Test Design and Test Development

Although methods have been developed for developing culturally “decentered” assessments that use languages, such as transadaptation strategies, pictures are often assumed to be culture-neutral and have not received similar attention. This paper describes CogAT test development in 2007-2011 on the adaptation of verbal and quantitative reasoning formats that relied exclusively on pictures for students in grades K to 2. In the course of the test development, we applied cross-cultural test adaptation practices and developed new resources for cultural fairness reviews that explicitly addressed cultural loading of pictures and concepts beyond the usual achievement domains. This paper describes these applications and provides resources for others seeking to develop culturally decentered, picture-based assessments.

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The politicisation of English

Australian Review of Applied Linguistics Series S ◽

10.1075/aralss.13.02haw ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 13-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lesleyanne Hawthorne

Keyword(s):

Asylum Seekers ◽

English Proficiency ◽

Test Development ◽

Language Testing ◽

Linguistic Competence ◽

Test Design ◽

Special Test ◽

Residential Status ◽

The Past

Abstract The past decade in Australia has been characterised by a striking growth in the application of language testing, frequently in contexts governed by macro-political pressures. Despite this, the literature to date has rarely placed its first emphasis on the pragmatic considerations which typically give rise to test development, and impact on test design as well as administration outcomes. To illustrate the significance of this, this chapter explores the recent pressures surrounding the evolution and implementation of the Special Test of English Proficiency (step test) – a form of ESL testing designed not merely to assess linguistic competence, but to play a central role in the determination of residential status for substantial numbers of asylum seekers.

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