Using the English GSAT for placement into EFL classes: accuracy and validity concerns.
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| Title: | Using the English GSAT for placement into EFL classes: accuracy and validity concerns. |
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| Authors: | Liao, Yen-Fen1 liaoyf@ntu.edu.tw |
| Source: | Language Testing in Asia. 8/30/2022, Vol. 12 Issue 1, p1-23. 23p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Placement testing, *College entrance examinations, *English as a foreign language, *Evaluation |
| Geographic Terms: | Taiwan |
| Abstract: | The English General Scholastic Ability Test (GSAT), a nationwide high-stakes college entrance exam in Taiwan, has commonly served as a placement test for streaming college freshmen into EFL classes. There has, however, been scant research reported on the feasibility of using an admission test for EFL placement. This study aims to investigate the accuracy and validity of placement decisions being made using the English GSAT scores, with a focus on its relations with the General English Proficiency Test (GEPT) and students' subsequent performance in class. Quantitative data, including the English GSAT scores, the GEPT High-Intermediate Listening and Reading scores, and the English final course grades, were collected and statistically analyzed from four EFL classes with a total of 100 students at a university in Taiwan. The English GSAT was found to function well to place students into distinctively lower or higher level of EFL classes but did not discriminate well for the borderline cohort. A three-level placement using the English GSAT appeared to be a better differentiation between each proficiency cluster. High achievers in the English GSAT appeared to perform better on the GEPT listening and reading tests than did low achievers. Yet, apart from the GEPT reading test, the English GSAT yielded weak predictive power of student course attainment, which seemingly varied across classes, hinging on course designs and grading policies. Implications drawn from the results of the investigation were further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Language Testing in Asia is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 159239695 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Using the English GSAT for placement into EFL classes: accuracy and validity concerns. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Liao%2C+Yen-Fen%22">Liao, Yen-Fen</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> liaoyf@ntu.edu.tw</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Language+Testing+in+Asia%22">Language Testing in Asia</searchLink>. 8/30/2022, Vol. 12 Issue 1, p1-23. 23p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Placement+testing%22">Placement testing</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+entrance+examinations%22">College entrance examinations</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+as+a+foreign+language%22">English as a foreign language</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Evaluation%22">Evaluation</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Taiwan%22">Taiwan</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The English General Scholastic Ability Test (GSAT), a nationwide high-stakes college entrance exam in Taiwan, has commonly served as a placement test for streaming college freshmen into EFL classes. There has, however, been scant research reported on the feasibility of using an admission test for EFL placement. This study aims to investigate the accuracy and validity of placement decisions being made using the English GSAT scores, with a focus on its relations with the General English Proficiency Test (GEPT) and students' subsequent performance in class. Quantitative data, including the English GSAT scores, the GEPT High-Intermediate Listening and Reading scores, and the English final course grades, were collected and statistically analyzed from four EFL classes with a total of 100 students at a university in Taiwan. The English GSAT was found to function well to place students into distinctively lower or higher level of EFL classes but did not discriminate well for the borderline cohort. A three-level placement using the English GSAT appeared to be a better differentiation between each proficiency cluster. High achievers in the English GSAT appeared to perform better on the GEPT listening and reading tests than did low achievers. Yet, apart from the GEPT reading test, the English GSAT yielded weak predictive power of student course attainment, which seemingly varied across classes, hinging on course designs and grading policies. Implications drawn from the results of the investigation were further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Language Testing in Asia is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1186/s40468-022-00181-6 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 23 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Placement testing Type: general – SubjectFull: College entrance examinations Type: general – SubjectFull: English as a foreign language Type: general – SubjectFull: Evaluation Type: general – SubjectFull: Taiwan Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Using the English GSAT for placement into EFL classes: accuracy and validity concerns. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Liao, Yen-Fen IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 30 M: 08 Text: 8/30/2022 Type: published Y: 2022 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 22290443 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 12 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Language Testing in Asia Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
