Thank you.
I do agree entirely that the situation is identical for both francophones and anglophones. Most candidates sit for the written expression and the written comprehension tests at the same time, that is over the course of a half day of testing. Each test lasts about an hour and a half and requires concentration. Testing is either paper- or computer-based. There is a short break between the two tests.
When we developed the new test, we added a number of sections. We realized that that required an additional period of concentration and effort without a break and that it meant that the break between the two tests ended up being shorter. Many candidates told us that it was more tiring and stressful than it used to be. Moreover, the test administrators told us it was difficult to administer the tests in the most efficient manner, that is over the course of a one half day.
That's why we considered cutting back the length of the written expression test without making it any less reliable or valid. We discovered that the testing was extraordinarily reliable. In fact, the reliability coefficient was one of the highest I have ever seen over the past 40 years. We then conducted empirical studies to determine just how many sections of the test we could cut out without affecting the test's reliability or validity. We discovered that we could reduce the test to 65 items without running the risk of jeopardizing its relevance, value, and validity.