HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm INTRODUCTION I have been teaching English at a senior high school for twenty years now My students are between the ages of fifteen and eighteen; it means they are in tenth grade to twelfth grade and they have been learning English for five to seven years or so Each class consists of forty five students with different levels of competence and English is one of the compulsory subjects that they have to study at school The textbooks I am using now were published by The Ministry of Education and Training in 2006 and have officially been in use since then These books are designed to aim at developing the four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) It means that there is a big change in teaching and learning English in schools now (Because the textbooks previously used mainly focus on reading skills as well as analyzing grammar.) In the process of learning a language, especially English, testing plays a powerful role I mean the importance of testing * To students learning English: - Well-made tests of English can help create positive attitudes toward the class and give students a sense of accomplishment as well as a feeling that the teachers evaluation of them matches what the teacher has taught them - Good English tests also help students master the language by requiring them to study harder, emphasizing course objectives and showing them where they need to improve - After the tests, students are able to learn from their weaknesses and adjust their learning * To teachers of English: - Our tests can help answer the question Have I been effective in my teaching? We can evaluate the effectiveness of the syllabus as well as the methods and materials we are using HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm - Through our tests, we can adjust our teaching and asking ourselves the following questions: Which points need reviewing? What areas we need more work on? Should I spend more (or less) time on this material with next years students? and so on - Good tests will also help the teacher to locate the precise areas of difficulty encountered by the class or by the individual student In other words, it is necessary for the teacher to diagnose the students weaknesses and difficulties Testing in other schools as well as in my school, Tran Bien high school is set by The Ministry of Education and Training This means that * The students have to take many different kinds of test at the end of the two semesters such as fifteen-minute tests, forty-five-minute tests, the mid-term tests and the end-of-term tests * Almost every teacher has to write their own tests This brings an advantage that students will soon become familiar with the type of test usually set and will feel reassured because the test contents will be based on the course tests But it is a big challenge for the teacher to solve the problem: How to write an effective test. Since the academic year 2004-2005, Multiple Choice Questions have been applied widely in the national examinations for General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), especially in the core subject of English Up till now, in many schools in Bien Hoa City most teachers have been using this type of test (See APPENDIX 1) They use 100 % multiple - choice questions to test their students To my point, it is not perfect to that Why so? Because the usefulness of this type is limited Multiple-choice testing like that just tests knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, etc rather than the ability to use language Teachers rarely measure communication but they measure students ability to recognize correct grammatical forms, etc This misleads students about the process of learning a language in general and English in particular Moreover they gradually have a lack of language skills The other limit is that the length of time required to construct HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm good multiple-choice items could often have been better spent by teachers on other more useful tasks connected with teaching or testing It is time-consuming and more difficult One advantage of this type of test I can find is that the teacher spends less time scoring the papers of the students What about students? Most of the students are happy to take this type of test and they become lazy to practise their language skills They need not review the lessons before the tests, but they just choose the options A, B, C, or D in a free way without thinking carefully To choose the options accidentally may give them a certain mark This proves that testing means zero From my point of view, I would like to present in this paper the way HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST." What to test? - Testing language subskills: It measures the separate components of English such as vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation - Testing communication skills: It measures actual communication in the real world The