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Proficiency tests
The aim of the proficiency test is to measure one’s ability in a language regardless of any training he may have had in that language. The ‘proficiency’ in this context refers to the sufficient command of the language for particular purpose. We may measure whether an individual has proficiency to follow English medium lectures of a medical college. He may not have any medical background, but possesses proficiency required in understanding English medium lectures of the medical faculty.
The proficiency tests are not based on a particular syllabus or course objectives. Thus we may not speak of content validity of a proficiency test. However, its predictive validity is important. It should predict the future performance of the candidate. When we say, a candidate has a ‘pass’ in a proficiency test, we assume that he is able to perform certain skills in that language.
Even though proficiency tests are not based on a syllabus, we take into account the level and kind of English needed for certain functions. Therefore, before we construct a proficiency test, we prepare a test specification, which outlines the skills the candidate must possess. For instance with regard to oral skills in level 2 of a proficiency test, the following language functions may be tested:
The candidate is able to:
Give information on his personal background
Obtain information of others
Make suggestions, plans etc
Express his opinions in discussions
Argue against and for
Once these required skills are determined, it functions as the criterion against which evaluation is done. A ‘pass’ in the test means the candidate is able to perform these specified language functions satisfactorily.
Accordingly, when we design a proficiency test for a particular purpose, say students who enter the medical faculty, we need to take into account the skills they may need at the faculty. However, general proficiency tests aim at measuring overall language proficiency. We measure whether the candidates have reached a certain standard with respect to certain specified skills. These skills may be mentioned in the certificate issued to the candidate so that the evaluation is meaningful and criterion-based.
The TOEFL (Testing of English as a Foreign Language) is a proficiency test. Various institutions may request different levels of achievement according to their purposes.
Since we measure the overall ability in language, integrative test items are used in proficiency tests. The commonest of them is the cloze test, where certain words are left out for the candidates to fill in. Consider the following part of the cloze test:
Read the following text and fill in the blanks using suitable words.
The social importance of music study
It is essential that every child be given the opportunity to study music. A child who grows up with music learns to be a good citizen. Music automatically teaches the child the skill of intense concentration, for while he plays, he has to be completely involved with music. Learning music does not 1) ……………… playing in snatches, in little bits and pieces. It involves long hours of constant 2) …………….. which demands every ounce of self-discipline and self-control. One 3)……………. not study music for just a day or two. It is a continuous 4) ……………… stretching over the years. This growing control and skill 5) …………….. within the child a sense of purpose, a sense of achievement and an eagerness to face the future. To play music is to make 6) ………………… . A child who sits on the piano and plays a soft rippling scale or hammers a thundering crescendo, does so because he decides to do it, not because he was told that he must. The child who plays in an 7) ………………… or a band, knows what ‘team spirit” means. The image of “self” fades in the glow of 8) ……………….. . The child learns to understand that what “I’ do, the way “I” play, affects everybody else. So “I” must try to be 9) …………………… and do my best for the sake of the group. Many young people grappling with 10) ………………….. problems and searching for a set of values have found solace in music. In addition, youth need an outlet for their energy, and the activity of playing music alone or in a group will often provide that outlet.
The following are certain things that the candidate should decide/know when answering this question:
Blank 1 requires a verb. (grammar)
Blank 3 requires a modal auxiliary (grammar)
Blank 2 and 4 requires the knowledge of vocabulary.
Blank 5 requires understanding the word order (grammar)
Blank 6 requires candidate to read further and related them to the blank. (reading)
In this way it is possible to identify that the candidate requires many skills in completing this task. Thus we measure the overall proficiency of the candidate in this test item.
However, proficiency tests have separate test components for oral skills and writing skills. In the above cloze test, it is possible to measure the writing performances of the candidate indirectly: we measure sub-skills of writing such as vocabulary and grammar in this test item. But we cannot be certain whether the candidate is able to use these sub-skills in actual writing. Therefore, even standard proficiency tests like TOEFL have now included direct writing test items. Since proficiency tests are conducted at large scale, we must take measures to maintain reliability when we include subjective direct test items such as essay writing questions.
In proficiency tests, our evaluation is criterion based; we measure whether each candidate has achieved certain standard with regard to certain specified abilities. But we do not compare the performance of one student with that of another. Thus discrimination is not an important feature in proficiency tests.
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