Differential Item Functioning: Implications for English Testing in China

Abstract

This paper aims to recapitulate an important concept in test validity and fairness, namely Differential Item Functioning (DIF). Then comes the discussion about the present DIF studies in the testing of English as a foreign language. Finally, after pointing out the limits and problems of the present DIF study on English testing in China, suggestions are given in this paper which indicates that the DIF study on English proficiency tests in China should focus on different education conditions, different academic backgrounds, and different DIF levels.