Abstract
A test specification (spec) is a generative document from which equivalent language test items or tasks can be produced. There are many formats for specs, but all share two elements: sample(s) of the items/tasks and guiding language that describes the sample(s). Through consensus-building and feedback, specs evolve and stabilize. A complete illustrative test spec is presented, based on workshops held in Japan in late 2011. A new problem in spec-driven test development is posed in this paper: releasability, which refers to whether a spec should be shared outside of the test development team, and if so, when and in what form. The illustrative spec is again used to explore releasability. A number of theoretical questions are posed about spec release, and future research about spec release is encouraged.
