Simulating Real‐World Context in an Email Writing Task: Implications for Task‐Based Language Assessment

Accomplishing a communication task in the real world requires ability not only to do per se but also manage aspects of context which it occurs. For this reason, simulations target language use contexts have been incorporated into design communicative tests as way enhancing authenticity assessment performance. Although some contextual factors may increase extraneous cognitive load and distract learners from focusing on at hand (Sweller, 1994), they represent important considerations task-based (TBLA), where purpose is determine what second (L2) can with world. In that sense, might well be part construct we are interested assessing. Accordingly, current study simulated real-world performance an email writing assessment. Simulated was operationalized (a) additional information about scenario, (b) visual image simulate physical context, (c) audio replicate experience. A total 276 L2 English performed task, half other without it. Findings revealed that, when presented tasks were perceived by participants induced more time pressure interesting. terms effects, provision negatively affected syntactic complexity participants' positively their fluency. It led greater discrimination among different proficiency levels various measures The paper concludes highlighting implications for validity evaluation, especially TBLA.