Includes bibliographical references (pages [361]-394) and index.

1. Introduction ; The aims of the book ; The climate for language testing ; Research and development: needs and problems ; Research and development: an agenda ; Overview of the book ; Notes ; 2. Measurement ; Introduction ; Definition of terms: measurement, test, evaluation ; Essential measurement qualities ; Properties of measurement scales ; Characteristics that limit measurement ; Steps in measurement ; Summary ; Notes ; Further reading ; Discussion questions ; 3. Uses of Language Tests ; Introduction ; Uses of language tests in educational programs ; Research uses of language tests ; Features for classifying different types of language test ; Summary ; Further reading ; Discussion questions ; 4. Communicative Language Ability ; Introduction ; Language proficiency and communicative competence ; A theoretical framework of communicative language ability ; Summary ; Notes ; Further reading ; Discussion questions ; 5. Test Methods ; Introduction ; A framework of test method facets ; Applications of this framework to language testing ; Summary ; Notes ; Further reading ; Discussion questions ; 6. Reliability ; Introduction ; Factors that affect language test scores ; Classical true score measurement theory ; Generalizability theory ; Standard error of measurement: ; Interpreting individual test scores within classical true score and generalizability theory ; Item response theory ; Reliability of criterion-referenced test scores ; Factors that affect reliability estimates ; Systematic measurement error ; Summary ; Notes ; Further reading ; Discussion questions ; 7. Validation ; Introduction ; Reliability and validity revisited ; Validity as a unitary concept ; The evidential basis of validity ; Test bias ; The consequential or ethical basis of validity ; Post mortem: face validity ; Summary ; Notes ; Further reading ; Discussion questions ; 8. Some Persistent Problems and Future Directions ; Introduction ; Authentic language tests ; Some future directions ; A general model for explaining performance on language tests ; Apologia et prolegomenon ; Summary.

"Here is a clear and authoritative discussion of the basic concerns which underlie the development and use of language tests, and an up-to-date synthesis of research on testing. Primarily for students on teacher education courses, it is also an invaluable resource for all those professionally involved in designing and administering tests, acting as a complement to practical 'how to' books."

Students on teacher education courses and all those professionally involved in both the development and use of language tests will find it an authoritative and illuminating complement to practical 'how to' books.