The study was, in fact, an attempt to investigate any probable role of the cognitive style of language learners in their performance of two varieties of cloze test; that is, c-test and cloze-elide test. In other words, the study tried to see if being an FD or FI cause any significant difference in their performance on such two tests or not. To…

Background: This small-scale needs analysis study examined content course faculty members' perspectives on English language demands in their courses and their perceptions of the introduction of four-skill English language assessment for university entrance examinations currently being planned as part of a major English education reform in Japan.…

Background: This study investigated the consequential validity of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic exam, specifically focusing on washback upon learners' test preparation strategies and score gain, and the mediating factors influencing washback when learners in an EFL context are not enrolled in test preparation…

Classroom assessment tasks and environment are central to supporting student learning, yet are under-studied at the tertiary level, especially in China's test-driven culture. This study explores the relationship between students' perceptions of assessment tasks and classroom assessment environment, within the university context of teaching English…

LSP performance assessment has become a special focus for language testers in recent years where experts have debated how testing tools and processes can be strengthened to more accurately and more validly assess professional communication at work. Suggestions to achieve this include ethnographic studies of the target language situation; authentic…

This paper provides an example of close analysis of student attempts to fill the gaps that comprise a "cloze" test. Such analysis may assist diagnosis of the difficulties that groups of students experience with specific text in particular contexts and illustrate the impact of those difficulties. The paper briefly touches on the…

The present study investigated students' perception of computerized TOEFL test. Subject of this study were 100 adult male and female students who took the iBT TOEFL test in Iran. Participants were provided with a researcher-developed questionnaire on the advantages and disadvantages of Computer-Based Test (CBT) compared to Paper- Based Test (PBT).…

Personality had been conceptualized from different theoretical perspectives. Many psychologists had divided language of personality as important and useful for daily interaction. Thus, personality traits seemed to be an important factor in achieving educational goals for students learning foreign languages. TOEIC and GEPT tests measured English…

English language testing has been developing with great momentum in China in the past two decades. However, little research is existent as to how these English tests are developed, administered, and used. This study reported a survey of English language testing practice in the Chinese context through empirically examining the testing practice of…

Background: High-stakes tests have an immense washback effect on what students learn and affect the content of student learning. However, if students fail to recognize the abilities that the test developers intend to measure, they are less likely to learn what the test developers wish them to learn. This study aims to investigate test-taker…

The current study aims at investigating the impact of Audio/Voice conferencing, as a new approach to teaching speaking, on the speaking performance and/or speaking band score of IELTS candidates. Experimental group subjects participated in an audio conferencing class while those of the control group enjoyed attending in a traditional IELTS…

Background: This study investigates the effectiveness and fairness of teacher-led assessment of students' in-class participation and its effect on actual participation levels and language test scores, taking into account the diversity of second language learners' learning styles. Methods: The level of participation was measured across ten criteria…

Designed to assess college students' English ability, the College English Test (CET) is regarded as the most influential English test in China. This study investigates students' perceptions of the impact of the CET on their English-learning practices and their affective conditions. A survey was administered to 150 undergraduate students at a…

Almost no language test is void of grammar items, and the reason is probably the assumption that there exists a positive correlation between examinees' grammar knowledge and the actual demonstrable level of accuracy in communication. Meanwhile, examples abound where many examinees relatively do well on grammar knowledge tests despite failing to…

This study investigated the English phonological processes and speech articulation of adult Cantonese-English speakers residing in Hong Kong. The "Phonology Test for Cantonese Speakers of English (PTCSE)" was developed to assess English articulation and phonological processes of native speakers of Cantonese. Data from 37 adult…