Test Construction: The Elements Đặng Hiệp Giang SED-MOET

Writing vocabulary test items Where can we select the words? How can we choose the question types? What is the implied skill or purpose in selecting the item?

Multiple-choice completion (1) Select the words to be tested. (2) Get the right kind of sentence to put each word in (this sentence creating the context is called the stem). (3) Choose several wrong words to put the right word with (these wrong words are called distractors). Three distractors plus the right word are enough for a written item. (4) Finally, prepare clear and simple instructions.

Advantages of Multiple-Choice Completion 1. It helps students see the full meaning of words by providing natural contexts. Also, it is a good influence on instruction: It discourages word-list memorization. 2. Scoring is easy and consistent. 3. It is a sensitive measure of achievement. Limitations of Multiple-Choice Completion 1. It is rather difficult to prepare good sentence contexts that clearly show the meaning of the word being tested. 2. It is easy for students to cheat by copying what others have circled.

Word formation Advantages 1. It reflects teaching approaches. 2. It is generally faster and easier to construct than are items with distractors. Limitations 1. Fewer words can be tested this way than with multiple choice. 2. There is some difficulty in avoiding ambiguous contexts.

Tasks Work in groups of 2 to 3 to complete the tasks, page 21. Refer to the material if needed. In the same group, prepare 2 items, one multiple choice and one word completion and show to the other groups.