An Attempt to Develop a Diagnostic Test for the Use of the Subjunctive
Test Result and Feedback Method
2005 Volume 1 Pages 11-20
Details
2005 Volume 1 Pages 11-20
A diagnostic test is designed to clarify the achievement level of the students and to find each student's weaknesses; as a result based on these scores, students and teachers can know how to study or teach effectively and efficiently. Although the need for diagnostic tests is increasing, only a few studies on composing diagnostic tests have been attempted.
The purpose of this study is to report the results of the diagnostic test for use of the subjunctive, which Aoki et al. (2003) composed. The subjects were 125 undergraduate students, and they were examined using a diagnostic test, with questions relating to the subjunctive on the general entrance examinations for various universities and TOEIC. The results indicate; (1) the students' understanding varies depending on the tense; (2) in every tense there are differences between the upper and the lower groups; and (3) each tense has different error patterns. In addition, the diagnostic test has a higher correlation to TOEIC than to general entrance examination questions. The findings reveal that the diagnostic test reflects the students' proficiency more accurately than the general entrance examination questions.
