How can AR Improve Outcomes in English Language Testing: Insights from a Global Research Review

In the ever-evolving digital era, applying an augmented reality-based English Language Test (ELT) is critical to increasing effectiveness and engagement in language learning globally. This study aims to systematically map and analyze the global trends of augmented reality (AR) research across countries over half a century in ELT. We examine 470 scholarly publications from 1973 to 2023 indexed in Scopus to discover map evolution, research trends, and the critical role of augmented reality in the English Language Test using the bibliometric approach. R Biblioshiny and MS. Excel is a bibliometric analysis tool utilized in this research. We systematically analyze the dataset to identify the summary statistics, publication performance, three-field plot, word cloud, thematic maps, and trend topics. Our findings indicated a substantial growth trend of annual production performance in augmented reality's scientific production of ELT. The three-field analysis of author, keyword, and cited reference highlighted diverse international contributions reflecting this research area's global relevance and inter-disciplinary nature. Trending topics, motor themes, and word clouds refer to teachers‘ real-world, mixed reality, review, systematic review, speech, virtual reality, humans, learning, and augmented reality. This study contributes to the literature by comprehensively reviewing the evolving landscape of augmented reality to improve learning outcomes in English Language Tests across half a decade. These findings emphasize the ELT's enhanced immersive learning experience, personalized assessment techniques, and data-driven English language education.