Diagnostic Testing
Here is a procedure for “diagnosing” a new class simply and quickly:
1. Make the whole class do some writing on a simple topic if they already have reached that level.
2. Then mark the writing, looking for every single error. This will take a long time, but you will save a great
deal of time later by doing it carefully in the beginning.
3. Make a list for yourself of the major mistakes made by the children.
4. Draw up a new diagnostic test. This time it should be a list of questions or an exercise based directly on
the mistakes you saw the pupils make. In the case of the verbs mentioned above,
5. you can actually start with a special test on the verbs.
· Let us imagine that your pupils were in Primary 5 and if you noticed after marking the diagnostic test that
their use of capital letters was very poor, you would then set a test specifically on capital letters.
· Before you gave the next test, have a discussion with them on any points which were not clear.
How To Assess Oral English
Oral English is assessed on pronunciation, intonation, accuracy, mood and action. For higher learner of English, collocation and usage of English should be added as the most important functions of a person’s speaking English.
1. Pronunciation : word stress, syllables
2. Intonation: how to make high and low sound to tune up a sentence or a phrase when speaking it
out as a good English speaker’s can understand.
3. Accuracy: present, past, future tenses, the use of direct speech and indirect speech, preposition
etc.
4. Mood and Action: The movement of hands, body and face which shows the English speaker’s
understanding of the language he or she use.
Sample copy of assessment chart:
Let’s say a student speaks, “How are you? I’m fine, thank you.” How would you give marks?
Name Pronunciation Intonation Accuracy Mood and Action Total Marks
1.Mary
2.Yuan
3.Bao
4.Ling
· First of all, set up the total marks.
· Secondly, divide the total marks by all the above 4 items.
· Let’s say the total mark is 100. 100 % 4 = 20
· It means every items carries 20 marks.
· According to the teacher, assessor, professor’s understanding on the student’s speaking skill, the number
of mistakes the students made should be minus from the marks stated above.
Here is a procedure for “diagnosing” a new class simply and quickly:
1. Make the whole class do some writing on a simple topic if they already have reached that level.
2. Then mark the writing, looking for every single error. This will take a long time, but you will save a great
deal of time later by doing it carefully in the beginning.
3. Make a list for yourself of the major mistakes made by the children.
4. Draw up a new diagnostic test. This time it should be a list of questions or an exercise based directly on
the mistakes you saw the pupils make. In the case of the verbs mentioned above,
5. you can actually start with a special test on the verbs.
· Let us imagine that your pupils were in Primary 5 and if you noticed after marking the diagnostic test that
their use of capital letters was very poor, you would then set a test specifically on capital letters.
· Before you gave the next test, have a discussion with them on any points which were not clear.
How To Assess Oral English
Oral English is assessed on pronunciation, intonation, accuracy, mood and action. For higher learner of English, collocation and usage of English should be added as the most important functions of a person’s speaking English.
1. Pronunciation : word stress, syllables
2. Intonation: how to make high and low sound to tune up a sentence or a phrase when speaking it
out as a good English speaker’s can understand.
3. Accuracy: present, past, future tenses, the use of direct speech and indirect speech, preposition
etc.
4. Mood and Action: The movement of hands, body and face which shows the English speaker’s
understanding of the language he or she use.
Sample copy of assessment chart:
Let’s say a student speaks, “How are you? I’m fine, thank you.” How would you give marks?
Name Pronunciation Intonation Accuracy Mood and Action Total Marks
1.Mary
2.Yuan
3.Bao
4.Ling
· First of all, set up the total marks.
· Secondly, divide the total marks by all the above 4 items.
· Let’s say the total mark is 100. 100 % 4 = 20
· It means every items carries 20 marks.
· According to the teacher, assessor, professor’s understanding on the student’s speaking skill, the number
of mistakes the students made should be minus from the marks stated above.
Teacher Training Materials of Professor Dr David Ngin Sian Pau
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Copy Right©Professor Dr David Ngin Sian Pau