FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF OYE EKITI

LECTURE NOTE ON EDU311

TEST AND ITS CLASSIFICATION

WRITTEN BY
DR OLUTOYIN OLUFUNKE FAJOBI,
DEPARTMENT OF GUIDANCE AND
COUNSELING

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 TESTS

INTRODUCTION
Test is an instrument that elicits the abilities of the testee. According to Ubi and
Udemba (2021), Test as an instrument in the hands of any teacher is very
important. This is because it is a very relevant tool in educational measurement and
has received an endless interest in education. It is the tool that enables teachers to
place judgment, make decision, check performance, get response style or picture
and determine students ability. It is the collection of questions to measure
performance and ability.
Testing is the process of conducting test to the testees. It the process of presenting
a test to the testees in other to measure their level of change in behaviour.

Types/ Classification of Tests

Test can be classified in many ways some of the bases are:

1. Method of administration: According to the way a test is administrated, we
have the
(a) Individual test : This is a test administrates on one-on-one basis, ie one
person at a time. Example: clinical diagnostic test
(b) Group Test: A test administrated to a group of people at the same time.
2. Response demanded: is includes :
(a) Free-response item test (the testees are required to supply the answers) -
eg essay questions
(b) Alternative response items test – (the testees are to select their answers
from the alternatives given by the examiner- eg; multiple choice
questions.
3. Time required for the test: is requires speed test and power test.
(a) Speed test is made up of large number of simple items to be answered
within a strong and strict time limit.
(b) The power test is more difficulty items with allotted time limit to allow
the testees complete the test. It is used for more practical or application
test.
4. Method of interpreting the scores Here we have
(a) Norm-referenced: The score is interpreted with reference to the
performance of the group ie ranking style- 1st, 2nd,3rd e.t.c
(b) Criterion–reference test: The scores are interpreted based on a
predetermined standard called the criterion or cut of range. Example the
Jamb cut of point.
5. Method of preparation: Here it is based on who construed (prepared) the test
items. We have (a) Teacher-made –test: prepared by the class or subject
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 teacher according to what he/she taught for a given period. It is also called
classroom test.
(c) Standardized achievement test. Prepared by test organizations (Jamb,
WAEC, NECO) according to the syllabus. Eg All external examinations.
6. Classification according to time: This includes;
(a)Formative test used to determine learners’ outcome at the beginning of a
programme or before commencing a programme.
(b) Summative tests are used to determine end –of-course/year achievement
In summary demanding on the time the test is taken. All the test listed from
Nos 1 to 5 can be either formative, summative.

Other types of Psychological Test

There are several types of psychological test, namely: “AAAID”
1. Achievement tests
2. Attitude tests
3. Aptitude tests
4. Intelligence tests
5. Diagnostic test
1. Achievement Test:
This is a test constructed for the purposes of measuring how far learning of a
course objective has taken place or achieved by the group or individual after a
given time. It is also called the classroom / subject performance test.

2. Attitude Tests: Attitude tests measures an individual or group feelings about

an event, person or object, anxiety, interest, perception, personality. Typically used
attitude tests are Thurstone Scale or Likert Scale so as to measure specific
attitudinal items.

3. Aptitude Test: Sometimes these tests must be specially designed for a particular
job, but there are also aptitude tests available that measure general chemical and
mechanical aptitudes. Such as Minnesota Clerical Test (MCT). They are tests
constructed for the purposes of measuring the potential or ability of the individual
or group to attain or achieve certain attribute or learning at a later stage. Aptitude
tests are psychological tests to measure specific abilities, such as mechanical or
clerical skills.

4. Intelligence Tests: These tests may be aptitude tests or achievement tests. For
example IQ achievement tests purport to be measures of intelligence, while
achievement tests are measures of the use and level of development of use of the
ability. IQ (or cognitive) tests and achievement tests are common norm-referenced
tests. It is calculated by dividing the chronological age (CA) and the mental age
(MA) by 100.
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5. Diagnostic Tests: These tests are commonly constructed and Administered on
individual or group for the purposes of investigating or identifying certain
personality problem areas in order to determine needed remedial or counseling
intervention.

