Test Usefulness: Trade offs and decisions

Jo and Fiona explore what makes a language test useful using Bachman and Palmer’s six qualities: reliability, validity, authenticity, interactiveness, impact, and practicality. They explain each quality in plain terms and show how improving one aspect can affect others.

The hosts discuss practical trade-offs with examples and emphasise that the right test isn't a 'perfect test' but one that's balanced for its intended purpose.