This paper discusses the challenges of defining coherence in the context of oral language assessment literacy and proposes that better understanding of the construct can be achieved through a systemic-functional linguistic lens. Coherence is taken to be a foundational quality of written and spoken discourse and is a standard feature in the…

With the increasing interest in Positive Psychology within the realm of L2 learning, the role of positive emotions, particularly Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE) has garnered attention in Second Language Acquisition research (Dewaele & MacIntyre, 2014). Despite the growing interest in FLE in Turkey, the widely used Foreign Language Enjoyment…

This study examines how second/foreign language (L2) word difficulty estimates derived from item response theory (IRT) and classical test theory (CTT) frameworks are virtually identical in the context of vocabulary testing. This conclusion is reached via a two-stage process: (a) psychometric assessments of both approaches and (b) L2 word…

Several high-stakes English proficiency tests including but not limited to IELTS, PTE Academic, and TOEFL iBT recommend a 2-year time limit on validity for score usage. Although this timeframe provides a useful rule-of-thumb for the recency of testing, it can have far-reaching consequences. In response to stakeholder queries around IELTS validity…

In this paper, the White listening subject takes the form of a standardized high-stakes reading test, the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Although the test does not actually listen, it 'hears' and evaluates children's responses to its questions. I present the results of the 2017 Grade 8 reading exams, from the March, May,…

The National Matriculation English Test (NMET), also known as the Gaokao English Examination, is a high-stakes, large-scale selection test for tertiary education in China, with numerous provinces and regions adopting the standardized national test papers. The validity of the NMET has garnered extensive attention. To verify the NMET's validity, it…

This academic article provides the essential steps for designing an effective English questionnaire in social science research, with a focus on ensuring clarity, cultural sensitivity and ethical integrity. Developed from key insights from related studies, it outlines potential practice in questionnaire design, item development and the importance…

This study discusses the characteristics of test specifications (specs) and item writer guidelines (IWGs), their role in item development of English as a Second Language (ESL) reading tests, and the use of the CEFR for specs development. This mixed-method study analyzed specs, IWGs, tests, and the Pearson Test of English General test statistics.…

Previous studies have found that pride is a frequent and important emotion in achievement contexts although it is under-researched in the second/foreign language (FL) context. Therefore, the aim of this research was to explore pride in the context of FL learning. For this purpose, we proposed a conceptual model of FL pride, drawing on previous…

The study seeks to conceptualise foreign language learning burnout and provide its corresponding measurement. The 15-item "Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey" (MBI-SS) was rephrased to fit an English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) learning context. The modified MBI-SS was then assessed among 1718 Chinese secondary EFL students. A…

Chulalongkorn University Language Institute (CULI) test was developed as a local standardised test of English for professional and international communication. To ensure that the CULI test fulfils its intended purposes, this study employed Kane's argument-based validation and Rasch measurement approaches to construct the validity argument for the…

This technical manual describes the purpose and intended uses of the TOEFL iBT test, its target test-taker population, and relevant language use domains. The test design and scoring procedures are presented first, followed by a research agenda intended to support the interpretation and use of test scores. Given the updates to the test starting…

Background/purpose: Accurate measurement is crucial for effective instructional methods. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a reliable and validated Vietnamese questionnaire to assess Vietnamese students' learning investment across different aspects. Materials/methods: This study adopted the English version of the questionnaire by…

Despite the recent theoretical and empirical interest in understanding teachers' motivation to conduct research, there is an absence of an appropriate quantitative instrument to measure it. Thus, drawing on an argument-based approach to validation, Deemer, Martens, and Buboltz's (2010) Research Motivation Scale (RMS) was adapted and a network of…

Teacher agency as an influential factor in teacher professionalism has recently gained global inquiry in the EFL context. However, no valid instrument has ever been designed to evaluate EFL teachers' ecological agency. This gap prompted the researchers of the current study to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess EFL teachers' ecological…