Tests

The instruments that are used to measure the sample of students' behaviour under specific conditions are called tests.
"A test is a systematic procedure for measuring a sample of students' behaviour under specific conditions."
A procedure for critical evaluation; a means of determining the presence, quality, or truth of something.
A series of questions, problems, or physical responses designed to determine knowledge, intelligence, or ability.
The means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined
Types of Tests
As it is shown in the diagram above, tests can be classified into two broad categories according to the behaviour tested: ability
tests and personality tests. These two types are discussed in detail and are further classified into sub-types in the following lines.
(A) Ability Tests
These tests are used to test the ability of a student. These tests measure the maximum performance of a student that a student
can do. Ability tests are further classified into three types; (1) achievement tests, (2) aptitude tests, (3) intelligence tests. These are
discussed in the lines below.
(1) Achievement tests: These tests are used to appraise the outcomes of classroom instruction. They measure the attained ability
of a student i.e. what a student has learnt to do. Achievement tests are further classified into two types of tests i.e. 'Essay type tests' and
'objective type tests'. (These two types of tests will be discussed in detail in the next question).
(2) Aptitude tests: Aptitude Tests are those tests that are used to measure the potential ability of a student i.e. what a student can
learn to do. They measure the capacity of a student to learn a given content. Achievement tests and aptitude tests seem to be the same.
But the distinction between the two is that they are different in use. If a test is used to measure the present attainment, it is called
achievement test. And if a test is used to predict the future level of performance, it is called an aptitude test.
(3) Intelligence Tests: Intelligence Tests are those tests that are used to measure the native capacity or the overall mental ability of
a student. These are also called scholastic aptitude tests or tests of mental ability. There are many kinds of intelligent tests but the most
popular one is the concept of (IQ) introduce by Termen. IQ is computed by dividing the mental age (MA) of a student by his physical
age or chronological age (PA or CA) i.e. the actual age of the student. Then the result is multiplied by 100.
𝑀𝐴
I.Q = × 100
𝐶𝐴
Where:
I.Q. = Intelligence Quotient
M.A. = Mental Age
C.A. = Chronological Age (Physical Age)
(B) Personality Tests
Tests used for the assessment of personality of a student are called personality tests. They measure the typical performance of
a student i.e. what a student will do. They are universally administered almost all over the world in various fields, vocations,
institutions, and for the selection of recruits. Personality tests include attitude tests, interest tests, adjustment and temperament tests,
character tests, and tests of other motivational and interpersonal characteristics.
Uses of Tests
Tests play important role in teaching- learning process. Without tests we cannot make evaluation or assessment of a student's
or neither teacher's performance nor we can collect information about the effectiveness of an educational programme. That is why
tests are very important in education. They motivate students for learning. They serve a number of purposes in a variety of educational
activities. The following are the different uses of tests;
 Uses of tests in teaching process With the help of the result obtained from tests, teachers can easily collect information about
aptitude, intelligence, interests, attitude and the overall performance of the students. He comes to know the strengths and
weaknesses of his teaching method. It becomes easy for the teacher to grade students in a subject. Teats' results enable him to know
how the future success of a student in a subject can be predicted.
 Uses of tests in learning process The student is the center of interest in teaching –learning process. All kinds of educational activity
are performed for the sack of student. That is why the use and importance of tests in the process of learning is greater than in any
other activity. Tests , students in knowing their strengths and weaknesses in a subject. The results obtained from these tests serve
as guideline for students. They motivate students to study.
 Uses of Tests in Guidance Tests show the overall performance of the students. Therefore; they enable the examiner to know how to
guide students educational and vocational choice. Tests also make parents aware o the aptitude of their children and can make a
plan for their proper guidance. The result of the tests in itself serves as a guideline for the students.
 Uses of Tests in Administration The results obtained from the tests provide the administrators of the deportment with useful
information In the light of these tests, they can easily decide how to promote students, how to admit them anyhow to modify (trie.7)
school objectives, instructional methods and curricula. They can then easily decide how to make the teaching–learning processes
effective.
 Uses of Tests in Research The data collected from tests are uses as powerful tools in research and experimentation in classroom. The
research workers use these data in their genetic or ease study research.
