This study represents an initial exploration of raters' comments and actual
realisations of form reductions in L2 test speech performances. Performances of three L2 speakers were selected as case studies and illustrations
of how reductions are evaluated by the raters. The analysis is based on audio/video recorded speech samples and written reports produced by two
experienced raters after testing. Our findings suggest that reduction or reduction-like pronunciation features are found in tested L2 speech, but
whenever raters identify and comment on such reductions, they tend to assess reductions negatively, be they regular processes or not.