Test and Item Specifications Development

This article provides practical advice on the development of test and item specifications. Because my experience has been with English as a second or foreign language, most examples are taken from this field, although they can be applied to other language tests. The article first discusses steps in the process of test development, including establishing the purpose of the test, conducting feasibility studies, analyzing the language skills needed (the construct); next determining the overall test design; and finally developing the tasks and item specifications. Details of piloting, analyzing, and revising tests have not been included because they are beyond the scope of this article.