APPROACHES ON LANGUAGE TESTING

FOUR MAIN APPROACHES

• DISCRETE-POINT TESTING APPROACH

• INTEGRATIVE TESTING APPROACH

• COMMUNICATIVE TESTING APPROACH

• PERFORMANCE TESTING APPROACH

DISCRETE-POINT TESTING APPROACH

• Constructed on the assumption that language can be divided into its component parts, and those parts can be tested successfully.

STRENGTH• Cover a wide range of scope of materials to

be put in tests.

• Allows quantification on the student’s responses.

• Objective, thus reliable

WEAKNESSES• Energy and time consuming.

• Do not include social context where verbal communication normally take place.

• Success in doing the test is not readily inferable to the ability of the test taker to communicate in real life circumstances.

INTEGRATIVE TESTING APPROACH

• Involves the testing of language in context and thus concerned primarily with meaning and the total communicative effect.

STRENGTH• Communicative effect of discourse will

be very useful for pupils in testing.

• View pupils’ proficiency with a global view.

• Cheap and easy to make.

WEAKNESSES• Even if measuring integrated skills

are better but sometimes teacher should consider the importance of measuring skills based on particular need, such as writing only, speaking only.

COMMUNICATIVE TESTING APPROACH

• Lays more emphasis on the notion and function, like agreeing, persuading or inviting, that language means in communication.

STRENGTH• Tests are realistic

• Increases students motivation in the use of language.

WEAKNESSES

• Time and energy consuming.

•Problem of extrapolation.

PERFORMANCE TESTING APPROACH

•STUDENTS WILL LEARN BEST WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN A CHANCE TO PERFORM.

STRENGTH• Increase learning motivation.• Meaningful.• Authentic.• Challenge high order thinking

skills.

WEAKNESSES• Time consuming.• Expensive• Challenge the teacher to match

performance such as costumes for role play.

THANK YOU

In the eyes of a child there is joy,THERE IS LAUGHTER,

There is hope,There is trust

Air supply, “In the Eyes of a Child”