A Case for Communicative Language Testing for ESP Courses for Undergrad Business Students

The present study was undertaken to estimate the efficacy of communicative language testing in the backdrop of Business ESP at a Pakistani university. To do that, we first administered a short questionnaire to 100 teachers teaching ESP courses at different universities in Pakistan. The questionnaire contained both the close-ended and open-ended questions. The results of the questionnaire gave rise to the need for developing a communicative language test. Hence, a 75-mark communicative language test, paying due regard to the prescribed text and grammar items in addition to the composition and aural-oral skills was prepared and administered to 35 business majors at a Pakistani university after validation by a panel of experts. Different rubrics for speaking and composition skills were developed after review of the relevant literature. The study makes a claim that due to the washback effect of testing, such a test might be a motivating factor for the students