1) TEST ASSESSMENT p. 464 #2

At quick glance, I thought this site would be great as a test resource:
After viewing the Modal Diagnostic, I changed my mind.

1) It looks practical in that it's not expensive to print (it must be taken on-line), nor time consuming to take, nor to grade. Of course, it wouldn't be practical if each student had no access to a lab full of computers.
2) Reliability is not an issue because the diagnostic has multiple choice questions. Multiple people could grade it without inconsistency as long as the answer key is followed.
3) I do not feel the diagnostic is valid. As a native English speaker, I do not feel the directions are clear so I feel it would not teach the student anything by taking it. I don't agree with all of the answers. Thus, I don't see the purpose of taking the diagnostic, thus, I see no face validity. There is no content validity because of the multiple-choice questions. There is no construct validity because the diagnostic does not prove mastery of the modals. We'd have no idea if the students could actually use the modals to write sentences. They could guess on every question and possibly pass it.
4) The diagnostic is not authentic because the questions are isolated and "bear no relationship to one another."
5) The diagnostic does not foster Washback because incorrect answers would not lend themselves to any "insight into further work." I do not see how the diagnostic could be used as a learning tool.