DIAGNOSTIC
TESTS
Diagnostic tests are used to diagnose or identify
the problems of the learner in learning a particular area of content and
achievement in that area. The diagnostic test helps to locate on the exact area
of difficulty or exact reasons of difficulty.
(Achievement tests also have some diagnosing values, but the roughly
identify the reasons.) A diagnostic
tests aimed only diagnosing the difficulties and not the achievement.
The
diagnostic tests can be:
·
At higher level classes a diagnostic
test can measure learning problems of specified difficult areas to find out
what are the difficulties of achievement in those areas.
·
In lower level classes (school levels) the
diagnostic test can be from low difficulty area or easy area. In other words,
for lower classes, the questions for a diagnostic test are mostly from low
difficulty level as the purpose is to identify the learners’ weaknesses and limitations. (In achievement test the questions are varied
with different difficulty levels. But in diagnostic tests they are from either
low difficulty level or high level. Mostly from low difficulty level)
·
In diagnostic tests, questions arranged
on learning area wise, It can can’t ask one question from first unit, second
from fifth unit and so. Content wise sequential arrangement is needed in asking
questions
·
Diagnostic tests are much larger than
achievement tests, because we cannot ask many dimensions in same question. One question - one answer is the best
system. From a small area itself we have to ask many questions.
·
Diagnostic tests are larger in size doesn’t
mean test for more marks. It means more questions from a same area.
Administration
of Diagnostic Tests
Diagnostic tests can be done in two occasions:
a.
A teacher can grasp the difficulties of
students in certain areas of learning by going through their learning tasks.
The responses of learners also will help a teacher to identify the
difficulties. In such cases, teacher can administer diagnostic tests to find
out the depth of difficulties.
b.
Diagnostic tests are mostly administered
after the conduct of achievement tests. By achievement test, teacher can see
the difficulty areas of the learner and based on that the diagnostic tests can
be prepared. The analysis of answer helps to identify the difficulty areas of
the achievement test (question wise analyses)
Identifying the difficulty areas means to see the areas those are mostly
unanswered. The unanswered areas are the difficulty areas for the learners. For
diagnostic test, the questions should be from these unanswered areas and they
should be simple questions.
c.
Normally diagnostic tests are constituted
with objective type questions and short answer type questions. But it is not
mandatory. If a teacher find out that the difficulty is with answering an
essay, such questions can also be included.
·
A diagnostic test can be so simple in
its language and directions and so on. Because it aimed to identify the
difficulties in learning.
·
Sufficient time should be provided for
attending the questions. Mostly , there is no need of question wise time limit
for a diagnostic tests
·
Diagnostic tests are not to measure the achievement
of the learner. It is to identify the difficulties of learner in content area/s.
·
The diagnostic test after achievement
test must be prepared for the most unanswered areas only.
·
The diagnostic tests are to be followed a diagnostic analysis
and remedial teaching.
Prognostic tests
The
test can be conducted in anticipatory to identify the possible difficulties of
a learner in a particular content are. Such tests are called prognostic tests.
1 comment:
very good note
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