METHODS OF MEASURING AND EVALUATION OF WRITING SKILLS

Writing is a complex productive skill that develops progressively from simple to advanced levels. The evaluation of writing skills in a foreign language requires systematic and reliable methods that balance accuracy, creativity, and communicative purpose. This study examines major approaches and techniques used to measure and evaluate writing proficiency, focusing on imitative, controlled, and picture-based writing activities. It emphasizes that assessment should not rely solely on mechanical accuracy such as spelling and punctuation, but also on contextual coherence, cultural appropriateness, and purpose-oriented writing. The paper discusses challenges related to subjectivity and reliability in evaluation and highlights the need for standardized scoring criteria to ensure fairness. Furthermore, it argues that authentic, real-life writing tasks—such as picture description and sequence activities—provide more valid and creative ways to assess learners’ writing competence. Ultimately, the study underscores the importance of integrating validity, reliability, and authenticity in writing assessment to accurately reflect learners’ true communicative ability.