Formal Testing Informal Testing

Why? To measure progress at points in the course (formative testing).

To measure achievement at the end of the course (summative testing).

University entrance. Future job applications.

To provide feedback on progress for students and increase their motivation

To provide feedback to the teacher on students’ learning, and on the effectiveness of the teaching and materials

To encourage regular review / revision

Who for?

Teacher, students, parents, current employers, future employers, colleges & universities

Mainly for students, but also for the teacher

When &

how often?

Before the course (placement test) At regular points during the course – with

advance warning At the end of the course - with advance

warning Separate from regular classroom teaching

Integrated into regular classroom teaching Constantly throughout the course and often without

warning At the beginning of the lesson (to review the last

lesson) At the end of the lesson (to review the present lesson) At the end of the week or month Regularly

Who by?

The teacher The institution External body

The teachers The students themselves

How? A wide variety of test types can be used, but they often involve either silent reading and writing, or individual interviews.

Tests are graded, and a record is kept of the score; sometimes scores are made public.

The tests themselves are very carefully prepared to make sure that they are

A wide range of test types, including assessment of all four skills, as well as more traditional tests of grammatical and lexical knowledge and accuracy

Practicality is more important than reliability. Tests may be marked, by the teacher or other students,

but scores are not always recorded or part of students’ final grade.

accurate and effective tests of students’ abilities.