In short, tests are used in almost all educational activities. They are the real tools with the help of which information about teachers,
students, curricula and etc. are gathered. And in the light of this information, teaching and learning process is improved.
THE PURPOSE OF TESTING
Introduction:
The purpose of test is usually included the test is announced or at the beginning of the semester when the evaluation
procedures are described as a part of the general orientation to the course. Should there be any doubt whether the purpose of the test
is clear to all pupils, however it culd be explained again at at the time of testing. This is usually done orally. The only time, a statement
of the purpose of the test needs to be included in the written direction is, when the test is to be administered to several sections taught
by different teachers, then a written statement of purpose ensures, greater uniformity. There are various types of test being applied in
the educational institutions, because no a child’s ability interests and personality. One test measures only a specific ability that is why
school administers use many different types of tests even in one single area such as intelligence, move than one test are needed over a
period of years to obtain a reliable estimate of ability each test serves its own purpose, however, testing and evaluation serve following
purposes.
To Certify Pupils’ Achievements / Grading:
Tests are given to the students to ascertain their achievements tests provide the teacher with student’s actual achievements
instead of an intuitive generalization based on simple observation. These tests given the teacher an objective and comprehensive
picture of each pupil’s progress. This is important because all concerned persons (students themselves, student’s parents, teachers,
counselors, administrators, employers, admission officers, and even community) need to know students performed in school and in
particular courses.
To report Student’s Progress to Parents:
Testing gives the teacher in objective and comprehensive picture of each pupil’s progress, so that it could be presented to the
present. These reports from the foundation for most effective cooperation between parents and teachers, which results improved
learning.
To Report to Administrators:
The results of tests indicate the extent to which the school’s objectives are being achieved from the results of evaluation the
administrators become able to identify the weak points and strengths in the teaching programs of their schools and take necessary
action for their improvement.
To Assess Learner’s Needs:
To test the pupils’ knowledge and skills at the beginning of instruction enables the teacher to answer the questions like: Do the
pupils possess the abilities and skills needed to proceed with the instruction? What, and to what level have the pupils already mastered
the intended outcomes? This information helps the teacher in planning his instructional activities.
To Provide Relevant Instruction:
Testing provide a type of continuous feedback, about the usefulness of the instructional process it helps the teacher in
changing and adapting the instructional activities continuously according to the student’s needs.
To Furnish Instruction:
Testing factions as an instructional device it not only increases the self-knowledge of the students, but also the attainment of
specific objectives. This practice of giving ‘tests’ is common in our institutions through these the students become aware of their speed
of progress, errors, and present status on the basis of which they plan their further efforts.
To Provide Guidance and Counseling:
The results of tests are especially useful for guidance and counseling of the students. These are useful in assisting the students
with educational and vocational decisions, guiding them in the selection of curricular and co-curricular activities, and helping them
solve personal and social adjustment problems.
To Know the level of Achievement of Objectives:
The first step in the instructional process is to determine the extent to which the pupils achieved the instructional objectives.
Testing and evaluation help in this regard tests are useful in determining the learning outcomes of classroom instruction. The teacher
can evaluate the success or failure of classroom learning in relation to the test results. The teacher then accordingly adjusts the level
and direction of classroom instruction.
To Analyze the Instruction Objectives:
The information from carefully developed tests and evaluation is used to assess the appropriateness and attainability of the
instructional objective. The instructional objectives are modified in the light of the evaluation information.
To Discover Maladjusted Children:
In every school there are some students who present severe problems of educational or social adjustment. These include the
withdrawn, the unhappy, the mentally retarded, and others who are not adjusting to the pattern of the school. The standardized tests
help the teachers and counselors to understand and help such students.
To Appraise Educational instrumentalities:
Testing and evaluation is useful, in appraisal for educational instrumentalities such as teachers, teaching methods, teaching
materials and text books.
To Conduct Research:
Test and evaluation data is important in research programs. The information obtained from evaluation is used to compare the
effectiveness of different curricula, different teaching methods and different organizational plans techniques of evaluation, and to find
out the ways to improve to teaching learning process.
To Change the Curricula:
One purpose of the tests and evaluation is to find out the weak points in the curriculum so that it could be changed in
accordance will the need, of the society.
To measure Behavior in Controlled Situation:
Another purpose of tests is to measure the behavior of the subject or student under controlled conditions.