1. A method for computer-based testing for at least one test having a presentation format and a data content, the at least one test being delivered by a test driver, the method comprising the steps of: authoring a test specification and content of the at least one test using a test definition language, wherein the test specification and content defines the presentation format and the data content of the at least one test; compiling via a computer-implemented compiler the test specification and content of the at least one test to create a compiled test specification and content, with the compiling including at least compiling a first set of data files and a second set of data files, with the first set of data files being globally accessible to the test driver and the second set of data files including the test definition language; validating, by at least one validation module, the test specification and content, the at least one validation module including an independent plugin module defined by, and compiled from, test definition language stored within a plugin file; storing to a memory the compiled test specification and content to a resource file; and retrieving from the memory the compiled test specification and content from the resource file during delivery of the test.