A study in Sri Lanka concerning the effects of second language tests, specifically the O-Level examination in English as a Second Language, on classroom language instruction is reported. The study investigates the phenomenon of washback or backwash, the influence of testing on instruction. It is cited as the only known research investigating…

On the premise that the value of a test relates to its uses, this article argues that tests should correspond to teachers' methods, objectives, and materials. A distinction is drawn between classroom and standardized testing, and three criteria for testing are offered. (LR)