Language Test Design and Validation

This two-week 40-hour course will cover key issues in language test design and validation. The course will be held at the Universidad de Jaén (Spain) from July 3rd to July 14th, 2023.

During the first week we will analyze how to identify and design the main parts of a test: construct, specifications, components (listening, reading, writing, speaking, interaction and use of language), through theoretical and practical sessions in which participants will have the opportunity to create their own items, tasks and full tests.

During the second week we will focus on the statistical analysis of aspects related to validity arguments. We will use both Classical Test Theory and Item-Response Theory to analyze facility values, discrimination indexes, internal reliability, variable maps, etc. and we will see how analytic scales can be statistically validated through logistic parametric models. No previous knowledge of statistics is necessary but it will be helpful for those participants who wish to take full advantage of the course. The course will be held in English but its theoretical and practical contents can be applied to test development and validation in any language other than English.

The course will be taught by experts in language test design with extensive experience: Brian North, co-author of the Common European Framework for Languages and the Companion Volume (1.5 hours); David Bradshaw, Senior Assessment Services and Recognition Manager at Cambridge University Press and Assessment (4 hours); Adolfo Sánchez, expert on mediation at the Universidad de Granada (2 hours); Javier Fruns, Head of language assessment at the Instituto Cervantes (4 horas); Carmen Álvarez, Assessment coordinator at the Language Center of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (4 hours) and Joaquín M. Cruz, assessment coordinator at the Center for Higher Studies in Modern Languages at the Universidad de Jaén (24.5 hours).

According to Spanish regulation, this course is considered as a Diploma de Postgrado (postgraduate course) worth 5 ECTS credits.