammatical knowledge
Disadvantages :
- this type of test is difficult to grade because the teacher has to be aware of the variety
of possible answers
- it does not in any way test the testees knowledge of when each of the possible
transformations would be most appropriate
How to Construct Multiple Choice Items
Dos:
- Use the same number of distractors (wrong answers) for every question.
- Use reasonable vocabulary and avoid wordiness and ambiguity
- Examine questions carefully for subtle clues in word choice or phrasing
Donts :
- Provide clues in the stem, such as a or an at the end; put these articles with the
distractors.
How to Construct Fill in the Blanks/ Completion Items
Dos :
- Keep items brief.
- Try to ensure that only one term fits each blank.
- Give students credit for unanticipated yet correct responses
Donts :
- Lift statements directly from the book.
How to Construct Error Analysis test
Dos:

- Mix in some sentences that have no errors, and students are required to indicate that
there is no error.
- The students might be required to correct the error.
Donts:
- Provide two errors, or 2 possible errors in a statement
How to Construct Sentence Order test
Dos:
- The sentence has complete grammatical components
Donts :
- Making the sentence too long
How to Construct Transformation Items
Dos:
- The word which starts the transformed sentence is underlined, or the testee is given
one word to use in the new sentence
Donts:
- Combine more than 2 sentences lead to confusion
How to Construct Sentence Combining Exercise test
Dos:
- Specifying how the two sentences should be combined for example by using relative
pronoun
Donts:
- Ask the students to combine more than two sentences

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