Performance assessment is increasingly important in education and training, with its focus on the ever growing requirement to demonstrate ability in practical communication skills. Yet many fundamental problems in performance based assessment still remain. This book provides a critical examination of the practice and theory behind performance based assessment in the context of second language learning. It also offers the first comprehensive presentation of a new measurement approach - Rasch Measurement, which enables investigation of aspects of performance setting (rater and task characteristics for example) to determine their effect on the scores awarded to candidates and to manage this variability fairly.*Evaluates the development of ideas and practice and raises key issues concerning the inherent variability of performance.*Includes many practical examples of how the new measurement techniques can help us understand performance assessment and carry it out responsibly.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 1. Introductions 2. Second language performance assessment 3. Modelling performance: opening Pandora's Box 4. Designing a performance test: the Occupational English Test 5. Raters and ratings: introduction to multi-faceted measurement 6. Concepts and procedures in Rasch measurement 7. Mapping and reporting abilities and skill levels 8. Using Rasch analysis in research on second language performance assessment 9. Data, models and dimensions References Index