ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on a project updating the domain analysis of the writing subtest of a standardized test for K–12 English language learners in the US. As an essential stage in the test validation framework, domain analysis has been incorporated into the development processes by a number of large-scale standardized tests. The chapter illustrates the usefulness of updating the domain analysis in the process of refining the writing subtest of a large-scale standardized language test. It demonstrates the values of collecting data from multiple sources related to the target language use, including content standards, genre literature, and educators, in re-examining task specifications and refining test tasks. Domain analysis is important when a test is being initially developed and when a test is undergoing revisions. The chapter describes the process of updating the domain analysis when refining the writing subtest, with the goal of supporting the argument for the validity of the test.
