Investigating Current ESP Testing Practice at Sudanese Universities

Abstract

The aim of the study is to find out to what extent university teachers are aware of the similarities and differences between ESP and EGP in general and the differences and similarities between ESP and GE techniques of testing in specific . In addition, the study also tries to investigate the current practices of ESP testing at Sudanese universities. Three data collection tools were used, these were a questionnaire, an interview for English teachers at Sudanese universities, and a content analysis for ESP tests used at some Sudanese universities (Sudan University of science and technology - Ahfad University - College of Aviation Sciences). The study adopted the descriptive analytic method as a research methodology. The study comes out with the following results: The majority of university teachers are not aware of the differences and similarities between ESP and EGP, the majority of the university teachers are not aware of the differences and similarities between ESP and EGP testing and the current practice of ESP is not up to the required standard of the good ESP testing. The study recommended that: ESP test should address the needs of the students, teachers should receive enough training in ESP testing and teachers should avoid traditional methods of testing and think of tests that actually test students’ probable performance.