Oh, No! Not Another Test!
Real Life Skill
Reading Test Instructions
In an exam, understanding the test instructions, as well as the question itself, can help you to improve your test scores. Pay special attention to the verbs in the instructions, such as choose, circle, underline, cross out, write, or explain.
A Below are four common types of questions used in tests. Read the instructions for each item. Then answer each question.
1. Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.
Mary is (a nice/the nicer/the nicest) person I have ever met.
Sample Answer
"the nicest" (superlative form).
2. Choose the sentence that best describes the photo.
(a) The man is looking for his key.
(b) The man is watching television.
(c) The man is getting dressed.
(d) The man is putting clothes in a suitcase.
Sample Answer
(d) The man is putting clothes in a suitcase.
3. Look at the word one in the sentence below. Underline the word or phrase that means the same as one.
I don't have a car now, but I want to buy one next year.
Sample Answer
"car" (the word "one" refers back to "car").
4. Write a sentence to describe the main idea of the passage below.
When should a person begin learning a second language? Is learning a second language not spoken in the home really easier for children? While many people think children are able to learn new languages easily, many experts now believe that second language learning can be as difficult for many children as it is for adults.
Sample Answer
The main idea is that the belief that children learn languages more easily than adults is not necessarily true; experts think it can be equally difficult for both.
B Discuss the following questions with a partner.
- What do you think each question type above is testing?
- Which instructions were easiest to understand? Why?
- Which question is easiest to give a score to? Which question is hardest?
Sample Answers
1. Question 1 tests vocabulary/grammar, Question 2 tests visual interpretation, Question 3 tests reference/pronoun understanding, Question 4 tests summarization.
2. Question 1 was easiest because it just requires choosing a word.
3. Question 4 is hardest to score because answers vary, while multiple-choice (Question 1 and 2) is easiest.
What Do You Think?
- What effect do tests have on education in your country?
- Why do you think we need to take so many tests in modern society?
- How you would design the perfect test? What kinds of questions would it have?
Sample Answers
1. Tests often cause stress but also motivate students to study hard. They determine university admissions.
2. We need tests to evaluate progress, compare performance fairly, and ensure quality standards.
3. I would design a test with a mix of multiple-choice (for knowledge) and essay questions (for critical thinking). Also include practical tasks to assess real-world application.
Oh, No! Not Another Test!
Think about the last test you took. How much of what you learned for the test do you still remember? Many people take tests to pass a course or get a promotion, but they often forget the information afterward! This is especially the case for people taking large international tests like TOEFL or IELTS. These tests usually involve multiple-choice questions, and people often study to increase their scores, not to learn important information. In fact, educators are divided on whether these kinds of tests are the most effective way to assess a person's abilities.
Those who support such tests say they are the only way for educators and employers to compare people based on their test scores. However, there are people trying to reform this system. They believe that standard tests aren't the best way to measure a person's ability. These reformers also believe that intelligent people are not always good at taking tests or memorizing facts. A multiple-choice test cannot always tell what people have learned, or whether they can apply that knowledge in the future.
Reformers believe that other types of evaluation achieve better results. Tests that contain a mix of written and spoken questions give a more complete assessment of what the person is capable of. A portfolio, or a collection of work done throughout a course, can show how much the student has improved individually. Group interviews, where a group of people are interviewed at the same time, can also be useful for employers, since they show how people interact with others.
Alternative educational institutions such as Montessori and Waldorf schools don't believe that education should be focused on testing. At these schools, the classroom is very relaxed and "free," with students learning from each other as much as they learn from teachers. Some of these schools even allow students to choose what they study. Teachers create activities designed to let students show their abilities or knowledge of a certain subject. In these schools, the focus is on learning by experiencing and doing things.
The debate on testing continues, and educators have yet to find a perfect method of evaluating learning. Until that day comes, old test methods will be used and new test methods will continue to develop. But one thing's for sure, testing will continue to play an important part in all our lives—so study hard!
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