The Impact of Achievement Tests on Developing Receptive Skills (A Case Study of EFL Undergraduate Students at Sciences and Humanities College at Shaqra University

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of achievement tests on developing the receptive skills of Saudi undergraduate students at the College of Sciences and Humanities at Sharqa University. The researcher used two tools to collect data: a questionnaire for lecturers and achievement tests for students. The sample of the study comprised of sixty male Saudi students who were divided into two groups. In the second term of the academic year 1433H corresponding to 2012, a pre-placement test that was administered for the two groups to check the students’ standard of academic proficiency. The students’ scores were almost the same. In that the students of the two groups are relatively equal in their academic performance. The experimental group was exposed to three achievement tests whereas the controlled group was not. By the end of the experiment, the two groups were exposed again to a post-placement test to check the influence of the treatment on the experimental group. By using T-test, the statistical analysis resulted in significant and positive effect of the treatment on the experimental group. Throughout the experiment the researcher observed that the students of the experimental group were highly motivated. He also observed that neglecting mistakes and errors of learners and focusing on fluency is a means of developing self-confidence and enhancing learning process. He also observed that achievement tests encouraged Saudi undergraduate students to gain knowledge. Thus, regular tests play a positive role in developing students’ language skills. Therefore, educationists and administrators are to prepare workshops and training programmes to raise the trainees’ awareness of the achievement tests and they have to consider tests as a tool of reinforcement and motivation for students to study.