What is it about?
University students need more than general academic language: they also need the specific language of their own field. This encyclopedia entry reviews how this Academic Language for Specific Purposes (ALSP) is assessed, how it differs from general academic language, and how assessment has moved from traditional standardised tests to more context-sensitive approaches, including those made possible by new technologies.
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Why is it important?
Assessing discipline-specific language raises challenges of relevance, authenticity and inclusivity, especially for students from diverse linguistic backgrounds. The entry argues for collaboration between language experts, teachers and subject specialists, for assessments that integrate language skills and subject knowledge, and for continued innovation in ALSP assessment with the involvement of educators, language experts and policymakers.
Perspectives
Writing this entry allowed me to bring together two areas I have worked on for many years: language assessment and English for Specific Purposes. I hope it is a useful starting point for anyone designing assessments of discipline-specific academic language.
Dr. Miguel Fernández Álvarez
Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Assessment of Academic Language for Specific Purposes, March 2026, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/9781405198431.wbeal0043.pub2.
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