Integrated second language writing assessment: Why? What? How?

Abstract

Integrated writing assessment has appeared in large-scale language tests as well as in classrooms focused on building academic language skills in a second language. Their increasing use is accompanied by research to explore the validity and usefulness of these tasks. This article reviews literature on integrated assessment via three questions asked in the assessment process: Why use integrated assessment? What does it tell us about writing? and How should we design such tasks?