Communicative approach to language assessment

This paper explores the communicative approach to language assessment as an alternative to traditional grammar-based testing. It highlights how communicative assessment evaluates learners’ ability to use language effectively in real-life situations rather than focusing only on linguistic accuracy. The study reviews key principles such as communicative competence, task-based assessment, performance-based evaluation, and authenticity. It also discusses the benefits and challenges of implementing this approach in educational settings. The findings suggest that communicative assessment provides a more valid and practical measure of language proficiency, though it requires careful design and trained educators.