Designing tests

Designing Tests

This entry will present a personal reflection from the chapter read.
Testing is a tool used for all teachers to evaluate students' learning process. But, even having a good test, there are some factors that can affect our students' performance. 

Designing effective tests required the principle of practicality, reliability, validity, authenticity and washback. With all these elements, we will ensure that tests are well-designed and our students will be asked to respond the appropriate content. But, answering a test causes different emotions on our students. 

There are several situations that can emerge the day of an exam. The first element would be anxiety, which can block students' minds and even they had studied this feeling will not allow them to perform in the same way. Another element would be personal background, which could be related to social or economical issues of the learner. Taking a test while there was a huge fight at home the day before will affect students' scores. Finally, I will mention that the presence of ambiguity on tests will generate confusion on the learners, but this issue can be solved giving clear instructions and solving all kind of doubts in exams.

All the elements mentioned before are present while learners are taking tests. Excepting for the final aspect stated, the others are big dilemmas when teachers have to give a score or grade. How can we as teachers deal which such problems?