An empirical investigation of the process of writing Academic Reading test items for the international English Language Testing System

Abstract

The paper describes a study of reading test text selection, item writing and editing processes, with particular reference to these areas of test production for the IELTS Academic Reading test. Based on retrospective reports and direct observation, the report compares how trained and untrained item writers select and edit reading texts to make them suitable for a task-based test of reading and how they generate the accompanying items. Both individual and collective test editing processes are investigated.