Chapter 10:
Criteria and Test Types
A. Criteria
1. Validity
2. Reliability
3. Discrimination
4. Administration
5. Test instructions to candidates
6. Backwash effects
1. Validity
Validity the extent to which it
measures what it is supposed to
measure & nothing else (content)
Face validity
Content validity
Construct validity
Empirical validity
Face validity
If a test item looks right to other testers,
teachers, moderators & testees
described as having face validity
In the past, regarded by test writers simply
as a public relations exercise
Now, designers of communicative tests:
face validity- the most important of all
types of validity
Content validity
Depending on a careful analysis of the
language being tested & of the
particular course objective
When constructing tests, writers should
first draw up a table of test
specifications (language skills, areas
included…)