ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly introduces the Iranian English education system from primary schools to graduate levels. Next, the characteristics of major Iranian high-stakes tests (e.g., Konkour, TOLIMO, MSRT) are explicated and the ways they tap test-takers’ writing ability are compared with common international high-stakes English tests (e.g., TOEFL and IELTS). Accordingly, the (mis)matches, in theory and practice, in English writing assessment in Iran and worldwide are examined. The reasons for the ever-widening gap between local policies and international trends are discussed. We conclude with potentials of the new generation of Iranian EFL-trained teachers/raters and their role in diminishing the mismatches.
