this study is an attempt to investigate the nature of authenticity in two interviews: the interview section of the toefl (tse) and the speaking module of the ielts. after defining the term authenticity based on bachman (1990), and bachman and palmer (1996) it is argued that the h:lts interview is a more authentic test than the tse. this is done in two ways. first, by using bachman and palmer&ap...

Backgound: Having been influenced by the trend of internationalization of higher education, most universities in Taiwan have implemented an English benchmark requirement for graduation, which requires students to demonstrate their English ability at a specified Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level through taking a standardized English language test (e.g., GEPT, IELT...

This paper presents findings of a study of recognition vocabulary knowledge as a predictor of written Academic English Proficiency (AEP) and overall Academic Achievement in an English medium higher education program in an English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) context. Vocabulary knowledge was measured using a Timed YES/NO (TYN) test. AEP was assessed using an academic writing test based on IELTS....

In applied linguistics, washback, or backwash, refers to the influence of tests on teaching and learning. Though there is now a large body of research investigating the impact of tests on educational processes and outcomes, the possible effect of language tests on the psychological environment of language classrooms remains underexplored. This study examined the effect of IELTS on the classroom...

Despite arriving with the required language qualifications, many international students struggle linguistic demands of a university degree. Using International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as an example, this study explored how short but intensive preparation programmes may affect high-stakes English-proficiency test scores which apply for places. The participants were 89 Chinese spe...