The Importance of Diagnostic Tests in an ESL Classroom
For teachers of English to speakers of other languages, a diagnostic test is a valuable resource that can be employed to help both the teacher and the student. A diagnostic test is given at the beginning of the course, and is intended to assess the student’s current knowledge and mastery of the English language. Diagnostic tests are similar to placement tests, however, a diagnostic test is generally used to assess more areas of the English language as a whole. Diagnostic tests are important as they assist the teacher in preparing lessons and materials, can help gauge the level of the student and whether the course is a good fit, and can help students know what language areas they need to improve on.
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jacob B.
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The Main Purpose of a Diagnostic Test
Diagnostic tests can show the teacher what the students know and do not know about the English language. Such information can and should be analyzed by the teacher. The results of the diagnostic test are a valuable resource that can guide the teacher in creating effective lessons and materials that meet the learning goals of the course and the needs of his/her students. For example, if the teacher had the expectation that students are able to use the present perfect tense in a certain situation, but the majority of the students were not able to accurately use such a form in the test, the teacher could plan a lesson to review this material at the beginning of the course. Moreover, if a certain form and its usage that were originally going to be taught in the course appear to be already mastered by the students, it could be taught at a faster pace, giving time to other language areas.
Also read: 7 Activities for Teaching the Present Perfect for the ESL Classroom
Other Benefits of Diagnostic Tests
Another reason why a diagnostic test is very important to the English language teacher is because it can determine the appropriateness of the course for students. If placement tests are not used at a given school or institution, evaluating the results of a student’s diagnostic test may reveal whether the course matches the English level of the student or not. As an example, once a diagnostic test is completed by students, the teacher may realize that one student is far below the expected English level for his/her class. As a result, this student may be pulled aside by the teacher or counseling staff at the school or institution to determine more formally if the class is actually a good fit for them.
Also read: Evaluation and Testing of Students in the ESL Classroom
The Benefit to the Student
Diagnostic tests can aid students in realizing what areas of the English language they are proficient in and what areas they need to work on. While this can be realized by the student during the test, it is much more worthwhile for the student to see the test and their results once it is graded. Doing so, the students can specifically see where they need to improve. They can also ask the teacher why their answers are wrong, for help in understanding certain forms and its usage, and even for advice on how to progress in their learning of the English language. Giving the student an awareness of their own English abilities is helpful, as it involves the student in his/her own progress of learning the language.
Overall, implementing a diagnostic test at the beginning of a course is immensely important and can provide a solid base that can affect the trajectory of the rest of the course in a positive and effective way.
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