Written tests of pronunciation: do they work?
George C. Buck · ELT Journal · 1989
The use of paper and pencil tests of pronunciation is quite common in some EFL situations. A study was carried out in Osaka to determine the reliability and validity of such tests as they are used in Japan. Results showed that reliability was very low indeed. Furthermore, correlations with more direct measures of pronunciation indicated that the written pronunciation tests had very low validity, and that the theoretical basis of such tests is open to question. The implications of these findings are discussed.