3.1 Types of Testing

Direct and indirect testing: Direct testing provides information that is not going to change depending of the person answering it. Just one possible answer. Indirect is the opposite, being the answers different and unique.

Example: For direct is multiple choice and for indirect an open paragraph

Discrete point and integrative testing: Discrete test just one skill at the time, while integrative as its name says, blends them together.

Example: For discrete, fill the gaps. For integrative, listen to an audio and take notes.

Norm-referenced and criterion referenced testing: norm-referenced testing is used to make comparisons between students’ performance and the other one is used when we want to know if students are able to perform certain things.

Example: For norm reference we compare between the students who passed the test and those who doesn’t. For criterion, it is just a regular exam to say if they have the knowledge or not.

Objective and subjective testing: The scorer acts objectively or subjectively when revising.

Example: True or false statements are objective, while an open paragraph is subjective.

Computer adaptive testing: Used to collect data from scores.

Example: Use a computer to create a digital exam

Communicative language testing: used to evaluate the performing of communicative skills.
Example: The students listen to an audio and then explains orally the content of it.