Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 12. Number4   December 2021                         Pp.178-193
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no4.13

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Effects of an  In-house Entry Test on the Post-Foundation Students at an Omani
College of Technology
 

Sarath W. Samaranayake
Department of International Language Teaching
Silpakorn University , Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Corresponding Author:  Samaranayake_s@su.ac.th

Patteera Thienpermpool
Department of International Language Teaching
Silpakorn University , Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

 

Received: 10/29/ 2021                        Accepted: 11/11/2021            Published: 12/15/2021

 

Abstract:
This paper reports the findings of a study that investigated why a large number of test-takers show a low performance in four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) offered in an entry test used by a College of Technology in Oman to place students in advanced diploma and bachelor’s degree programs. The main research question was meant to find out what difficulties the test takers face in the three tests (Listening, reading, and writing) in two semesters. The study analyzed the entry test results for two semesters including survey results obtained from the test takers regarding the difficulties experienced by them in the three tests and an analysis of writing answer scripts. The findings indicate that most test takers were not qualified enough to pursue their studies in the advanced diploma or bachelor’s degree programs due to their low performance in the entry test. The findings, moreover, suggest that the current placement test poses difficulties for most test-takers. Therefore, based on the findings, the possible reasons for the low performance of the test takers and the fairness of the entry test are explicitly discussed and finally, suggestions and recommendations for addressing the issue of the current entry test are offered.
Keywords: Foundation programs, Low performance, Omani learners, Placement test, Proficiency level

Cite as: Samaranayake, S. W. (2021). Effects of an in-house entry test on the Post-Foundation Students at an Omani college of technology.  Arab World English Journal, 12 (4)
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no4.13

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Received: 10/29/ 2021
Accepted: 11/11/2021  
Published: 12/15/2021
https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no4.13  

Sarath Withanarachchi Samaranayake is an English lecturer at the Department of International Language Teaching, Silpakorn University, Thailand. He received his doctoral degree in General Linguistics from the University of South Africa. He has published several articles in peer-reviewed international journals. His interests include teaching and researching in the domains of ESL and EFL.  ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6352-726X

Patteera Theienpermpool (Ph. D) is a lecturer at the Department of International Language Teaching, Silpakorn University, Thailand. Her major interests concern vocabulary, material development, testing and evaluation as well as technology in language education. ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9049-2912