a) Define Washback

Washback or Backwash can be defined as a type of impact, which relates to

the effects of high-stakes tests on classroom practices particularly in teaching
and learning. Bailey (1996) states that washback can be positive or negative, to
the extent that it either promote or impedes the accomplishment of educational
goals held by learners and/or programme personnel.

b) Discuss backwash in tests.

The effect of backwash has been long discussed among experts. Some may say
that it can gives positive effects toward learners as the learners are still being
taught on the knowledge that eventually being tested later on. On the other
hand, many still argue that it can give negative impact toward developing good
learners in a long term. Nevertheless, when both sides have been discussed, it is
up to the official to take on the positive and find solution for the negative as
Heyneman (1987) has commented, "It's true that teachers teach to an
examination. National officials have three choices with regard to this 'backwash
effect': they can fight it, ignore it, or use it" (p. 260; as cited in Andrews, 1994a,
p. 51).

To view backwash as having positive impact, one has to admit that we test
students on what they have learned in class based on the syllabus provided by
the ministry of education. Thus, the teachers knowledge on the format of test or
the content in it which resulted in backwash still actually gives the same input
without leaning on the tests. Besides that, it gives students more motivation to
learn and absorb the given knowledge so they can answer the tests.
Futhermore, tests can be a powerful, low-cost means of influencing the quality of
what teachers teach and what learners learn at school (Heyneman & Ransom,
1992).
In contrast, if the tests are not properly constructed, a negative backwash can
occur in which the stated goals of instruction and the focus of assessment may
become inconsistent. What the teacher should teach students may different to
what the test want to assess students. It can two different focus. Adding to that,
the teacher may also abandon the instructional goals to prepare students on
what comes out in tests which degrading the actual reason of teaching and
learning; to develop students mind and create a holistic individually for society.
In a nutshell, there are both positive and negative backwashes in tests but it is
up to the teachers and education official in all countries to further raise the
positive effect and research on the solution for negative effect. Teacher may
want to teach students so they can do better in tests but teacher may also
design tests that really assess students on what they should learn in classroom.
Between these two, teacher can still have manipulate backwash in their
classroom.