Task 1: Diagnostic Assessment Interview

 For this task, you will need to arrange to interview your MST at a time convenient to her.
The focus of this task is to understand:
- what diagnostic assessment has taken place this school year in your class,
- who developed the diagnostic assessment (teachers, school management, ADEC/MOE,
etc.),
- how the diagnostic assessment was carried out,
- what the purpose of that diagnostic assessment was/is, and
- what decisions the teacher made as a result of the diagnostic assessment.

 You need to prepare a minimum of 10 questions prior to the interview. You may add
additional questions during the interview based on your teachers responses, i.e. to clarify
answers or garner further information.

 You will need to record your teacher’s responses – use the strategy that works best for you.
If you are using a voice recording device, you MUST inform your MST.

 The interview must be typed and included in your Portfolio.

 You may develop your own questions specific to your context, however the following may
give you some ideas.

Example Interview Questions

1. What diagnostic assessment has taken place this semester?
2. When did this occur?
3. What types of assessments were conducted? (written, oral, practical, etc.)
4. Who developed these assessments?
5. Who conducted the assessments? (classroom teacher, Arabic teacher, classroom
assistant, etc.)
6. Were the assessments completed by students individually?
7. What information did you hope to get from the assessments?
8. What decisions did you make based on the assessments?
9. How did you group your students? (same/different academic levels, friendship groups,
similar interests, etc.)
10. Do the groups change for different learning subjects/topics?
 Diagnostic Assessment Interview
1. What diagnostic assessment has taken place this semester?
This semester the grade one students took part in The Hundred picture
naming test, The pm benchmark for reading, the PAT R comprehension test
as well as the PAT R spelling test,
2. When did this occur?
During the course of the semester.
3. What types of assessments were conducted? (written, oral, practical, etc.)
Oral and written.
4. Who developed these assessments?
These assessments were developed by external educational organizations.
5. Who conducted the assessments? (classroom teacher, Arabic teacher,
classroom assistant, etc.)
These assessments were carried out in English classes by English teachers.
6. Were the assessments completed by students individually?
Some were done in small group settings and some were one on one with the
English teacher.
7. What information did you hope to get from the assessments?
The assessments’ purpose is to demonstrate students’ progress in literacy
over the course of the year.
8. What decisions did you make based on the assessments?
Students reading levels were change based on the pm benchmark test.
Through the PAT R comprehension test we were able it identify students
trouble spots and areas of development. Spelling focuses for the following
semester were determined based on the results of their scores on the PAT
R spelling test results.
9. How did you group your students? (same/different academic levels,
friendship groups, similar interests, etc.)
Students grouping I English classes in based on their reading levels resulting
from PM Benchmarks. This helps when it comes to guided reading and
comprehension activities during small group activities.
10. Do the groups change for different learning subjects/topics?
Yes, students are usually grouping bases on their reading level to help with
guided reading activities, however students are often grouped based on
their writing abilities in different genres and topics.
 After the Task - Reflection
Reflect on the interview and the information gained about diagnostic assessment from your
MST. Consider how/why you would implement diagnostic assessment in a UAE primary
classroom in the future. Explain how this practice will affect student learning in a primary class.

I interviewed with my MST about diagnostic assessment and asked some question about
her profession. Diagnostic assessment is very important for teacher and students, also to
know level for each the students. The teacher will divide three level which is high-level
middle level and low level.

It is good to implement the diagnostic assessment in a UAE primary classroom in the

future to check each student which level when they will divide group level. Each teacher
should give the student assessments to them think about the plan for individual students.
Also, the teacher will provide more time with students.