CORRECTING TEST ITEMS

Correcting tests elaborated by other colleagues or by ourselves in previous years seems rather unusual in our daily work. In my years of teaching experience, the regular procedure requires handing in a copy of the test to our institution´s evaluation committee and file a copy in our personal test bank. Now we have a practical exercise of our work´s insight - or that from our colleagues- by revising, correcting or redesigning any old - or not so old- test. The procedure is very simple, since all we do is write observations on the margins of the pages. This gives us the opportunity to go back to that test, read the observations, and correct or redesign them so we can use them with a new group of students, if it is suitable.

The following is an example of a test with some observations.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX High School Total Points: 50
7th Grade I Mid-Term Exam I Trimester Points Obtained:

Teacher:XXXXXXXXXXXX - 2009 Score: ______
Time allowed: 80 minutes. 35%Obtained:
Parent´s Signature: _____________________________
Name: _________________________Date: ______________ Group: ______
General Instructions: Read everything carefully before you begin. Use blue or black pen[O.V.D.1] only. Avoid use of correction pen so you may present your complaints. Work individually and in silence.

I PART. Subjective Items.
A.MATCHING (6 points)

In COLUMN A, there are formal and informal types of greetings, leave takings and introductions. In COLUMN B, there are the names of these expressions. Relate the expressions to their names.
COLUMN A COLUMN B

See you later . . . . . . . . ( ) a. Formal greeting
What´s up ? . . . . . . . . . . . . .( ) b.Informal greeting

I´d like to introduce you to Mr. Clark . ( ) c. Formal introduction
Good morning. May I help you? . . . . . . ( ) d. Informal introduction
Hey, friends, this is Annie. . . . . . ( ) e.Formal leave taking
Good night, Mr.Brown. . . . . . . . ( ) f.Informal leave taking[O.V.D.2]

B. IDENTIFICATION[O.V.D.3] (13 points)
*Identify the correct personal pronoun. Write it on the space. (6points)

My name is John . ___________ am John.
Their names are Nancy and Maria. __________ are Nancy and Maria.
His name is Victor. ___________ is Victor.
Our names are Henry and Luis. ___________ are Henry and Luis.
Her name is Annie. ___________ is Annie.
Its name is Fifi. ________ is a dog.

*Identify[O.V.D.4] the correct possessive adjective. Write it on the space. (7 points)
1. We are Sara and Greg. _______ names are Sara nad Greg.
2. They are Jose and Kate. _______ names are Jose and Kate.
3. It is a cat. _______ name is Misingo.________ name is Misingo[O.V.D.5] .
4. She is Kenisha. ______ name is Kenisha.
5. He is Kevin. __________ name is Kevin.
6. You are Hellen. ______ name is Hellen.
7. I am Guadalupe. _______ name is Guadalupe.

C. SHORT ANSWER[O.V.D.6] .(12 POINTS)
*Find the words that complete the dialogue in the box, and fill in the blanks


BOX Hello-Bye- thanks -Pleased -about-study-How-friend –
meet – Henry – you-too



Ana: _______________.
Henry: Hi, Anna. ________ are you?
Ana: I´m O.K. How ______________ you?
Henry: I´m fine, ______________.
Ana: Henry, this is my ___________, Alonso.
Henry: Glad to ___________ you, Alonso.
Alonso: _______________ to meet you, too.
Ana: Where do _______ study?
Alonso: I ___________ at Liceo Nuevo. How about you?
Arturo: We both study at Liceo Nuevo, _______!
Alonso: Great! We will meet there soon.
Ana: See you later, _______________. Bye.
Arturo: ____________, Ana.

II PART SUBJECTIVE ITEMS.
Answer the questions with personal information.
(6 points)(1 point/correct answer, 1 point/correct structure)(8 points[O.V.D.7] )

1. What is your name?

2. Where do you live?

3. Where are you from?

4. How old are you?


Write an informal conversation. Use greetings,
leave takings and introductions. (12 points)(1 point/ correct structure, 1
point / correct expression)

*

*

*

*

[O.V.D.1]Ink


[O.V.D.2]Add
more options in column B.

[O.V.D.3]This
is not identification. It is a
completion exercise.

[O.V.D.4]This
is a copletion exercise, not identification.


[O.V.D.5]This
is repeated.

[O.V.D.6]This
is an identification exercise, not “short answers.”

[O.V.D.7]The
value of points is not clear. Is it worth 6 points or 8 points?