tests show how well students can use the language in actually exchanging ideas and information That means testing listening, speaking, reading and writing How to test VOCABULARY: - Choose the letter of the word which is the nearest in meaning to the underlined word Ex: The President expressed his deep sorrow over the bombing deaths A regret B anger C sadness D passion - Choose the letter of the correct or best word to complete each sentence Ex: Sperm whales are, which means they eat meat A herbivores B carnivores C omnivores D mammals - Select the correct option to which the definition refers Ex: A person who receives and pays out money in a bank is a(n) A broker B creditor C accountant D cashier HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm - Complete the following sentences with the most suitable verb phrase from the list Ex: come round come down with come along come into come up with Les a lot of money after his rich grandmother died Do you want to to my house and watch the match tonight? I hate shopping alone so Im really glad youre Mr Moorcroft a great idea to make Maths more interesting I know Im the flu when I get a headache like this - Fill in the blank with the correct form of the words on the right Ex: Be when you cross the road CARE Do you think this book is a form of INTEREST GRAMMAR: - Choose the best one to fill in the blank Ex: Several years ago I English A studies B study C will study D have studied - Identify the underlined word or phrase that has to be changed for the sentence to be correct Ex: One of the girls lost her wallet and doesnt have some money for the game A B C D - Write the correct form of the words in brackets Ex: Hes student in our class (tall) Where are the children? - They TV in the living room? (watch) - Combine the two sentences, using the word in brackets Ex: Sheila saved enough money She went to Paris (AFTER) PRONUNCIATION: - Choose the word that has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others Ex: A beef B beer C engineer D cheer - Pick out the word that has the stressed pattern different from that of the other words Ex: A integral B musical C difficult D delightful HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm - Teacher reads aloud a word and students choose the correct one Ex: (spoken) plays (written) A plays B prays C pays D brays LISTENING: - Listen carefully to the following short talk and answer the questions below Why has the bus stopped? How many accidents have there been this week? When was the accident to occur? Are there many accidents to occur at this corner? Should one be careful at this corner? - Listen carefully to the recording and write the missing word in each of the following blanks A: B: A: B: A: B: A: Tom! You never talk to me (1) What did you say? and you never (2)me, (3) (4)? You (5)take me out, you used to buy me (6)and you used to (7)my birthday But I (8)remember your birthday, (9) Do you? Well, it was yesterday! Im (10)home to mother! - Listen carefully to the passage and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F) True False David works in a hospital He leaves home at eight oclock He goes to work by car Rosa starts work at one oclock She goes to work with David David can cook They eat in the kitchen at seven oclock Rosa often watches TV while shes having dinner - Listen carefully to the passage and choose the best answer (A), (B), (C) or (D) What used to happen in the past? A Teachers sat still for hours B Teachers could memorize all sorts of things C Children sat still for hours D Children learned things by themselves HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm How long did children go on repeating things? A until they sat still for hours B until they knew them by heart C until they were allowed to stop D until they understood them What many teachers wonder today? A If it is possible to make children learn at all B If you can never help children learn C If children can learn and discover things by themselves D If children can learn things by heart What these teachers say? A childrens education is changing very rapidly today B they will continue making them memorize all sorts of things C You must let children learn and discover things for themselves D They will go on making children sit still for hours READING: - Complete the blanks in the following reading text by choosing A, B, C or D At last I (1) to study another foreign language I soon mastered French and I could read the books and newspapers (2) _ in French with (3) I then could undertake Italian One of my friends that was also learning Italian used (4) _me to play chess with him (5) that this practice took up too much of the time I had to spend studying A decided A write A ease A asking A Find B had decided B writing B easy B ask B To find C has decided C written C easily C to ask C Found D would have decided D to write D easier D having asked D Finding - Read the passage and write one suitable word in each blank The initial and bold letter has been