THE EFFECT OF USING ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES ON THE MASTERY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS BY FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS AT MUSCAT BOYS’ BASIC SCHOOL

To determine the effect of using alternative assessment strategies on the ability of fifth grade students in Muscat Boys' Basic School to master English language skills.Given the nature of the study, which examines the impact of using alternative assessment strategies on fifth grade students' mastery of English language skills, the study was a case study in which the experimental approach was followed.To answer the study question, the researcher cooperated with the English language teacher at the school, Mr. Saed, to teach the fifth unit using the alternative assessment strategy.Accordingly, the following tools were relied upon: achievement test, verbal rating scale, numerical rating scale, learning process description record, narrative record, and real tasks related to the reality of the student's life.Fifth grade students at Muscat Boys School.The results were as follows: The success rate in the diagnostic test (pre-test) was 22% and failure was 78%, while the success rate in the final test (post-test) was 100% and failure was 0%.This is strong evidence and a good indicator of the effectiveness of the alternative assessment strategies that were applied in teaching.Students' skills and knowledge grew because the alternative assessment dealt with real tasks related to the reality of the learner's life, and the students' ability to analyse, interpret, and predict increased, which reflected positively on the learner's increased achievement as well.The researcher recommended that alternative assessment strategies be applied to all grades and subjects in Muscat Boys School, as the results were in favor of alternative assessment strategies and their clear impact on fifth-grade students' mastery of English language skills .