Today, in the language testing domain, it is generally believed that the 1980s witnessed two important shifts: one from classical testing theory (CTT) to item response theory (IRT) via Rasch model, indicating that the testing theory has come of age; the other from the use of computer for statistical analyses to the use of computer programming technology for testing administration, showing that testing method has undergone significant changes, and in recent years, from computer-based testing to Internet-based testing, indicating that not only testing method has been greatly updated but the media used in testing have been colorfully varied, also the testing distance has been enormously extended and stretched out. It can be said that research and development in the field of language testing are updating with each passing day.
China is a big country with a long history of language testing. The annual number of candidates taking foreign language tests of various kinds is also the largest in the world. However, there have been existing controversial issues for its measurement attributes, validity, washback effects, etc. Or rather, there exists vast space between testing theory and actual practice. Therefore, what testing professinals need to focus on is no longer the issues regarding how to estimate a certain parameter more accurately, or whether the data fit the model or vice versa, but whether our testing methods and means are being practiced more correctly.
The present Special Issue is a representative selection of eight up-to-date articles, covering a wide range of topics ad hoc devoted to language testing and falling into categories: feature articles, testing theory, testing and teaching, testing software, culture and society, and conference reports.
Edited by
Zhang Quan, Jiaxing University