given for you THE RAINSTORM Yesterday, when I was driving home from work, it (1) sto rain Some people were walking along the street Only a few people were (2) c umbrellas It soon began to rain so hard that everyone ran into shops and cafes to get out of the rain A little while later, all the people who were walking on the (3) s were either using umbrellas or (4) wraincoats Many people were still standing under cover No one was riding a bicycle or (5) m, but some HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm people were driving cars They were driving (6) s, though, because of the rain - Read the passage and then decide whether the following statements are true(T) or false (F) There are many sources of pollution in our modern world At present, the most serious sources are acid rain, car exhaust fumes and oil spills Factory chimneys give out smoke that contains sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide These gases combine with the atmosphere to form sulphuric and nitric acids When it rains, these acids dissolve in the rain and make it acidic Acid rain is believed to be the worst pollution problem of all It has harmed aquatic life by turning many lakes into lifeless bodies of water In these areas, there is no limestone into the acidic lakes However, it is not possible to this on a large enough scale to save all the lakes Car exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and lead which are highly poisonous In big cities, the exhaust fumes build up and pose a health hazard to human beings Pollution of the sea by oil threatens marine life Much of the oil comes from ships that clean their fuel tanks while at sea Offshore oil wells also discharge vast amounts of oil into the sea Pollution of the sea can also be caused by oil spills An oil spill may occur as a result of accidents involving oil tankers True False Acid rain is one of the most serious sources of pollution Acid rain is made when sulphuric and nitric acids dissolve in the rain Carbon monoxide from car exhaust fumes is not harmful Oil also causes sea pollution The oil only comes from ships that clean their fuel tanks while at sea Accidents involving oil tankers may cause oil spills - Read the passage and answer the following questions TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS IN BRITAIN Every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions In Britain traditions play a more important part in the life of the people than in other countries Englishmen are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up It has been the law for about 300 years that all theaters are closed on Sundays No letters are delivered, only a few Sunday papers are published To this day an English family prefers a house with a garden to a flat in a modern house with central heating English people like gardens Sometimes the garden in front of the house is a little square covered with cement painted garden in imitation of grass and a box of flowers HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm Holidays are especially rich in old traditions and are different in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England Christmas is a great English national holiday, and in Scotland it is not kept, except by clerks in banks, all shops and factories are working Questions & answers How important are traditions in Britain? What Englishmen to their traditions? Which does an English family prefer, a house with a garden or a flat? Find a sentence in the text which shows that the English people like gardens very much How is Christmas kept in Scotland? - Read the passage and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D Jack London was the famous American novelist and short story writer He was born in San Francisco in 1876 He quit school at fourteen to become a sailor He was a self-taught student, he finished his high school and college education during six months He led an adventurous but poor life His viewpoint was in favor of the poor and socialism He read a lot of books of Karl Marx He was influenced by Marxist theory and the October Revolution In 1895, he joined the Socialist Labor Party but in the last years of his life, he moved away from the working class and in 1916 he left the Party In 1916 he committed suicide because of despair dream He used an overdose of morphine and drowned himself in the sea He was an adventure novelist, a Socialist reformer and a prominent Socialist who often signed under the line Yours for the Revolution, Jack London. Jack London quit school in A 1876 B 1890 C 1895 D 1916 He had a/anlife A rich and adventurous B poor and quiet C adventurous and poor D rich and quiet He was in favor of A self-teaching B capitalism C the rich D the poor and socialism He committed suicide by A using an overdose of morphine and drowned himself in the sea B using poison C shooting D swimming Why did he commit suicide? HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm A Because he left the party B Because he used to have a dream