Types of Test

             Introduction

The needs of assessing the outcome of learning have led to the development and elaboration of different test formats. Testing language has traditionally taken the form of testing knowledge about language, usually the testing of knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. Stern notes that 'if the ultimate objective of language teaching is effective language learning, then our main concern must be the learning outcome.'

All language tests are not of the same kind. They differ mainly in terms of design and purpose. In terms of method, a broad distinction can be made between pen- and -paper language test and performance test. The different types of test are as follows: -

    1. Oral Tests

Oral tests are used to test the overall conversational fluency or pronunciation of a particular subset of phonology and can take the form of imitation, structure responses or free responses. Oral tests can cover the range of language units and can aim to test comprehension of long or short passages, single sentences or, or even phrases and words.

    2. Written Tests

Writing tests can take on an open-ended form with free composition, or be structured to elicit anything from correct spelling discourse level competence. It is a form of descriptive test. In written exam writing skills are developed. It is very beneficial.

    3. Objective Tests

Objective tests are those that have clear right or wrong answers. It doesn't require judgement on the part of the scorer because scoring here is objective. It won't change even if the scorer has been changed. Multiple choice test is an example of this kind of test.

    4. Subjective Tests

Subjective tests require the marker or examiner to make a subjective judgement regarding the marks deserved. Examples are essay questions and oral interviews. For such test, it is especially important that both examiner and student are aware of the gradining criteria in order to increase their validity.

    5. Achievement Tests

An achievement test, also referred to as attainment or summative test, are devised to measure how much of a language someone has learned with reference to a particular course of study or programme of instruction, e.g. end of year tests designed to show mastery of a language. An achievement test might be a listening comprehension test based on a particular set of situational dialogues in a textbook. The test has two fold objective- 

1.To help the teachers judge the success of their teaching.

2. To identify the weakness of their learners. 

    6. Diagnostic Tests

Diagnostic tests are prepared in order to discover the strengths and weaknesses of language reamers. This information is useful to language instructors in helping the trainees make improvement in their language skills. One of the well-known diagnostic tests in English is Prator's Diagnostic Passage. Basically, diagnostic language tests has a three fold objective: -

1. To provide learners with the way to test their knowledge of a language.

2. To provide learners with better information about their strengths and weaknesses.

    7. Aptitude Tests

Aptitude Test refers to test the genuine ability one is endowed with to learn a language. It is thought to be a combination of several abilities. For example phonological ability, syntactic ability, psychological ability, etc. A high language aptitude person can learn more quickly and easily then a low language aptitude individual. It tends to measure a learners aptitude for language learning.

    8. Proficiency Tests
A proficiency test is devised to measure how much of a language someone has learned. It is not linked to any particular course of instruction, but measure the learner's general level of language mastery. Most English language proficiency test base their testing items on high frequency count vocabulary and general basic grammar. Some proficiency test have been standardized world wide use, such as the well known American tests, the TOEFL, and the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) which are used to measure the English language proficiency of foreign students intending further study at English speaking institutions, namely the USA.
 
    9. Placement Tests
Placement tests are administered in order to make decisions about where a student should be placed within a language instructional program. In most cases, language reamers with similar language abilities should be grouped together. The instructor can then work with individuals who are at approximately the same level of development in language skills and can help them strengthen those skills.

    10. Cloze Tests
The cloze test, also alternately referred to as cloze procedure, consists of a set of techniques for measuring, for example, reading comprehension. In a cloze test words are removed from a reading passage at regular intervals, leaving blanks. For example every fifth word may be removed. The reader must then read the passage and try to guess the missing words.

    11. Internal Tests
Internal tests are those given by the institution where the learner is taking the course. They are often given at the end of a course in the form of a final exam.

    12. External Tests
External tests are those given by an outside body.  Examples are the TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, SAT, ACT, LSAT, GRE and GMAT. The exams themselves are the basis for admission to university, job recruitment, or promotion.

                    Conclusion

In a nutshell, I have given the different types of test above and tried to explain that with the help of these tests one can find the strengths and weaknesses of the learner and to identify what they know and what they don't know. We can also find the capabilities of the learners in a particular field.