Communicative testing evaluates learners' actual performance in ordinary communication situations involving the four language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing. It focuses on learners' communicative behavior and ability to function in real-life situations, rather than just linguistic knowledge. Effective communicative tests include activities such as listening to a story and ordering pictures, role-playing introductions between students, following written instructions to complete a task, and writing descriptions. They are based on authentic texts and scenarios to promote genuine communication.

1. COMMUNICATIVE TESTING
The purpose of the language learning is communication. The communicative competence is the
development of different learners’ proficiencies that improve our communication abilities, because
it involves interactions between two or more people or between one person and a written or oral
text.
On the other hand, communicative testing is a learning tool, which allows gather evaluative
information to learners and teacher. It evaluates actual learner’s performance in ordinary situations,
considering the four language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing.
Communicative test Item
It should focus on learner’s communicative behavior, not only on linguistic ones; because tests
assess students’ performance in real life situations.
LISTENING ACTIVITY: “Storytelling”
Ss listen to a story and put pictures in the order in which the story is told.
SPEAKING ACTIVITY: “Meeting and greeting”
This is a role-play activity, where Ss meet a number of people (other teachers or students of
advanced level) and introduce themselves.
READING ACTIVITY: “Following Instructions”
Ss read instructions for prepare a banana cake. First, they have to match instructions with
pictures and then they put instructions in the correct order. Finally we can then get Ss to
bake it.
WRITING ACTIVITY: “Description”
Ss write a description of his/her mother or father’s physical appearance and temperament.
Communicative tests have to based on authentic texts and situationally authentic
tasks to promote and generate authentic communication (we don’t have to forget
student’s personal needs). It’s necessary to take into account the following
characteristics for designing a communicative test:
Include
meaningful
communication
Authentic
situation
Unpredictable
language input
Creative
language output
Integrate
language skills