C Because of the socialism D Because of despair of life and disillusion with American dream - Read the following paragraph about Esperanto Esperanto was a language someone invented about a hundred years ago Zamenhof invented a new language called Esperanto to improve understanding between people of different countries He showed Esperanto to his friends to find out what they thought about it Later in the same year he went to study at a university in Moscow He wanted to improve Esperanto Zamenhofs friends then worked hard to spread the new language They tried to persuade schools throughout the world to teach it However, only a few people today speak Esperanto because more and more people use English as a foreign language Now read each question and answer Write ONE word in each blank Why did Zamenhof go to Moscow? To study at a university there Why did he invent ? To help people to one another Why did he show his new language to his? So that they could him what they thought about it Who helped him to Esperanto? His did they want schools to do? Esperanto Why dont people speak Esperanto now? Because has SPEAKING: - Oral interview: * The teacher prepares about 5-10 topics appropriate for the students and the teacher lets students talk in pairs about the topic they choose (One asks and the other answers) Ex: Talk about your daily routines Talk about your last trip Talk about your future plan Talk about your lower secondary school Talk about your learning English HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm - Written tests: * The teacher gives everyday situations, and then students choose the best one of the four options Ex: Would you like a cup of coffee? - A Not at all B Yes, lets C Yes, I would like D Yes, Id love one * The teacher puts a question and students give a response Ex: What you usually first in the morning? * The teacher gives a dialogue in which the statements are in the wrong order and students rearrange them Ex: A All right Lets go for a drink B Same to you I hope we both pass C Good luck in your exam! D Did you study all last night? E I did the same Meet you again, after the exam F No, of course not I watched TV and went to bed What about you? * The teacher has students complete the dialogue with the phrases in the box Ex: a) I cant stand them b) I prefer television quiz And you? c) Game shows There was an interesting quiz last night d) What time is the game played? e) Oh, the usual soap operas f) Its a good programme, but Ive seen it before How about you? g) What time is it on? h) No, its a repeat Have you ever watched it? i) Its going to be repeated next Sunday A: Whats on TV tonight? B (1) A: Do you like soap operas? B: (2) A: Whats your favourite programme? B: (3). A: Did you see the game live? 10 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm A all over the world B in every part C nationally D regionally 13: Radio and television are useful because they _ A have a lot of programs B deliver information and entertainment to people C teach people in many ways D give and get a lot of information from people 14: According to the text, movies can also _ A make us relaxed and sleepy B help us to earn more money C help us to improve our listening skill D help us to learn many subjects 15: The Internet can help people A get and send personal information C send and receive some information B learn and entertain themselves D give and get information very fast Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from the others 16: A wrong B lose C long D song 17: A thousand B found C enough D account 18: A heavy B peasant C reading D weather 19: A aware B paper C today D replace Choose the best completion , replacement or answer 20: Television can make things _ because it presents information in an effective way A memorizing B memorable C memory D memorably 21: Mary earned a degree in physic with flying colors A with a very high grade B with confidence C with fame D with success 22: Student A: Could you tell me what a cell phone is used for? Student B: _ A Well, I spent a lot of time talking to my friends when I was free B Oh, It costs me a lot of money to use a cell phone C Oh, it takes me a lot of time to be used to using a cell phone D Well, it is used to talk to people when you are away from home 23: Their grandmother died after she _ ill for a long time A have been B has been C had been D was 24: all my warnings, he tried to fix the computer himself A Instead of B In spite of C Because D Although 25: He doesnt feel thirsty because he _ a big glass of water A has just drunk B had just drunk C drank D have just drunk 26: John is always late for class, annoys the teacher A which B this C that D what 27: A computer can add, subtract, multiply ,and divide with lightning speed A very fast B perfectly properly C gradually D very effectively 28: The house is very dirty We havent cleaned it _ ages A at B since C for D with 29: We all felt sad and disappointed _the bad news A since B because C as D because of 