Investigating Predictive Ability of the Rehearsal English Examination of 8th Grade Pupils’ Performance in Basic Level Certificate

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the predictive ability of the rehearsal English examination of 8th grade pupils’ performance in basic level certificate. It raises these hypotheses: “The rehearsal English examination results are a good indicator to the pupils’ performance in the basic level certificate examination. Pupils benefit from taking the rehearsal English examination to develop their language skills. Teachers of English benefit from using the rehearsal English examination to promote their teaching styles. The rehearsal English examination does not cover sufficiently the four English language skills.” Then, the literature written on testing and previous related studies were reviewed. The analytical descriptive method was adopted using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences programme. The numerical data collected from the respondents were statistically analyzed and the results were critically discussed. Three tools were used to collect data: two questionnaires for (100) pupils and (20) teachers of English both males and females, selected from some basic level schools in Khartoum Bahri Locality, and the results’ analysis of both the rehearsal and certificate English examinations which were held in 2017. The most important findings revealed: “It is clearly noticed that the rehearsal English examination results are a good indicator to the pupils’ performance in the basic level certificate English examination. It is obviously found that pupils benefit from taking the rehearsal English examination to develop their language skills. It is certain that teachers of English benefit from using the rehearsal English examination to promote their teaching styles. It is confirmed that the rehearsal English examination does not cover sufficiently the four English language skills.” Based on the findings of this study the following key points have been recommended: “The four English language skills should be sufficiently practiced and then tested in both the rehearsal and certificate English examinations or at least at the school level if it seems difficult to be generalized. The listening test could be conducted by using recorded material. The practice of conducting the rehearsal English examination should continue as it contributes a lot to the benefit of pupils. Pupils should consider the rehearsal English examination as a learning tool that promotes their academic level and enhances their proficiency in English language.” Further research and studies are suggested as follows: “The practice of conducting the rehearsal English examination should be applied in the Sudanese secondary schools. Investigating teachers’ awareness of techniques of teaching and testing listening and speaking skills at the level of basic education in Sudan.”