Are The Test Tasks As Authentic As Possible ?
Evaluate the extent to which a test is authentic by asking the following questions:
* Is the language in the test as natural as possible?
* Are items as contextualized as possible rather than isolated?
* Are topics and situations interesting, enjoyable, and/or humorous?
* Is some thematic organization provided, such as through a story line or episode?
* Do tasks represent, or closely approximate, real-world task?
Consider the following two excerpts from tests, and the concept of authenticity may become a little clearer.