30: It usually me 15 minutes to get to school by bicycle A loses B costs C takes D spends 31: A new bridge _ across the river recently A has been built B had been built C was built D will be built 22 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm Choose the sentence that is almost the same in meaning as the sentence given 32: Because of his serious illness he had to cancel the appointment A Because his illness is serious, he had to cancel the appointment B Because he had an illness, he had to cancel the appointment C Because he was seriously ill, he had to cancel the appointment D Because his illness is seriously, he had to cancel the appointment 33: The police have arrested the men who broke into the museum last night A The men have been arrested by the police who broke into the museum last night B The men have been arrested who broke into the museum last night by the police C The men has been arrested by the police who broke into the museum last night D The men who broke into the museum last night have been arrested by the police 34: It took him four hours to repair his car A He repaired his car in four hours B He spent four hours to repair his car C He spent four hours repairing his car D He took four hours to repair his car 35: She started learning English three years ago A She learned English for three years so far B She has been learning English in three years C She has learned English since three years D She has learned English for three years 36: Jane couldn't come to my birthday party This made me feel sad A Which made me feel sad that Jane couldn't come to my birthday party B Jane couldn't come to my birthday party, that made me feel sad C Jane couldn't come to my birthday party who made me sad D Jane couldn't come to my birthday party, which made me feel sad Choose the word which is stressed differently from the others 37: A mountain B display C beauty D channel 38: A profession B computer C condition D newspaper 39: A letter B cartoon C program D cooker 40: A mentally B retarded C permission D disabled The end - 23 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm APPENDIX GRADE 10 24 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Name: Class: 10 Lu Minh Tõm TEST (Units 1-2) Time: 15 minutes I Complete the passage with the appropriate words (5pts) takes light get for finish while usually late begins then My day usually (1) at six thirty I get up and some exercises for about fifteen minutes (2) I take a bath After that I (3) dressed and have breakfast with my family I usually have a (4) breakfast, consisting of toast and coffee At seven thirty I leave (5) school I catch the bus near my house and then walk from the bus-stop to school It (6) about fifteen minutes to get to school My first class is at eight thirty and I usually (7) school at three Sometimes I stay (8) _ to have a game of volleyball or to work in the library I usually reach home at around four oclock When I get home I like to watch TV for a (9) Then I start my homework I have dinner at seven oclock After dinner I often have a chat with my brother Sometimes I go out with my friends I (10) _ go to bed at around ten oclock II Answer the questions about you Write full answers (2.5pts) What time you usually get up? What is the first thing you in the morning? What days a week you go to school? . What subjects you study at school? . Do you like to learn English? Why? . III Complete the sentences with the right form of the words in brackets (2.5pts) Mrs Lan is interested in .young children (TEACH) Huong dinner at p.m (USUALLY- NOT HAVE) Her sister enjoys to the radio (LISTEN) My teacher always expects us well in exams (DO) I on the corner and waited for Thao for two hours (STAND) 25 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm The end ANSWER KEY (UNITS 1-2) I 0.5 x 10 = pts begins then takes finish get late light while for 10 usually II 0.5 x = 2.5 pts I usually get up at I brush my teeth / wash my face / I go to school days a week / from Monday to Saturday I study a lot of / many subjects such as Math, Literature, Physics, History and so on Yes, I because it is an international / useful language III 0.5 x = 2.5 pts teaching doesnt usually have listening to stood THE END - MATRIX GAPFILLING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WORD FORM TOTAL PERCENTAGE RECOGNITION 45% COMPREHENSION 20% APPLICATION 2 35% 10 5 20 100% TOTAL 26 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Name: Class: 10 Lu Minh Tõm TEST (Units 4-5-6) Time: 45 minutes I Listen to a passage and decide whether the following statements are true (T) or (F) (1pt) Most parents know they change their way of speaking Parents generally speak in a very clear way to young children They also speak correctly and not make mistakes They never ask young children questions II Choose the word whose main stress is placed differently from the others (1pt) A excursion B spacious C pagoda D invention A relax B distance C picnic D visit A persuade B instead C anxious D