The distribution of person fit indices is not easy to describe in tests where the item sample is too small to conform to a theoretical asymptotic statistical distribution, particularly the normal N(0,1). In practice, it is always the fact and, consequently, it is difficult to get the critical percentile value indicating person misfit. First, we…

A discussion of language testing addresses three questions: why good test construction seems to be increasingly difficult; what forces are shaping the practice of test construction; and what lies ahead in testing. It is proposed that practitioners are constantly redefining what "good" tests are, and those who develop tests are facing greater and…

The study reported in this paper originated from a need to design a short English for Academic Purposes (EAP) proficiency test for incoming undergraduate students. The approach to solving the problem was to focus on establishing consistent person comparison between the students at Hong Kong Baptist College who did not meet the minimum entry…

Since the initial inquiry into oral proficiency and oral proficiency testing by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) in 1981, the growing interest in this form of testing is evidenced by increased participation in workshops, conference sessions, and training sessions devoted to it. Intensive language programs and an…

The records of graduates of Iowa high schools who entered the University of Iowa as freshmen in the fall of 1977 were secured in cooperation with the Iowa Testing Program. Test scores for grades 4, 6, and 8 on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills and for grade 11 on the Iowa Tests of Educational Development were obtained for all students whose scores…

Issues surrounding the testing and evaluation of speaking in Singapore secondary schools are examined, including the questions of what skills and knowledge a speech evaluator should possess and what model of spoken knowledge--Received Pronunciation (RP) or Singapore English--should be provided. Oral tests, developed for the English language…

A discussion of the new Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education (GCE) O-Level standardized test of English focuses on how new ideas in testing have been implemented in the test and on their effect on classroom practice and the quality of English instruction. The discussion begins with a brief outline of the history and context in which the new…

This study examines the differences of approaches to second language testing in West Germany in regard to linguistic bases, pedagogical aims, and the desired degree of standardization and empirical quality control. One approach demands a curriculum-integrated diagnosis of language development aiming at a highly differentiated description of the…

The Language Proficiency Interview's structure, administration, and rating scale are outlined by an officer of the organization that designed it (Educational Testing Service), and some common mistakes made in its administration are listed. The need for training in the test's administration is emphasized. Its application in the corporate situation…

Inclusion of oral exams as a regular part of the school-based testing program has the advantages of providing motivation to learn oral skills, oral testing experience, additional opportunities for students to perform well, and improved relationships with students. However, logistical problems can be substantial. Adequate time for and efficient…

The "Zertifikat Deutsch als Fremdsprache," an examination developed by the Adult Education Centers in West Germany and the Goethe Institute to measure a student's proficiency in German as a foreign language, consists of two main parts, group testing and individual testing. The group testing section covers listening and reading…

A debate has been carried on in Dutch educational circles about the widespread use of multiple-choice tests, and a number of objections have been raised against the use of such tests. This paper reports on research into the validity of the objections, in particular with respect to the possible effect of multiple-choice tests on the teaching of…

Foreign language testing in schools has followed the general trends of foreign language education, from teaching and testing grammar, through a combination of reading and translation, to the audio lingual approaches of the sixties and the developments since that time. Contemporaneous with the decline in foreign language programs in the 1970's…

A technique for measuring the acquisition of Spanish skills is described. The technique is designed for fourth-year advanced Spanish students enrolled in business Spanish. It not only tests the students but promotes learning by requiring the use of new vocabulary items and comprehension of printed texts. Students are given a text with 25 to 30…

If sociolinguistics involves the specification and analysis of sociological, interpersonal, and pragmatic variables at issue in given language-use situations, and discourse anaysis is the observation and analysis of both linguistic and paralinguistic features of speech events within these situations, there are at least three areas in these…