The viability of C-tests: Which place do they have among other language tests?

C-tests are language tests that consist of a small number of short texts. In each one of those texts, and starting with the second sentence, the second half of each second word is omitted, and test takers are asked to provide the missing word parts. In addition to their appealing characteristic as language measurement instruments which are easy to create, administer and score, they generally yield highly objective and reliable results. These features might explain why C-tests have in the meantime been used for a multitude of purposes and languages. However, the recurrent question about the validity of C-tests makes aware that caution needs to be exercised with regard to the contexts in which these language tests can ideally be used. The presentation will give an introduction about the process(es) of c-test development, and highlight different purposes for which C-tests can be used by placing them in the context of other, more “classical” language tests.