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Findings and Suggestions

5.2 Implications for testing writing
1. The analysis of the test papers at class IX and X level reveal that the learners are only required to reproduce from memory answers to questions based on the content of the coursebook lessons (1.3.2.b and appendix 6a and b).  In the way of testing, learners’ ability to communicate through the written medium is not tested.

2. When learners are asked to write down a passage, which is read out to them they reveal their ability to process the language which requires understanding the meaning of the material.  The errors committed by the learners in writing the dictated passage also reveal their lack of competence in particular areas of syntax (4.4.1).

3. When learners are given cloze passages, to reconstruct the textual message, a learner have to understand key ideas and produces an appropriate word for each blank.  For example, in the post-test administered to the learners in this experiment, learners were given a cloze passage, which was a story (Appendix 8c).  Learners had to understand the key story and supply appropriate words to fill in the blanks, keeping in mind the immediate context as well as the overall structure of the passage.

4. The one word prompts usually given in examinations for paragraphs writing (Appendix 6a and b) is inadequate to test the competence of the learners in written expression.  When learners are given a letter and are asked to write a reply to that letter, they reveal their ability to communicate through writing (Appendix 8b and c).   In this kind of written assignment learners get a clear idea of the message to be conveyed, and the intended reader.  This makes them choose the words and phrases appropriate to the situation.