Test Types in ELT

The Good, The Bad, and the Delta-Relevant

If the phrase “proficiency vs. achievement, summative vs. formative, discrete-item vs. integrative” makes your head spin, you’re not alone.

Understanding test types is a key part of Delta Module One — and it’s one area where many candidates feel unsure. There’s a lot of theory, terminology, and analysis involved, and the line between “testing knowledge” and “knowing how to write about tests” isn’t always clear.

That’s why our online Delta Module One course doesn’t just teach you about test types — we help you think critically about them, connect them to your classroom experience, and write about them clearly and effectively under exam conditions.

So, what makes our approach to assessment and testing stand out?

Let’s break it down…

We Clarify the Categories — Without the Confusion

We walk you through the key distinctions: diagnostic vs. placement, achievement vs. proficiency, norm-referenced vs. criterion-referenced. No more muddled definitions — just clear explanations with real-world examples.

We Show You What Cambridge Cares About

Not all test-related knowledge is equally relevant. We highlight what the exam actually tests — so you can focus your energy on the kinds of terminology, evaluation, and analysis that really matter.

Theory Meets Practice in Exam Tasks

It’s not enough to know about test types — you need to explain, evaluate, and apply them. Our course gives you lots of practice doing just that, with tutor feedback to help you improve every step of the way.

You’ll Learn to Analyse ELT Exams Like a Pro

From IELTS to PET to Trinity GESE, you’ll gain the tools to evaluate real exam specs for validity, reliability, backwash and more — key skills for Paper 1, Task 4 and beyond.

We Provide Handy Visual Summaries

Confused by terminology? Our downloadable charts and glossaries lay it all out clearly, making revision easier and more effective — especially in the final weeks before the exam.

Live Sessions and Discussions Make Concepts Click

We don’t leave you alone to read theory in isolation. Our live input sessions and online discussion forums help bring these concepts to life through examples, analysis and shared insight from other experienced teachers.

Guidance from Trainers Who Know the Exam Inside Out

Our tutors are experienced Delta examiners and trainers who know how to coach you to handle testing-related questions confidently — and show Cambridge exactly what they want to see.

The outcome?

You won’t just memorise test types — you’ll understand them deeply, write about them clearly, and tackle assessment-related exam tasks with far more confidence.

Still wondering if this works? Just ask our former candidates:

“The sequencing of topics really helped with understanding complex concepts like test types and assessment frameworks without feeling overwhelmed.”
— Dave Naserbakht