Development and Validation of a Test of Thinking Strategies in German as a Foreign Language: Language Assessment in Lower-Secondary School Students

Abstract
This study focuses on the development and validation of the test of thinking strategies in German as a foreign language. The main aim is to develop a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the thinking strategies of lower-secondary school children (aged 14–16) in the Hradec Králové region, Czech Republic. The test development process involved item analysis, pilot testing, and psychometric evaluation conducted between October and December 2024 on a sample of 69 respondents, to establish both item-level and overall test validity and reliability. The results indicate that the developed test is an appropriate assessment tool enabling professionals to assess and therefore better understand the needs of individual learners during the foreign language acquisition process.
© 2026 Martina Hoffmannová, Simona Tušicová, published by Technical University of Liberec
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