This document discusses principles of language assessment including reliability, validity, authenticity, and washback effect. Reliability refers to consistency of test results and can be affected by learner factors, multiple examiners, or test administration conditions. Validity means a test measures what it claims to measure, such as content coverage or alignment with course objectives. Authenticity implies real-world language tasks, while washback effect is how testing influences teaching and learning when it provides feedback and opportunities for students to learn the test format in advance.

1. Principles of
Language
Assessment

2. Practicality

3. Reliability Refers to the consistency
of test results.
Learner-Related reliability. It occurs
when the test-taker suffers from
physical or psychological factors like
illness or anxiety. These factors
interfere on the final test results
Inter-rater reliability. It happens
when two or more scorers agree
on the test results. In other words,
the scores provided by the
examiners do not change.
Test administration reliability. These
are the test administration conditions
such as the quality of the photocopy of
the test, the light, the noise or
temperature in the classroom, the quality
of the desks and chairs.
Test reliability. Brown and Douglas
mention that it occurs when they cause
measurement errors because the test
is subjective or has more than one
correct answer or is badly written.

4. Validity tests what is
proposed to be
measured.
Example: In a class
students might be
working on prepositions,
but their evaluation
includes prepositions
and non-countable
nouns, this is an
example of evaluation
which is not valid.
Validity
Content-related validity. It is the
measurement of all the
important sections of the subject
or content. A test should assess
most of the content covered in
the course.
Criterion-related validity. It is the
relationship between a measure
and a standard (an external
criterion). The measure must
coincide with the standard; if
there is a relationship, the test is
valid.
Construct-related validity. It
determines whether a test
assesses what it is supposed to
assess. Construct-related validity.
It determines whether a test
assesses what it is supposed to
assess.

5. •
•
•
•
Authenticity

6. Washback effect
• Washback is the effect that
testing has on teaching and
learning.
• Washback offers learners the
chance to know the test
format in advance,
consequently, students
prepare themselves
sufficiently.
• Washback is helpful for
students because they get
feedback before exam date
and that promotes language
improvement.
Washback in a class can be enhanced by
these three ways:
• Written comments on exams.
• Reviewing results in class.
• Meeting with students about
• test performance.