The passage looks to be a part of literary piece and it is written in past tense

Direct vz Indirect test items

Direct test items test the candidates’ concerned ability directly. For example, if we wish to test one’s writing ability, we need to ask him to write. Thus writing an essay is an example of a Direct Test item. If we wish to test oral skills of a group of candidates, we should get them to speak. This is also Direct Testing. But writing or speaking can be measured without getting candidates to demonstrate their writing or speaking behavior. For example, good Multiple Choice Questions can test several underlying abilities of writing – Grammar, Cohesion etc. This is an example of Indirect testing.

If Direct Test items are included, they assure us that the candidates are able to perform the concerned skill – say writing. But since Direct Test items are subjective by nature, reliability of the test paper will be less. On the other hand, if Indirect Test items are included, while they assure a higher degree of reliability, we are not sure of the performances of the candidates: selecting the correct option to a Multiple Choice Question based on past tense does not ensure that the candidate is able to use past tense effectively in actual writing.

7. 
   Discrete point vz Integrative test items
   
8. 
   Noam-reference vz Criterion-reference tests
   
9. 
   Backwash effect
   
10. 
    Test specification
    
11. 
    Holistic vz Analytical scoring
    

Chapter 2
Types of Language Tests

Language tests vary considerably according to the purpose of the test. In other words, there is a close relationship between the type of test and its purpose. For instance, a class test designed to measure the degree to which the students have achieved the set objectives in a series of grammar lessons may not be suitable for selection of candidates for a particular course of study or a job. The most primary thing for a test developer to consider is the purpose for which the particular test is administered.

According to different purposes, the following types of English language tests can be identified:

1. 
   Achievement tests
   
2. 
   Diagnostic tests
   
3. 
   Proficiency tests
   
4. 
   Selection tests
   
5. 
   Placement tests
   
6. 
   Aptitude tests
   

Each type of the above tests has its own distinctive features. This chapter discusses these types of tests in general.

1.