believe A disabled B mentally C retarded D consuming III Choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence (4pts) He came in and didnt say anything, worried all of us A that B what C which D who They are still looking for Mark He yet A hasnt been found B has been found C has found D didnt find A fax machine send or receive letters quickly A used to B is used to C is used for D used for Can you show me how.the film in this camera? A to changing B to change C changing D you changed In spite of her deafness, she played the violin very well A inability to speak B inability to see C inability to hear D inability to act you really need is a long holiday A That B What C Which D Who Hurry up! The next bus at 7.15 A leave B leaves C is leaving D will leave Last summer I had holiday in Spain A a two weeks B a two-week C a two-weeks D two-week Nobody can .her to change her mind A make B help C persuade D let 10 Only in this house safe and secure A I feel B feel I C I feel D I feel 11 Please your phone card in the slot before pressing the number you require A insert B operate C plug D adjust 12 What makes a computer such a .device A miracle B miraculous C magic D miraculously 13 The girl met you yesterday is my sister A which B who C whom D whose 14 are not always happy A Rich B Richness C The rich D The richness 15 If you want to ask about the use of the computer, you say: A Whats a computer like? B Whats a computer used for? C Whats a computer? D What computer is it? 27 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm 16 The disabled are A people who are injured B people who are poor C people who are sick D people who are unable to use a part of their body in the normal way IV Complete this extract from a guide to using the internet with the words in the box (1.5pts) on-line web page sites chat room download newsgroup The World Wide Web is made up of millions of (1) created by anybody from multimedia corporations to ordinary people like you and me On the web you can read (2) newspapers or magazines; you can watch videos, (3) music or buy anything from a CD to a holiday You can go into a (4).and talk to other people all over the world or join a (5) for more serious debate If you are really ambitious you might even like to try creating your own (6) Then you can show your holiday pictures to the whole world! V Answer these questions (2pts) Where and when did you go on your last holiday? List two things that you can with the help of computers What would you to help the poor? Name two places of scenic beauty you know . VI Each sentence has a mistake Find it and correct it (0.5pt) We used to write for each other, but now we dont I would like you to go to shop with me to buy necessary things for the trip . -THE END - 28 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm ANSWER KEY (UNITS 4-5-6) I 0.25 x = 1pt F T II 0.25 x = 1pt B A 3.T C F B III 0.25 x 16 = 4pts C A B B C C 10 D 11 A 12 B 13 B IV 0.25 x = 1.5pts sites on-line chat room newsgroup B 14 C B 15 B B 16 D download webpage V 0.5 x = 2pts I went to Vung Tau last summer holiday (With the help of computers) I can read newspapers and magazines which have been produced on computers I can receive letters from and send letters to almost every part of the world I would raise money for charity Ha Long Bay and Phong Nha Cave VI 0.25 x = 0.5pt We used to write to each other, but now we dont I would like you to go shopping with me to buy necessary things for the trip THE END MISTAKESCORRECTING 3 2 29 TOTAL WRITING READING GRAMMAR PRON RECOGNITION COMPREHENSION LISTEN-ING MATRIX 20 PERCENTAGE 56% 22% HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST APPLICATION TOTAL 4 Lu Minh Tõm 16 36 S Giỏo dc v o to ng Nai Trng THPT Trn Biờn 22% 100% Mó thi: 123 THI GIA HC Kè II (2012-2013) Mụn : Ting Anh 10 (A,D) Thụứi gian laứm baứi : 45 phuựt (ẹe coự trang) A TRC NGHIM I Choose the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently from that of the rest A endangered B established C delivered D abandoned A orphanage B pneumonia C photograph D pollution A hear B clear C bear D dear A nation B contain C water D tourist II Choose the word or phrase that best fits the blank in each sentence This _ has threatened the park and many of animals in it A contaminate B contaminated C.contamination D.contaminant For centuries, people have been _ by the mysteries that lie beneath the ocean A investigated B discoveried C invented D challenged Scientists are researching new measures to prevent _ levels from rising A pollute B pollution C polluted D pollutant By the age of eighteen he was complete _ of his parents A independent B anxious C worried D nervous Would you like _ lunch with us? Yes, Id love to. A have B having C had D to have 10 How about _ to the concert tonight? A go B going C to go D to going 11 Would you like some cake? No, thanks If I it, I fatter A eat/will get B ate/will get C eat/would get D.ate/would get 12 Without plants, most water run off as soon as it falls A will B