Lead role or supporting act? The status of computer-based testing in EAP Assessment

Slaght, J. (2009) Lead role or supporting act? The status of computer-based testing in EAP Assessment. In: Biennial Conference of the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP), 2009, University of Reading, pp. 128-135.

Abstract/Summary

Online testing is a fairly new phenomenon within the EAP context, and this paper provides a full and frank discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of this development. Important questions are raised concerning the linguistic changes driven by increased online communication, the importance of live oral assessment in testing and most importantly the consideration of the needs of test-takers. The conclusion is that computer-based testing has further to go before it becomes a normalised part of EAP assessment.