Language test activism

Abstract During the past decades, migration policies in Western societies have grown stricter by day. As part of this retrenchment, migrants are required to pass language tests gain access human and democratic rights such as residency, family reunification, citizenship, well enter labour market or higher education. The use control integration is not value neutral. question discussed paper whether those who develop should strive remain neutral, or, on contrary, they a moral professional responsibility take action when their misused. In paper, case made for latter: arguing along lines critical testing, we encourage testers more active role order prevent harmful consequences tests. introduces concept test activism (LTA) underscore importance scholars taking social justice, following pathway proponents intellectual related fields like sociology linguistics. We argue that special justice consequences, these integrated very validity upon which modern testing based. A model presented illustrated real-life examples Norway Italy showing may need different forms be successful, depending context it takes place.