Examining Speaking
Research and Practice in Assessing Second Language Speaking - 9780521736701

Examining Speaking. Test developers need to provide a clear explication of the language ability constructs that underpin the tests they offer in the public domain: such an explication is essential for supporting claims about the validity (or usefulness) of tests and test scores.

This edited volume develops a theoretical framework for validating tests of second language speaking ability. The framework is then applied through an examination of the tasks in Cambridge ESOL speaking tests from a number of different validity perspectives that reflect the socio-cognitive nature of any assessment event. The chapter authors show how an understanding and analysis of the framework and its components can assist test developers to operationalise their tests more effectively, especially in relation to the key criteria that differentiate one proficiency level from another.

This book provides:

an up-to-date review of the relevant literature on assessing speaking

an accessible and systematic description of the different proficiency levels in second language speaking

a comprehensive and coherent basis for validating test of speaking.