unit 3 activity 3 Validity, Reliability, Practicality and Backwash effects

Validity: a test is going to have validity only if it contains forms and uses that the students have practiced in the lessons and if it employs exercises and tasks that match to the general objectives and methodology of the course.

Reliability: in order for a text to be reliable it has to be very clear with no errors, it controls to some extent how students respond. The instructions must be very clear too and explicit for all the learners. The reliability also depends on the length because long texts are usually more reliable than a short one.

Practicality: This has to do with the practical issues related to test selection, including resources, classroom characteristics, and methods of administration and scoring.

Backwash effect: This has to do with the effect of the test on teaching prior to its organization, and does not, of course, apply to all types of test. In a placement test, for example, here in centro de idiomas in UABC they make this kind of exam to place the student on the level they better fit on and any pre-teaching would destroy the purpose of the test. Similarly, a diagnostic test is to know the weaknesses of the students so they can know the areas they need to focus on more and again, pre-teaching would destroy the purpose of the test.