Two Main Reasons for Conducting Test

There are many reasons for conducting tests in classrooms. The two main reasons are : 

1.         To Identify Students’  Strengths and Weaknesses

Tests can be conducted to determine the strengths and weaknesses of students. Pretests at the beginning of learning units can assist teachers to find out what students already know and where the teacher's focus needs to be when planning lessons.

2.         To Identify What Students Have Already Learned

Tests are conducted to see what the students have learned after the completion of a process of learning and teaching. When the tests are based on the learning and teaching objectives of the lessons, the teacher can analyze the results to see what the students have learned and what the students have failed to learn. Tests are also able to reveal where the students are having problems in their learning processes. Tests results are also important when parents want to know the progress of their children.

Why Is Test Important?

Tests are integral part of teaching and learning, as tests help to determine whether the goals of education have been achieved or not. Tests affect decisions about grades, placement, advancement, instructional needs, and curriculum constructions. Outcomes of tests prompt us to reflect on these questions: "Are we teaching what we think we are teaching?" "Are students learning what they are supposed to be learning?" "Is there a way to teach the subject better, thereby promoting better learning?"

                                                                   Adapted from : “Healthier Testing Made Easy ” by Wiggins(2006)

The Purpose of Tests

Why do teachers give students tests? Why are high stakes tests carried out for their students? The answers to these seem obvious: tests are given to see what students have learned. However, this only this is only a partial answer. Tests have many purposes in schools. It should be stressed that , whatever the tests, the processes and outcomes of tests should be for the benefit of the students and not the teacher, school, district, or state. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Students are usually the last elements to be taken into considerations in the planning, implementation and postmortem of the any testing  process.

                                                                                                            Adapted from:  Melissa Kelly