Paper-based vs computer-based writing assessment: divergent, equivalent or complementary?

Abstract

Writing on a computer is now commonplace in most post-secondary educational contexts and workplaces, making research into computer-based writing assessment essential. This special issue of Assessing Writing includes a range of articles focusing on computer-based writing assessments. Some of these have been designed to parallel an existing paper-based assessment, others have been constructed as computer-based from the beginning. The selection of papers addresses various dimensions of the validity of computer-based writing assessment use in different contexts and across levels of L2 learner proficiency. First, three articles deal with the impact of these two delivery modes, paper-baser-based or computer-based, on test takers’ processing and performance in large-scale high-stakes writing tests; next, two articles explore the use of online writing assessment in higher education; the final two articles evaluate the use of technologies to provide feedback to support learning.