Test Makeover

What moves can educators make to create more comprehensible multiple choice items? We suggest:

⬇️ Limiting the number of choices to reduce the linguistic load.

😊 Adding emojis (emojipedia) or icons (flaticon) to provide a visual translation.

🖼️ Providing a way for students to respond in writing or with images.

🤔 Asking students "what else" they know to allow them to share a more complete representation of their learning.

"It is understood that a test in English is a test of English for ELs until they reach a level of English proficiency where language no longer masks their academic achievement" (Gottlieb, 2016, p. 205).

Gottlieb, M. (2016). Assessing English language learners: Bridges to educational equity: Connecting academic language proficiency to student achievement. Corwin Publishers.