Renovating Tests for Highschool Learners Following Competence-based Approach

Since 2015, the project on renovating general education curricula and textbooks was approved by the government, which aimed at creating fundamental and comprehensive changes in the quality and effectiveness of education and human development in Vietnam. New curricula and textbooks were designed to develop not only knowledge but also personal qualities and competences such as problem-solving, or language competence. Testing and assessment, as a crucial part of of teaching process should be improved accordingly. As a matter of fact, without positive changes in testing and assessment, the desired objectives in teaching practice can hardly be achieved. This research focuses only on tests, the traditional form of assessment and tries to explore how tests following competence-based approach can not only measure learners' competence but also encourage the development of important competences in learners. Competence-based assessment was described to include four key features, including criteria-based and evidence-based (Standards for Registered Training Organizations, 2015). These features ensure that tests will be based on criteria specified by competency standards and demonstrate competence. Nguyen, C.K. (2016) also argued that tests should be precise, objective and closely linked with educational targets including competences. Based on the above-mentioned features, tests of the entrance exams into some highschools in Hanoi were analysed to reveal how they can be designed for the sake of learners by measuring not only knowledge but also necessary competences.