Development and Standardization of Testing Systems for English Listening and Speaking: A Framework for Bangladeshi Higher Education - Md. Niaz Alamgir

Abstract : Listening and speaking are central to communicative competence but remain marginal in many tertiary English assessments in Bangladesh, which continue to privilege written skills and discrete linguistic knowledge. This qualitative documentary study combines a scoping review of empirical research with analysis of policy and test documents to identify gaps in oral-skills assessment, synthesize validity threats, and develop a context-responsive framework for standardization. The synthesis identifies four interrelated constraints: weakly shared proficiency standards, limited assessment literacy and rater preparation, narrow task and scoring practices, and resource and governance limitations. Drawing on contemporary validity theory, the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, and design principles from IELTS, TOEFL iBT, and PTE Academic, the paper proposes a six-stage pathway: construct definition; test specifications; task and rubric design; piloting and analysis; standard setting and reporting; and implementation with continuing quality assurance. The framework emphasizes national coordination, transparent validity arguments, localized communicative demands, rater calibration, moderation, audit trails, and scalable technology supported administration. It offers a practical basis for improving the fairness, reliability, comparability, and educational value of listening and speaking assessment in Bangladeshi higher education. Keywords: Bangladesh; Listening assessment; Speaking assessment; Standardization; Validity