1. Raising awareness of writing items for tests

2. Complaints of Learners "But you didn't tell us you were giving a test today!"But you didn't tell us you were giving a test today! "You said the test would just be on the Civil War. You didn't say anything about Abraham Lincoln.""You said the test would just be on the Civil War. You didn't say anything about Abraham Lincoln." "I study, I think I know the stuff. But when I get to the tests it's like all of my ideas fly out of my head and float around the room and go into some other kid's head.""I study, I think I know the stuff. But when I get to the tests it's like all of my ideas fly out of my head and float around the room and go into some other kid's head."

3. The Importance of Testing 1.How testing helps students learning English? Creates positive attitudes toward the class.Creates positive attitudes toward the class. Emphasizes course objectives.Emphasizes course objectives. Shows students where they need to improve.Shows students where they need to improve.

4. The Importance of Testing 2.How testing helps teachers teaching English? Have I been effective in my teaching?Have I been effective in my teaching? What areas do we need more work on?What areas do we need more work on? Where the test instructions clear?Where the test instructions clear? Did the test cause unnecessary anxiety or resentment?Did the test cause unnecessary anxiety or resentment?

5. Reading Comprehension Test 1.Reading is a collective activity-an integrative skill in which the text is processed as a whole.is a collective activity-an integrative skill in which the text is processed as a whole. is objective and easy to score.is objective and easy to score. enhances the understanding of the incoming information from the original sources.enhances the understanding of the incoming information from the original sources.

6. Reading Skills Distinguishing the main ideas from supporting detail.Distinguishing the main ideas from supporting detail. Distinguishing fact from opinion.Distinguishing fact from opinion. Deducing the use of unfamiliar words from context.Deducing the use of unfamiliar words from context. Understanding the relations across sentencesUnderstanding the relations across sentences and paragraphs. and paragraphs.

7. Choosing the Reading Passage Authentic -may receive minor modificationsAuthentic -may receive minor modifications Unseen:Unseen: a. removes unfairness on students performance b. eliminates the possibility of pre-memorization * In order not to discourage students the topics of the texts should cover the topics that are included in the text book.

8. Test Methods Multiple Choice (MC)Multiple Choice (MC) True/FalseTrue/False MatchingMatching ClozeCloze

9. Multiple Choice Items How much did his mother pay for the bicycle?How much did his mother pay for the bicycle? a.More than 15$ b.About 15$ c.Exactly 15$ d.Half than 15$ ( Factual)

10. Multiple Choice Items The word it in line 14 refers toThe word it in line 14 refers to a. day b. pleasure c. secret d. room (Referential)

11. Multiple Choice Items The author mainly discusses hisThe author mainly discusses his a.luckiness. b.happiness. c.friendliness. d.helpfulness. (Inferential)

12. Multiple Choice (MC) Factual questions -understanding of the factual information included in the text.Factual questions -understanding of the factual information included in the text. Referential questions - understanding the relationship among the sentences.Referential questions - understanding the relationship among the sentences. Inferential questions - making logical conclusions from the information.Inferential questions - making logical conclusions from the information.

13. True/False Items 1.It happened on the eve of the holiday. True/ False/ Doesnt Say True/ False/ Doesnt Say 2. The door of his sisters room was open. True/ False /Doesnt Say True/ False /Doesnt Say 3. He found a nice bicycle in the room. True/ False/ Doesnt Say True/ False/ Doesnt Say

14. True/False Items Consist of two parts: Statements and Options.Consist of two parts: Statements and Options. More options should be used to decrease the chance factor.More options should be used to decrease the chance factor.

15. Matching Items Statements Options Statements Options Column A Column B Column A Column B 1. It happened in that month.a. pin 2. She was not in her room.b. bicycle 3. He took it from its hiding place.c. money d. December d. December e. present f. sister

16. Matching Two columns of information.Two columns of information. Each item in the first column matches only one item in the second one.Each item in the first column matches only one item in the second one. More options than statements.More options than statements. Options should be shorter.Options should be shorter. Statements and options should be logically related to one central theme.Statements and options should be logically related to one central theme.

17. Summary Cloze It happened some days before Christmas. My mother was an unusual person, she could perform miracles. She was not at home that day. My sister was in the kitchen and it was then I rushed into her room without any permission. It was the only way to get into the room, as I wanted to get the pin. I was stunned when I entered the room, as I found a nice big bicycle standing against the wall. It was the same bicycle I had been admiring standing at the Baltimore shop window. I realized that my mother had spent enough money to get the bicycle for me as a Christmas present. I had an unusual and an exciting feeling. At the same time I felt bad that I had seen the bicycle and would not express myself naturally on Christmas day. So I decided to keep silent till that day. I wanted my mother to enjoy the pleasant feeling of giving me the present. It happened some days before Christmas. My mother was an unusual person, she could perform miracles. She was not at home that day. My sister was in the kitchen and it was then I rushed into her room without any permission. It was the only way to get into the room, as I wanted to get the pin. I was stunned when I entered the room, as I found a nice big bicycle standing against the wall. It was the same bicycle I had been admiring standing at the Baltimore shop window. I realized that my mother had spent enough money to get the bicycle for me as a Christmas present. I had an unusual and an exciting feeling. At the same time I felt bad that I had seen the bicycle and would not express myself naturally on Christmas day. So I decided to keep silent till that day. I wanted my mother to enjoy the pleasant feeling of giving me the present.

18. Cloze Cloze is a passage of around 240 words with every 7th word deleted.Cloze is a passage of around 240 words with every 7th word deleted. The first and the last sentences are left intact.The first and the last sentences are left intact. * There can be many possible answers for any one gap and there is always disagreement which item is acceptable.

19. Certain Indications for Reading Comprehension Tests 1. It should not be limited to one form of items or texts 2. The nature of the passage and the proficiency level of the students should be considered important determiners. 3. Planning, writing, reviewing, pre-testing.

20. Some Useful Tips Examples should be included in the test to help students know what is expected.Examples should be included in the test to help students know what is expected. The criteria by which students will be assessed, also should be included in the test.The criteria by which students will be assessed, also should be included in the test. The instructions in the test should be given both in native and target language.The instructions in the test should be given both in native and target language.

21. The Key Think of testsThink of tests as teaching tools, as teaching tools, not just as a means not just as a means to evaluate learning to evaluate learning after it has occurred… after it has occurred…