An Examination of the Content Validity of a High-Stakes English Test

Content validity evidence is vital in any testing situation, and in high-stakes testing in particular. The present work reviews the findings of the study carried out on the evaluation of test validity of standardized high-stakes tests in EFL settings in the light of the English Unified School-leaving and University Entrance Exam (USL & UEE). In this research, emphasis was on the evaluation and measurement of the content validity of the mentioned test through statistical procedures and qualitative analysis. Being a new implementation in Armenia, the unified tests more than ever needed to be investigated from the point of view of their validity and reliability, since they may have served as a model for the further improvement of entrance examinations. The test was claimed to have been designed to measure the level of proficiency of EFL students within the scope of secondary school program in Armenia. To determine the extent to which the content of USL & UEE was consistent with the English language program the present study was performed.