IELTS Economic Washback: A Case Study on English Major Students at King Faisal University in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia
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| Title: | IELTS Economic Washback: A Case Study on English Major Students at King Faisal University in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Alsagoafi, Ahmad (ORCID |
| Source: | Language Testing in Asia. 2018 8. |
| Availability: | Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 13 |
| Publication Date: | 2018 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, English (Second Language), Language Tests, Second Language Learning, College Students, Majors (Students), Standardized Tests, High Stakes Tests, Language Proficiency, Economic Impact, Costs, Repetition, Test Preparation, Financial Problems |
| Geographic Terms: | Saudi Arabia |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | International English Language Testing System |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s40468-018-0058-3 |
| ISSN: | 2229-0443 |
| Abstract: | Introduction: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a standardized high-stakes test, which is used for the purpose of measuring the language proficiency of candidates who wish to study or work in an environment where English is the language of communication (IELTS introduction. Retrieved from https://www.ielts.org/what-is-ielts/ielts-introduction. Last accessed 2 Nov 2017.). This study aims to explore the economic washback of the test, since it is an under-researched area in the literature. Case description: A qualitative approach was adopted to conduct this study, and, therefore, data were collected from 94 participants through the means of semi-structured questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews were conducted for six participants. Data were analyzed inductively by employing a computer program called Nvivo. Discussion and Evaluation: The findings have shown that the participants were financially affected by the test. In the questionnaires, the participants reported that the test was expensive, and its cost kept rising from time to time. Students who were most affected financially by the price of the test were those who had to repeat the test because they could not achieve the minimum requirements. Interview results revealed that all the students in the focus group repeated the test at least four times. In addition, most students explained that they were dependent on their family to pay for the cost of the test. Furthermore, some students had to travel to a different region or country, since the academic module was not offered in their test center. Finally, the interview results indicated that the preparation courses were an additional financial burden on these participants, especially because the participants were not sure when they would be ready to take the test and whether the training that they have received would be enough to help them achieve the required test score. Conclusions: Apparently, the IELTS Test created a negative economic washback on these students. To lessen this financial effect, the participants of this study recommended that the test price should be reconsidered, the test should be modular and the best result in each module in any two or more IELTS Tests taken in the last two years should be accepted. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2020 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1245855 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: eric DbLabel: ERIC An: EJ1245855 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: IELTS Economic Washback: A Case Study on English Major Students at King Faisal University in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alsagoafi%2C+Ahmad%22">Alsagoafi, Ahmad</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6788-3870">0000-0001-6788-3870</externalLink>) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Language+Testing+in+Asia%22"><i>Language Testing in Asia</i></searchLink>. 2018 8. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/ – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 13 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2018 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Tests%22">Language Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Majors+%28Students%29%22">Majors (Students)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Standardized+Tests%22">Standardized Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+Stakes+Tests%22">High Stakes Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+Impact%22">Economic Impact</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Costs%22">Costs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Repetition%22">Repetition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Preparation%22">Test Preparation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Financial+Problems%22">Financial Problems</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Saudi+Arabia%22">Saudi Arabia</searchLink> – Name: SubjectThesaurus Label: Assessment and Survey Identifiers Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22International+English+Language+Testing+System%22">International English Language Testing System</searchLink> – Name: DOI Label: DOI Group: ID Data: 10.1186/s40468-018-0058-3 – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 2229-0443 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Introduction: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a standardized high-stakes test, which is used for the purpose of measuring the language proficiency of candidates who wish to study or work in an environment where English is the language of communication (IELTS introduction. Retrieved from https://www.ielts.org/what-is-ielts/ielts-introduction. Last accessed 2 Nov 2017.). This study aims to explore the economic washback of the test, since it is an under-researched area in the literature. Case description: A qualitative approach was adopted to conduct this study, and, therefore, data were collected from 94 participants through the means of semi-structured questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews were conducted for six participants. Data were analyzed inductively by employing a computer program called Nvivo. Discussion and Evaluation: The findings have shown that the participants were financially affected by the test. In the questionnaires, the participants reported that the test was expensive, and its cost kept rising from time to time. Students who were most affected financially by the price of the test were those who had to repeat the test because they could not achieve the minimum requirements. Interview results revealed that all the students in the focus group repeated the test at least four times. In addition, most students explained that they were dependent on their family to pay for the cost of the test. Furthermore, some students had to travel to a different region or country, since the academic module was not offered in their test center. Finally, the interview results indicated that the preparation courses were an additional financial burden on these participants, especially because the participants were not sure when they would be ready to take the test and whether the training that they have received would be enough to help them achieve the required test score. Conclusions: Apparently, the IELTS Test created a negative economic washback on these students. To lessen this financial effect, the participants of this study recommended that the test price should be reconsidered, the test should be modular and the best result in each module in any two or more IELTS Tests taken in the last two years should be accepted. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2020 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1245855 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1245855 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1186/s40468-018-0058-3 Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 13 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries Type: general – SubjectFull: English (Second Language) Type: general – SubjectFull: Language Tests Type: general – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning Type: general – SubjectFull: College Students Type: general – SubjectFull: Majors (Students) Type: general – SubjectFull: Standardized Tests Type: general – SubjectFull: High Stakes Tests Type: general – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency Type: general – SubjectFull: Economic Impact Type: general – SubjectFull: Costs Type: general – SubjectFull: Repetition Type: general – SubjectFull: Test Preparation Type: general – SubjectFull: Financial Problems Type: general – SubjectFull: Saudi Arabia Type: general – SubjectFull: International English Language Testing System Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: IELTS Economic Washback: A Case Study on English Major Students at King Faisal University in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Alsagoafi, Ahmad IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2018 Identifiers: – Type: issn-electronic Value: 2229-0443 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 8 Titles: – TitleFull: Language Testing in Asia Type: main |
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