How do you evaluate students` achievements? We usually evaluate them according to the results of the tests. What should we evaluate the level of knowledge or their efforts when they study the material? Do the results of the tests really reflect the level of skills which our students have? Should we assess the level of knowledge or the level of development of our students?

I always ask myself these questions when I try to evaluate my students` progress. I often have students who try to learn the material and do a lot of work but they can`t pass tests with excellent grades. At the same time they got their personal results and it means that they develop their skills more slowly that the syllabus suggests. What should I evaluate: personal development of students, their individual progress or the standard level of knowledge which a particular unit suggests?

The problem is that when students make progress in their pace and it doesn`t correspond with the standards of the system, it 1) demotivates them, 2) lowers their self-esteem and 3) devaluates their work. At the same time students should understand that their personal knowledge is lower than the standard is.

I show my students their personal development in the context of standard in these situations. I offer them additional opportunities for evaluation such as project work, portfolio, essays and other tasks where they can express their level of knowledge. The more possibilities we create to assess students` skills the more chances they get to be assessed.