Point to Point: A Reaction to MacGregor's "The Eiken Test: An Investigation"

This paper represents a critique of the Eiken test investigation by
Laura MacGregor (Volume 19, No.1, May 1997, pp. 24-42). MacGregor
provides detailed background information on the Eiken test explaining
its origins, importance, and contents. In order to investigate what kind
of test the Eiken is, explanations of the purpose and goals of the two
types of tests used in language teaching, criterion-referenced tests (CRTs)
and norm-referenced tests (NRTs), are given. Through evidence found
in the nature of the Eiken test, it is correctly judged to be a hybrid CRT /
NRT. However, there are a number of difficulties with her methodology
which call into question her conclusions. Discussions that follow will be
limited due to word restrictions.