Washback of University-Based English Language Tests on Students’ Learning: A Case Study

Abstract

Many universities in China have developed or are in the process of developing local English tests, claiming that such tests can bring about more beneficiary washback on English teaching and learning. However, empirical evidence is scanty regarding the washback of these university-based English tests. This study investigated the washback of the Fudan English Test (FET) on students’ English learning, and explored the roles of gender and English language ability in shaping students’ reported washback. Research data were collected from 335 students through a questionnaire and semi-structured follow-up interviews. This study showed that though students considered the FET as giving them motivation or pressure in learning English, the test had limited washback on students’ learning practices. Though students’ perceptions of the test became significantly more positive with the increase of their English ability levels, their gender and English ability were found to play insignificant roles in shaping test washback. The findings of this study suggest that to foster positive washback, it is vital for university-based English test developers to not only focus on minimizing construct-irrelevant variance in test development and administration but also provide resources and support which are deemed essential to students’ English learning and test preparation. Normal 0 7.8 磅 0 2 false false false EN-US ZH-CN X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:普通表格; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;}