Language tests are increasingly being used as gatekeeping tools in a globalised world. This article examines the processes of linguistic gatekeeping by the use of language tests in the context of migration. We draw on half a dozen cases of test-takers of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test who applied for entry into…

Shows what is likely to happen to black admissions, particularly at highly ranked undergraduate colleges, law schools, and medical schools, if admissions decisions at these institutions are largely based on the scores of standardized tests. The performance gap between blacks and whites on such tests has actually grown since 1988. (SLD)

The aim of this study is to explore the possibility of creating positive washback by focusing on factors in the background of the test development process and anticipating the conditions most likely to lead to positive wash-back. The article reports on a multiphase empirical study investigating the washback effects of a needs-based test of spoken…