language testing theories

Language testing theories explore how to assess language proficiency accurately. They focus on understanding what skills to measure (like speaking or writing), how to measure them fairly, and ensuring tests reflect real-world language use. Different approaches include criterion-referenced tests (comparing to specific standards), norm-referenced tests (ranking performance against others), and integrated assessments (combining various skills). The goal is to design assessments that are valid (measure what they intend), reliable (consistent results), and practical. These theories help create fair and meaningful language tests for education, employment, or certification purposes.