Creating items (test questions) for English language assessments is a tricky business, particularly for teens. You need to ensure that the item produces an accurate and valid measurement of the skill you are trying to test while providing the best possible experience for a test taker. In this blog, we’ll look at two important considerations when writing items: context and content. If this whets your appetite, be sure to join me in my Oxford English Assessment Professional Development session where we’ll be exploring in more detail how to write good test items.
Context
Here’s an example of the kind of item you might get in an adult speaking test. But it’s not suitable for teens. Why not?
Some people say that the perks of a job, such as working from home, are more important than the salary. Do you agree or disagree?
As you might have guessed, a 13-year-old may well have some of the linguistic competences required to tackle this question.