How to construct your test: The influence of test length on students’ achievement
How to construct your test: The influence of test length on students’ achievement

Author(s): Bojan Prosenjak
Subject(s): Language studies, Applied Linguistics, Studies of Literature, Polish Literature, Philology, British Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: test characteristics; test length; test frequency; achievement; attitude towards test length and frequency
Summary/Abstract: Our study investigated the difference in achievement between two groups of high school students – those who took shorter tests more frequently, and those who took longer tests less frequently. Both tests types tested listening, reading and writing skills. The results showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups, and the participants’ preferences as to the length and frequency of tests indicated a difference of only just above five percentage points in favour of shorter and more frequent tests. Teachers should thus examine their students’ attitudes and motivation, adapt their revision lessons and teaching material accordingly, and construct the most appropriate instrument for testing their students’ achievement.

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