Extending the scope of speaking assessment criteria in a specific-purpose language test: Operationalizing a health professional perspective

Abstract

Criticism of specific-purpose language (LSP) tests is often directed at their limited ability to represent fully the demands of the target language use situation. Such criticisms extend to the criteria used to assess test performance, which may fail to capture what matters to participants in the domain of interest. This paper reports on the outcomes of an attempt to expand the construct of a specific-purpose test through the inclusion of two new professionally relevant criteria designed to reflect the values of domain experts. The test in question was the speaking component of the Occupational English Test (OET), designed to assess the language proficiency of overseas-trained health professi..