Formal 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.

Informal Testing

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 accurate
and effective tests of students abilities.

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.