The test's construct validity was seen to accurately measure the abilities defined in the IELTS speaking construct; however, high reliability was revealed to the detriment of other test qualities.
This paper reviews the International English Language Testing System's speaking sub-test in the East Asia region with reference to theoretical and practice-based perspectives and identifies future research opportunities to enhance the measures of test qualities found.
Like other tests spoken skills tests need to ensure seven test qualities namely: reliability, validity, authenticity, inter-activeness, impact, practicality, and absence of bias (Akiyama,2003; Bilal et al.,2013; Lee,2007).
Unfortunately, Messick's unitary concept may exclude vital evidence contributing towards this current evaluation, and thus, Bachman and Palmer's (1996) concept of usefulness is most appropriate, because it incorporates additional test qualities within the evaluation framework that will be addressed in this review.
Conclusions drawn indicate three primary facets of test qualities that could be addressed to increase the IELTS speaking sub-test's usefulness and therefore effectiveness in the East Asian regional context, although these test quality improvements could also be considered as beneficial when applied on a global scale.
For the settings of "30, 10, 7.5, 5, 3, 1" and "30, 1", all test set qualities lie between the training qualities; however, some of the test qualities do not lie between the training qualities in "10, 7.5, 5, 3", and "7.5, 5".
