Testing
What are we to make of the scientific quality of modern tests of functional proficiency in languages, which has come to play such an important role in immigration policy? Carefully developed and well managed, proficiency tests allow defensible decisions about individuals to be made within existing policy settings. In other words, the tests support the fairness of decisions about individuals, and in terms of fairness, are an improvement on procedures that involved impressionistic evaluations from officers not qualified to make language assessment. This is not to say, though, that these tests are perfect. We can make, however, a distinction between fairness and justice. Even if a test is fair, it may be unjust, if it is used to implement unjust policies. Language testers are currently debating whether their responsibility extends to how tests are used. Whatever position one takes in the theoretical debate, it is clear that a good quality test in scientific and technical terms can disarm criticism of the policies it serves.