TKT Assessment and Testing Types 2

Question 1

What is the difference between 'norm-referenced' and 'criterion-referenced' assessment?

Accepted Answer

Norm-referenced assessment compares a learner's performance to that of a reference group; criterion-referenced measures performance against defined standards or objectives

Answer

Norm-referenced tests rank learners relative to a comparison group; criterion-referenced tests measure whether learners have achieved specific learning outcomes, regardless of how others perform.

Question 2

What does 'diagnostic assessment' aim to do?

Accepted Answer

Identify specific areas of strength and weakness in learners' language knowledge or skills before or during a course

Answer

Diagnostic assessment identifies learners' specific strengths and weaknesses in order to inform teaching planning and provide targeted support where needed.

Question 3

What is 'continuous assessment' and what is its advantage over a single end-of-course exam?

Accepted Answer

Assessment that takes place throughout a course, building a picture of learner progress over time through multiple tasks and observations

Answer

Continuous assessment gathers evidence of learning through multiple assessments across a course, giving a more rounded and valid picture of learner ability than a single high-stakes examination.

Question 4

What is a 'portfolio' as an assessment tool in language learning?

Accepted Answer

A collection of a learner's work, selected and organised to demonstrate their achievements, progress, and reflections over a period of time

Answer

A language portfolio is a purposeful collection of selected learner work that provides evidence of learning, progress, and self-reflection across a course or period of study.

Question 5

What does 'face validity' mean in the context of language testing?

Accepted Answer

The degree to which a test appears, to test takers and stakeholders, to be relevant and appropriate for its intended purpose

Answer

Face validity refers to whether a test looks valid to its users — whether learners and teachers perceive it as a fair and relevant measure of the skills being assessed.

TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test Practice Test

TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test Practice Test

TKT Assessment and Testing Types 2