Journal Assessment

KINDS OF TESTS
As Language assessment is very important in our professional live, it is imperative to know that there are many methods to implement it, like conversations, role plays, readingactivities and tests, to name few. Moreover it is necessary to recognize whether these instruments are appropriate or not for our students needs, level and reality. Also, it has to be clear that we applythem to collect helpful information about the teaching approach we have chosen, the student’s interests and likes and the contents we should use when we teach them.
In view of these facts, tests areprevalent elements in the assessment process and for that reason it is essential to identify the different kinds of language tests and what are they design for. The first aspect to point out is thatthe design of a test has to do with the purpose of this one, and those tests are classified depending on the information they want to attain. For instance if we want to measure someone’s ability tocommunicate in an specific language and establish if he or she is prepared to take a course or work in a company where the specific language is required without taking into account his or her previouspreparation and without following particular objectives or contents, we have to apply a proficiency test, which, in my opinion, is one of the most concrete tests because it tells you what are youable to do with the specific language according to the standard followed, normally, the European Framework.
However, proficiency test are not suitable for other concerns. Achievements tests instead,are based on contents and objectives of a specific course and their design has to take into account the student’s level and the course objectives, giving a main role to the teacher who has to getinvolved in the whole assessment process. It is important to add that Achievement tests has to be strongly related to the syllabus of the course in order not to mislead the results, I consider this...