This paper examines the importance of learner characteristics in relationship to learner performance on ESL tests. It is argued here that test taker characteristics are not included in the design of most ESL tests. Empirical evidence is provided to support the hypothesis that performance on various ESL tests is closely related to test takers' educational and language backgrounds. It is also argued that in order to account for these factors, and thus decrease test bias, the theoretical definition of language proficiency should be modified. Finally, some guidelines to dealing with test taker characteristics are suggested.

Despite its geopolitical reputation, Iran has been quite underrepresented in studies of its sociopolitically dominated religious educational framework and its language teaching and assessment policy. In the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, major restructuring was planned for foreign language teaching and assessment to accord with Islamic values. However, due to political obstacles, including the long-lasting war between Iran and Iraq, most of the plans could not be implemented until years after the revolution. Since high-stakes language tests including university entrance examinations are developed, administered, and scored by the government agencies, independent researchers do not have access to test data. A critical review of the language assessment policy in Iran requires research-based data, which is, in many cases, lacking or sporadic. This article is an attempt to provide some basic documented information about the educational system, foreign language teaching, and assessment in Iran.

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Research on language assessment knowledge (LAK) of teachers has focused on two major topics: identifying the LAK needs of teachers and developing appropriate LAK tests. Although the prior research findings significantly contributed to our understanding of the parameters of LAK, they were mostly quantitative and did not provide much information about EFL teachers’ perceptions and applications of their LAK in a direct and face-to-face situation. Therefore, this qualitative study was designed to shed light on some key issues related to teachers’ LAK using semi-structured interviews. The issues included EFL teachers’ perception of their LAK and their utilization of LAK in their teaching. The participants were 11 teachers with a high level of LAK and 10 teachers with a low level of LAK determined by their performance on a LAK test. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and content analyzed. The findings did not reveal significant differences in the responses provided by the two groups of teachers. Further, to investigate the extent of teachers’ application of LAK in classroom contexts, some of the tests made by the participating teachers were collected and content analyzed. The results showed that teachers with high LAK wrote longer tests with more varied sections and tasks. Finally, no meaningful relationship was found between the teachers’ level of LAK and their students’ performance on classroom achievement tests. The findings imply that the language assessment field needs more research on multiple dimensions of LAK.