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8 Accuracy of word reading: for test takers – a student sheet with the
numbered fifteen words written on it; 9
Accuracy and fluency of passage reading: for test takers – a student sheet with a passage written on it, MP3 or another audio-recording device with
extra batteries. 3.
Written test: for test takers –a set of student sheets or test booklet for reading skill, numeracy, and writing skill tests.
Before assessment sessions begin, all required test materials need to be set
properly. The assessment needs to begin with introducing the purpose and procedures of the assessment to the whole group of test takers. The test takers should also be informed
that the test result for each individual will be reported in written form after a certain period of time. The Eastern Tamang language should be used in the whole process of the
assessment including the introduction. The whole process of the assessment needs to be monitored by a designated supervisor and a regional education officer if available so
that they can make suggestions for improvement in the assessment implementation.
5.5.3.1 Brief interview for background information
Since the first session would be the individual oral test, the assessors will interview test takers one by one. The assessor starts the oral test session with a brief
interview to get some background information from the test taker. The information to be gathered from each test taker is as follows: name, age, gender, marital status, mother
tongue, the highest grade of education completed, previous experience in a literacy program. The assessor should conduct the interview in an informal, conversational mode,
being careful not to lapse into spontaneous conversations of detailed educational
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experiences. Questions of background information are presented in Appendix G. The assessors should record the responses from each test taker on the interview sheet which
is the first page of the record sheet for the oral test for each examinee. The assessors should not forget to write his or her own name as an interviewer, the date of the
interview, the name of the village and district, and the name of the literacy teacher who taught the respondent. The information gathered from the interview will be used to
analyze data from the assessments.
5.5.3.2 Entry point diagnostic test
After the brief interview, the assessor will give a one-minute diagnostic reading test using a short passage. The assessor asks the test taker to read the passage. Based on
the initial performance, the assessor will make a judgment as to which assessment each test taker should take. Test takers will then be classified into different level groups for the
oral and written tests.
5.5.3.3 The oral test
The oral test consists of a total of 131 test items – 73 items for the Non-literate
level L0, 115 for the Below Basic level L1, 83 for the Basic level L2, and 6 for the Intermediate L3 and the Advanced L4 levels
– in up to twelve sections. A different set of oral test sections will be given for those at different levels. The oral assessment is
expected to take 15 minutes for L0, 25 minutes for L1, 20 minutes for L2, and 6 minutes for L3 and L4. It will be conducted one-on-one with an assessor and one test taker.
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When there are more than ten participants in a village class, it would be necessary to have more than one trained assessor
–in fact, as many as possible – administering the oral test so that the other test takers would not wait long for their turns. Three or four assessors
can administer the oral test in different classrooms at the same time if such facilities are available. When the test is conducted with a smaller number less than ten of
participants, two assessors, one as the main assessor and another as the assistant, can collaborate for administering the test.
Another strategy for keeping silence around the facility and having the other test takers‘ time fully engaged is to hold a two hour-long creative writing contest. The teacher
of the literacy program can be prepared for that special event with the help of the literacy personnel. At the end of the contest, awards need to be presented and all the written
works will be collected for later use.
5.5.3.4 Written test