is C would D would be 13 The fire out completely when the owner of the house returned A was put B had been put C has been put D put 14 If Ann had come sooner, she _ dinner with me A could have eaten B would be eaten C would have D could eat 15 We want to buy that flat, but we dont have enough money A If we didnt have enough money, we wouldnt buy that flat B If we had enough money, we wouldnt buy that flat C If we didnt have enough money, we would buy that flat D If we had enough money, we would buy that flat 16 I havent been to the cinema for three years A Its three years since I last went to the cinema B I didnt go to the cinema until three years ago C It has been three years after I last went to the cinema D The last time I went to the cinema three years ago III Choose the underlined part that needs correcting 17 A lot of money were found in the house by the police yesterday A B C D 30 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST 18 I think you shouldnt if it is the right thing to A B C D 19 Have the students told about the changes of their timetable yet? A B C D Lu Minh Tõm IV Read the following paragraph and choose the best answer Because goldfish can be kept easily in small ponds and aquariums, they make good pets, but like any other pets, they must have proper care and the right kind of place to live A two-inch fish requires a minimum of two gallons of water containing sufficient oxygen to support life Some oxygen will make its way into the water of an aquarium from the air that touches the surface Plants in an aquarium also help to furnish oxygen Snails help to keep the aquarium clean Thus, with plenty of plants and snails, the water in an aquarium does not have to be changed frequently It is important that goldfish not be overfed They can be fed such things as dried insects and shrimps in addition to commercially prepared goldfish food, but they should never be fed more than once a day Even then, they should not be given more food than can be consumed in about five minutes 20 Which of the following help supply goldfish with oxygen? A Snails B Plants C Shrimp D Dried insects 21 Which of the following is not commonly used as goldfish food? A Dried shrimp B Dried insects C Commercial goldfish food D Snails 22 What is important to remember when feeding goldfish? A They should be fed fresh food B They should be fed only once a day C They should be fed every five minutes D They should be fed more than once a day 23 An aquarium most nearly means _ A a pet shop B a place where goldfish are kept C a glass tank where goldfish are kept D a pond where goldfish are trained 24 We dont have to change the water in an aquarium frequently if A a lot of plants and snails are kept there B we often change the plants C we often feed the snails D the air touches the surface of the water B T LUN I Choose the suitable word in the box to fill in each space There are more words than you need According to being done is located contains recently Thanks to locates officially 1,000-year-old 1,000 years old to be done Cuc Phuong, the first national park in Viet Nam, was (1) _ opened in 1960 It (2) 160 kilometres south west of Hanoi spanning Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces Cuc Phuong National Park (3) over 200 square kilometres of rainforest It attracts both tourists and scientists In 2002, nearly 100,000 visitors made their way to Cuc Phuong Tourists come there to study butterflies, visit caves, hike mountains and look at the (4) tree Many come to see the work (5) to protect endangered species (6) According to scientists, there are about 2,000 different species of flora and 450 species of fauna in the park II Rewrite the following sentences as directed (2.5pts) They bought the land next to their house in 1990 (Change into the Passive Voice) The air in this area is not clean because there is so much smoke from factories (Rewrite the sentence, using the Conditional sentence) She didnt take my advice; therefore, she fails in her business now (Rewrite the sentence, using the Conditional sentence) 31 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm Why dont you take a walk for a while? (Rewrite the sentence beginning with Do you feel like ?) Huong wants to speak English fluently.(Write the sentence beginning with I think she should) THE END ANSWER KEY (2nd MID-TERM TEST) A TRC NGHIM (0.25 x 24 = pts) B B C A C D B A D 10 B 11 D 12 C 13 B 14 A 15 D 16 A 17 B 18 B 19 B 20 B 21 D 22 B 23 C 24 A B T LUN I (0.25 x = 1.5 pts) officially is located contains 1,000-year-old being done According II (0.5 x = 2.5 pts) The land next to their house was bought in 1990 If there were not so much smoke from factories, the air in this area would be clean If she had taken my advice, she would not fail in her business now Do you feel like taking a walk for a while? I think she should practise speaking English every day THE END MISTAKESCORRECTING 2 32 TOTAL WRITING READING GRAMMAR PRON RECOGNITION GAP-FILLING MATRIX 13 PERCENTAGE 37% HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST COMPREHENSION APPLICATION TOTAL 2 Lu Minh Tõm 12 5 1 13 35 APPENDIX 33 37% 26% 100% HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm TEST (Units 1-2) SCORE CLASS / 10 >= % NOTE STUDENTS 10A3 38 0 0 12 35 92.1 10D2 45 0 1 12 42 93.3 10D3 45 0 2 8 10 40 88.9 TEST (Units 4-5-6) SCORE CLASS / 10 >= % NOTE STUDENTS 10A3 38 0 0 37 97.4 10D2 45 0 10 8 42 93.3 10D3 45 0 40 88.9 TEST (2nd mid-term test) SCORE CLASS / 10 >= % STUDENTS 10A3 38 0 0 12 36 94.7 10D2 45 0 1 8 10 43 95.6 10D3 45 0 10 10 41 91.1 34 NOTE HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lu Minh Tõm Biờn Hũa, ngy 28 thỏng nm 2013 Ngi vit LU MINH TM 35 Luu Minh HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Tam 36 [...]... S Madsen -1983 - TECHNIQUES IN TESTING - Oxford University Press • J B Heaton -1990 - CLASSROOM TESTING - Longman • Tim McNamara -2000 - LANGUAGE TESTING - Oxford University Press 13 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lưu Minh Tâm APPENDIX 1 14 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST BUI THI XUAN HIGH SCHOOL Name: ………………… Class: ……… Lưu Minh Tâm THE ENGLISH TEST GRADE 12 Date: October 06th, 2012 Time allowed: 60... oxygen to support life Some oxygen will make its way into the water of an aquarium from the air that touches the surface Plants in an aquarium also help to furnish oxygen Snails help to keep the aquarium clean Thus, with plenty of plants and snails, the water in an aquarium does not have to be changed frequently It is important that goldfish not be overfed They can be fed such things as dried insects and... “Don’t forget to go to the supermarket after work.” He said a He reminded me to go to the supermarket after work b He asked me not to forget to go to the supermarket after work c He told me that I shouldn’t forget to go to the supermarket after work 15 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lưu Minh Tâm d He requested me not forget to go to the supermarket after work 18 Glenda…… extremely hard when she was a student... coming back 35 Many young people have objected to. …marriage, which is decided by the parents of the bride and groom a agreed b shared c sacrificed d contractual 36 He said to us, Write your lesson carefully.” a He said us to write our lesson carefully b He told us to write our lesson carefully c He asked us write our lesson carefully d He said to us to write our lesson carefully 37 Tom said that he…………... According to the writer, …………… a People communicate with both verbal and nonverbal language b One cannot communicate in both verbal and nonverbal language c Those who can listen and talk should not use nonverbal language d Nonverbal language is only used by the deaf and the mute 47 Which is NOT included in nonverbal communication? a spatial distance b words c facial expressions d tone of voice 48 We can learn... nonverbal can never get any responses b most people do not like nonverbal communication c touching is not accepted in communicating d even silence has message value 49 Human beings……… a have learnt how to communicate in nonverbal language through books b can communicate in nonverbal language only when they are mature c communicate in nonverbal language much less than they do in verbal language 17 HOW TO WRITE. .. others 37: A mountain B display C beauty D channel 38: A profession B computer C condition D newspaper 39: A letter B cartoon C program D cooker 40: A mentally B retarded C permission D disabled The end - 23 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lưu Minh Tâm APPENDIX 2 GRADE 10 24 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Name: ………………………… Class: 10…… Lưu Minh Tâm TEST (Units 1-2) Time: 15 minutes I Complete... didn’t find 3 A fax machine…… send or receive letters quickly A used to B is used to C is used for D used for 4 Can you show me how ….the film in this camera? A to changing B to change C changing D you changed 5 In spite of her deafness, she played the violin very well A inability to speak B inability to see C inability to hear D inability to act 6 ………you really need is a long holiday A That B What C Which... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12 HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE TEST Lưu Minh Tâm CONCLUSION In short, testing is not all but it is necessary and fairly important in the process of learning a foreign language in general and English in particular Without testing, teaching and learning activities would mean nothing In other words, the process of teaching and learning would have no purpose because... south west of Hanoi spanning Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces Cuc Phuong National Park (3) over 200 square kilometres of rainforest It attracts both tourists and scientists In 2002, nearly 100,000 visitors made their way to Cuc Phuong Tourists come there to study butterflies, visit caves, hike mountains and look at the (4) tree Many come to see the work (5) to protect endangered species