A diagnostic test is a test that helps the teacher and learners identify problems that they have with the language

A woman doing a test

The information from the test can be used to help course and syllabus design.

Example
At the start of the course, the teacher gives the learners a diagnostic test to see what areas of language need to be in the syllabus.

In the classroom
Progress tests given during the course can also act as diagnostic tests as they help the teacher and learners identify what areas will be looked at next on the course.

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