综合性英语写作考试综述

在外语测试领域,一些大规模考试开始采用综合性写作考试形式。综合性写作考试要求学生在输入听力或阅读材料的基础上,根据题目要求就输入内容完成作文,展示综合多种语言技能完成任务的能力。这类考试任务可以较为全面地测试学生的语言能力、考察其知识结构、策略能力和情境语境创设能力。综合性写作考试的兴盛有其理据,其中之一即学生的听或/和读写能力不像结构主义者认为的是各自为政、孤立存在的,而是呈现整体储存的特点。另外,教学和测试中学生的阅读和写作实践并不能截然分开,因而综合性写作任务具有较高的真实性。测试界针对综合性写作考试任务的研究尚不全面,其信度和效度受到质疑,其中最为核心的问题是综合性写作能力的构念是否和阅读能力构念以及写作能力构念不同。

Integrative English Writing Tests for EFL Learners--A Comprehensive Introduction

Integrative writing tests are applied in such large-scale language proficiency tests as TOEFL,IELTS,NMET(2) of Guangdong Province and so on.The authors attempt at a comprehensive investigation of the definition,theoretical basis and its position in the assessment development period with a view to the background of the rising of such assessments.Challenges connected with integrative writing test tasks are multiple which might undermine the validity and reliability of such tests.One of the essential problems is whether integrative writing ability is a construct different from writing ability or reading ability.