There is a wonderful new article in Language Testing Journal by Emma Bruce, Karen Dunn and Tony Clark which explores test score validity periods for high-stakes tests. It isn’t in open access, though, so you’ll need institutional access or a healthy billfold to read it.
As most readers know, institutions and regulatory bodies generally won’t accept scores from tests taken more than two years ago. This is based on research and advice from test makers, though the authors note that:
“While the role of test providers and language testing researchers is not to set the policy for test score use, it is becoming apparent that the messaging surrounding validity periods may benefit from consideration through a contemporary lens. While it is certain that test developers have a responsibility to communicate the idea that the fidelity of a test score in reflecting test-takers’ language proficiency may change over time depending on the circumstances of the test-taker in the period between taking the test and using the score, it is of equal import to communicate–especially to policymakers–the possibility of adapting the 2-year requirement according to risk or need in any given setting.”
Unmentioned is the fact that even if institutions desire to accept scores that are older than two years, it can be exceptionally difficult to actually receive those scores. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that none of the big four tests (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and DET) allow test takers to send scores to recipients more than two years after a test date. In this way, it seems like the test makers are semi-enforcing a two-year validity period. I can’t even view the scores from my 2022 attempt at the TOEFL within my account on the ETS website.