Assessment
Two types of assessment
1 Assessment for learning
2 Assessment of learning
There are many activities and techniques throughout the
Poptropica English Teacher’s Edition which will help you
assess where your students are in their learning.
There is a wide range of tests to be used after each unit, to
review multiple units, and at the end of the level. However,
any test can be used either as an assessment for learning
or assessment of learning. Using tests as an assessment
of learning, usually takes place after the learning, and this
provides information about what the student is achieving
by giving a grade. You can also use tests as an assessment
for learning, providing specific feedback on students’
strengths and weaknesses as part of the continuing
learning process. It is a combination of both types of
assessment which can provide powerful tools for helping
students on their learning adventure.
Placement Tests
There are two Poptropica English Placement Tests. These
will help you grade students and place them into the
appropriate level of Poptropica English.
Placement Test A can be found in Teacher’s Editions
1–3. It covers the language from Levels 1–3.
Placement Test B can be found in Teacher’s Editions 4–6.
It covers the language from Levels 4–6.
Choosing the appropriate test
When choosing a test, try to find out if the student
has studied English before, and to what level. Use this
information to decide whether the student would fit
better into a lower-level class or upper-level class. Give
Placement Test A to students better suited to a lower-
level class, and Placement Test B to students better
suited to an upper-level class. If in doubt, have the
student start with Placement Test A, and if necessary
continue the assessment with Placement Test B.
Procedure
• Make a copy of the test pages, and complete the
student’s name and the date at the top of the page.
• Begin with the speaking part. Prepare the relevant
Picture Cards.
• Give the rest of the Placement Test to the student. Play
the audio for the student to complete the listening part.
• Allow student 20 minutes to complete the test.
• Check the answers against the Answer Key on page 170
for Placement Test A and page 172 for Placement Test B.
Placement Test A
10 points or below: Place in a Level 1 class.
11–40 points: Place in a Level 2 class.
41–80 points: Place in a Level 3 class.
81 points or above: Give Placement Test B.
Placement Test B
10 points or below: Give Placement Test A.
11–40 points: Place in a Level 4 class.
41–80 points: Place in a Level 5 class.
81 points or above: Assign to a Level 6 class.
Unit Tests
There are eight Unit Tests in each level of Poptropica
English. These test the learning objectives from each
unit. Have students take the Unit Test after studying
each of the eight core units.
Review Tests
There are four Review Tests in each level of Poptropica
English, covering Units 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8. These
can be given after completion of every two units in the
Student Book.
End of Level Test
There is an End of Level Test in each level of Poptropica
English, covering Units 1–8. This should be used in
combination with ongoing assessment in class.
Exam preparation
For students taking the Cambridge Young Learner Exams,
there are some exam-style activities in the Review Tests.
Procedure
• Copy the test for students, and have them write their
name.
• Play the audio, and have students complete the
listening activities. Then set students a time limit
within which to complete the remainder of the test.
• Check the answers against the Answer Key on pages
180–182. Write the total score in the space provided.
• When handing tests back to students, go through the
answers and explain any errors.
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