Computer-Assisted Language Testing: Does it really 'test'?

“Learning the English language will reinforce the spirit of nationalism when it is used to bring about development and progress for the country….True nationalism means doing everything possible for the country, even if it means learning the English language”.
(Mahathir, 1999)

Mastering the English language is a significant policy that has affected educators. Many policies have been done to make us master the English language. Computer-assisted language learning has been introduced in order to enhance our English. Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) supports that both language learners and instructors have generally positive attitude towards using computers in the classroom. However, less is known about a more specific area of computer use that is language testing.
Test that are administered at the computer terminals or on personal computer are called computer assisted tests. Computer-assisted language testing (CALT) includes any use of the computer that aids in the testing process. The assistance may be in form of test-item generation, test delivery, scoring, recording, reporting results, providing feedback to examinees, and the like.
In UKM, an online test can be accessed anywhere in the campus. The concept of K-campus is to establish a knowledge-centric e-campus whereby a web-based system is used to facilitate education knowledge and resource services for the campus community and stakeholders. In addition, LearningCare Assessment module allows the portfolio owners to create and manage questions. All the questions and results of test takers are kept in a database built in the system. The questions can be programmed in several forms, which are:
· Fill in the blanks
· True and false
· Multiple-choice
· Multiple answer
· Matching
· Ordering
· Short essay
Randomisation of questions and shuffling of the questions, which are the basic principles of online testing are provided in the system. Moreover, more sophisticated technology are suggested to be given such as voice recognition and automated oral and written essay marking capabilities. Basically, the experience in developing and conducting the online test for the UKM academicians so that profiling of their language proficiency can be conducted for the purpose of placement of English training modules is very valuable indeed.
Computer-assisted language testing has its own advantages that make it effective to facilitate the language learning. Among the testing considerations, the followings are some advantages of using computer in language testing:
Computer are much more accurate at scoring selected-response test and reporting scores than human beings are.
Computer can give immediate feedback in the form of a report of test scores, complete with a printout of basic testing statistics.
The use of different test for each student minimizes any practice effects, studying for the rest and cheating.
Diagnostic feedback can be provided very quickly to each student on those items answered incorrectly if that is the purpose of the test. Such feedback can even be fairly descriptive if artificial intelligence is used.

Among the human considerations, the followings are some advantages of using computer in language testing:
· Allow students to work at their own pace
· Generally, take less time to finish than traditional paper-and-pencil-test and therefore more efficient.
· Students should experience less frustration because they will be working on test items that are appropriate for their own ability levels.
· Less overwhelming because the questions are presented one at a time on the screen rather that in an intimidating test booklet with hundreds of test items.
New field of computer-assisted language testing is computer adaptive tests. Computer-adaptive language testing is subtype of CALT. It has three additional characteristics, which are:
The test items are selected and fitted to the individual students involved
The test is ended when student’s ability level located
Usually, relatively short in terms of the number of items involved and the time needed

Without a doubt, I just feel that we are in the middle of a technological paradigm shift, one will eventually change the way instructors teach and students learn. The electronic tools must be used to design instructional and assessment models that can strengthen students language awareness, enhance their language competences as well as develop theirselves evaluating mental abilities.