Of paramount importance in the study of cognitive diagnostic assessment (CDA) is the absence of tests developed for small-scale diagnostic purposes. Currently, much of the research carried out has been mainly on large-scale tests, e.g., TOEFL, MELAB, IELTS, etc. Even so, formative language assessment with a focus on informing instruction and engaging in identification of student’s strengths and...

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of linguistic and intelligence factors in the Iranian IELTS candidates’ speaking performance. Linguistic factors include depth and breadth of vocabulary knowledge as well as grammar knowledge. Narrative and verbal intelligences represent the non-linguistic factors. The participants included 329 learners who took 5 validated tests and also partic...

This article is located in the field of academic development in oral health science education. Specifically, it examines the academic difficulties experienced by oral hygiene students in their transition from high school to university. A qualitative approach was employed to elicit student and lecturer perceptions. Drawing on empirical evidence from a case study of a cohort of first-year oral hy...

There now exists an established body of work outlining the challenges international students can face as part acculturation process, including a range academic and non-academic pressures to overcome. For many students, writing essays in English for first time is problematic. This article considers pedagogical approaches IELTS test preparation prior university admission, potential introducing sk...

portfolios as a means of constructivist learning appear to show great promise in enhancing diverse dimensions of learning and promoting learner motivation. this study is an investigation into the effectiveness of portfolio development on the reading comprehension and academic motivation of undergraduate students majoring in english literature in iran. in order to answer the research questions, ...