ELL ELL Assessment and Testing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of assessment is used to measure an ELL student's English proficiency level when they first enroll in a US school?
- Summative assessment
- Diagnostic/placement assessment (Correct answer)
- Formative assessment
- Portfolio assessment
Correct answer: Diagnostic/placement assessment
Diagnostic or placement assessments are administered upon enrollment to determine an ELL student's current English proficiency level and appropriate instructional placement.
Question 2: What does WIDA stand for in the context of ELL assessment?
- World-class Instructional Design and Assessment (Correct answer)
- Written Instruction and Development Assessment
- Worldwide Integration of Diverse Academics
- Written Indicators of Development and Achievement
Correct answer: World-class Instructional Design and Assessment
WIDA stands for World-class Instructional Design and Assessment, a consortium that provides English language proficiency standards and assessments used in over 40 US states.
Question 3: Which assessment tool is commonly used to measure annual English language proficiency growth for ELLs as required by federal law?
- SAT
- ACCESS for ELLs (Correct answer)
- PARCC
- ACT Aspire
Correct answer: ACCESS for ELLs
ACCESS for ELLs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State) is the WIDA standardized assessment used to measure annual ELP growth as required by Title III.
Question 4: What is a language sample used for in ELL assessment?
- To test reading decoding skills only
- To measure a student's ability to produce language in real contexts (Correct answer)
- To assess math computation
- To evaluate a student's home language literacy
Correct answer: To measure a student's ability to produce language in real contexts
A language sample captures authentic speech or writing to analyze a student's actual language use, grammatical structures, and vocabulary in naturalistic settings.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a home language survey (HLS) in US schools?
- To assess academic achievement
- To identify students who may need ELL services (Correct answer)
- To determine citizenship status
- To evaluate parent education level
Correct answer: To identify students who may need ELL services
The home language survey is administered to all new enrollees to identify students whose home language is not English, triggering further English proficiency screening.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes formative assessment for ELL students?
- A standardized test given at the end of the year
- Ongoing informal checks used to guide instruction (Correct answer)
- A single placement test at enrollment
- A portfolio submitted at graduation
Correct answer: Ongoing informal checks used to guide instruction
Formative assessment for ELLs involves continuous, informal monitoring of student progress that helps teachers adjust instruction to meet language learning needs.
ELL ELL Assessment and Testing 1
Which type of assessment is used to measure an ELL student's English proficiency level when they first enroll in a US school?