USES OF TEST
1. To provide feedback
2. For placement
3. For measurement, assessment and evaluations
4. For Research pupose.
MAJOR CLASSIFICATION OF TEST
Basically there are 2 classification of test (1) Objective test-“MMSATC’ (2) Essay
test.-‘ER’’
Objective Test: This is made up of test that require very short answers, something
just letters and answers very precise.
It does not allow the testees to express their options
They are easy to mark and difficult to prepare.
It limit the factor of sympatric or bias marking /scoring

There are 6 types of Objective Test:

(1) Completion test (Filling in the blank space): It requires the testees to Filling in
the blank space
Merits:
i. It is easy to set
ii. It is easy to mark and score.
Demerit
i. It encourage guessing and cramming
ii. It is difficult to set

(2)True-false test (Yes /No): It requires the testees to pick

Merits:
i. It is easy to set
ii. It is easy to mark and score.
iii. It can cover wide area of the subject/course content

Demerit
i. It encourage guessing and cramming

(3) Matching test : It requires the matching of two or more statement to the
appropriate group. For this options should be more than the statement.
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 Eg:

Statement
Options
_____ is an instrument to elicit information on changes in behavior Score
_____ is the act of placing judgment on a thing
Test
_____ is the act of assigning numbers to a thing
Evaluation

Measurement
The testees are expected to draw a line to meet the correct statement to the
option

4) Short answer items: It also short and precise, encourage guessing and
cramming
It answers the questions with words like; mention, list, stat, enumerate,

(5) Multiple Choice Test (MCT): Test with option. The options are made up of
the key (correct answer) and the distracters (wrong answers).

(6) Arrangement: Answers are expected to be presented in ascending and

descending order or numerical or alphabetical order.
1. ESSAY TEST
This is a test that requires the testees to supply the answers in detail in
paragraphs and pages, well prepared in a manner that makes sense and to
convince the examiners of your ability. It is used to measure complex ability
of the student. It is used to test cognitive domain of student.

Advantages of Essay Test

1. It gives person writing the exam chance to display his/her originality(self
expression)
2. It gives room for students to write in details
3. It is easily to set essay question than “OBJ” test
4. It measures students higher level of knowledge
5. There is a tendency for student to be favoured (based on good
handwriting, lengthy statements, and good construction of answers)

Disadvantages of Essay Test

1. It difficult to mark/score
2. It may not allow the coverage of the subject content
3. There is a high tendency for students to be penalized( Based on bad
handwriting, poor language construction)
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Types of Essay test
1. Extended response essay test; This kind of essay test requires an in-depth and
extensive expression of answers. It measure high level of cognitive domain. The
questions are prepared with words like; Discuss, elaborate, explain in details e.
t.c.
2. Restricted response essay: This test limits the students self expression, they are
direct question that needs direct answers. It measure low level of cognitive
domain. Questions for this kind comes in words like; list, mention, state, define,
e.t.c.

How to Make Essay Tests less Subjective

This can be done by using the following test types ; complete test and
short answer test

Difference between Teacher made test and standardized test

Teacher made Test Standardized achievement test

1 It is constructed by the It is constructed by an examination

subject or classroom teacher body

2 It is prepared based on the It is prepared based on the syllabus and

content and objectives of a the curriculum in that state or country
subject taught by the subject
or class teacher

3 It is prepared to cover a short It prepared to cover a long period of

period ie weekly, month or time basically yearly.
term, semester

4 It has low reliability estimate It has high reliability estimate

5 It is not commercialize It is commercialized

6 It is limited to a class It is for a region, state or country to take

the test

Some Rules in test preparation

1. Item Independent: Items(questions) should not give a clue to the
answer of another question.
2. In Objective test: Do not use options that are not closely related
3. Avoid test been bias
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 4. Statements should be clear and easily for student to comprehend.

Distinctions Between Psychological, Educational And

Counselling Tests

Psychological : Example are, intelligence test(IQ) Attitude test. Is a test that

measures high or in-depth mental and/or behavioural characteristics of an individual.
Educational tests: Are teacher made tests and standardized test that measures
learning outcomes. Educational tests are designed to measure what learners have
benefited after a given learning outcome. Example: achievement test, aptitude test.
Counseling tests are psychological or educational tests for counseling purposes.
Counseling tests may be adopted, adapted, modified. Psychological or educational
tests or developed by counselor for counseling uses. Broadly speaking, tests that
serves counseling purposes are called counseling tests.
It is difficult to say that, there are no relationships between psychological,
educational and counseling tests. This is because, both psychological, educational and
counseling tests focused on people, clients or learner’s personality.

REFERENCES

EYONG E I., UGWU, C. & Udemba e. C. (2021) peanuts to teachers understanding of the
practicability of Taxonomyof Educational objectives, associated Instrument and its
classroom application. International journal of scientific and academic research
(ijsar) in june vol,7 page 287.

Jousha M. T. (2012) Fundamentals of Test and Measurement in Education. Anita Press

Calabar, Nigeria

Bloom, B.S. (Ed.).Engelhart, M.D., Furst, E.J., Hill, W.H., Krathwohl, D.R. (1956).
Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook: The Cognitive Domain. New
York: David McKay Co Inc.

Dave, Y. (1970).Interpretation of educational measurements. New York: Macmillan.

Harrow, R.O. (1972). Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language

Pedagogy.