Authenticity of the speaking tasks in IELTS and TOEFL iBT
Evidence for the authenticity of language assessment is mainly derived from using
discourse analysis modes of inquiry. Considering the language used by university
teachers in academic setting, Biber et al. (2004) and Miller and Linn (2000) have
done a few studies to investigate the linguistic features of spoken discourse in
university settings. They studied a large corpus of written and spoken discourse used
by university students. The result of the study done by Biber et al. (2004) reveals
interesting information. The findings show that what happens in academic setting is
more interactive and less formal than what EFL teachers apply in their preparation
course. This study has also revealed that L2 students usually apply a more formal
discourse compared to the L1 students who take a more conversational spoken
discourse. Obviously, considering the mentioned findings, TOEFL test designers
and even test preparation courses should address general style of English in an
academic setting. Zareva (2005) has indicated that teachers as those who play the
main roles in running the preparation courses should distinguish between English for
Academic Purposes and English needed for communicating academic subjects. In
IELTS and TOEFL iBT, examiners’ conception of the authentic features of the
spoken discourse can affect their judgment about the candidates’ speaking
performance.