Extended Reality (XR), an emerging technology encompassing Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), offers promising avenues to enhance language assessment through greater realism and immersion. While researchers in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) have explored XR’s pedagogical potential, its use in language assessment remains relatively unexplored beyond a few conceptual discussions (Xi et al., 2021; Voss, 2021). This scoping review synthesizes six peer-reviewed studies on XR-based language assessments, revealing modest evidence for improved performance, especially in speaking and listening, even though improvements over traditional modalities (e.g., video, audio) were not consistently significant. Participants often noted a stronger sense of authenticity in XR tasks, a key factor for valid assessment. However, methodological limitations such as small sample sizes and varied frameworks make cross-study comparisons challenging. Notably, none of the studies utilized AR or MR, highlighting a gap in exploring the full XR range for assessment. Despite challenges like novelty effects and technical constraints, XR shows promise for enhancing validity, authenticity, and engagement in language assessment. Future research should implement more rigorous designs and standardized methods. AI-driven innovations in XR-based assessment systems could revolutionize test design, development, and administration, unlocking new possibilities for language assessment.

References:
Voss, E. (2021). The role of technology in learning-oriented assessment. In Learning-Oriented Language Assessment (pp. 207-224). Routledge.
Xi, X., Norris, J. M., Ockey, G. J., Fulcher, G., & Purpura, J. E. (2021). Assessing academic speaking. Assessing academic English for higher education admissions, 152-199.