An evaluation of English ministerial examinations for sixth preparatory class according to the cognitive domain

الملخص EN

The present research aimed at evaluating of English ministerial examinations for the sixth preparatory class according to the cognitive domain.

A checklist based on Bloom’s Taxonomy was the instrument used to categorize the cognitive levels of these examinations questions.

The sample implies exams papers of the academic years 2013-2014 and 2014- 2015 first attempts.

The researchers used proper statistics to rank the cognitive levels of these questions.

The results showed that the highest percentage of the questions was in the level of knowledge with the frequencies of (16), and percentage of (53.33%), then followed by comprehension and application levels with the frequencies of (6) for each one, and with a percentage of (20%) also, synthesis level got (2) frequencies with percentage of (6.66%), whereas the analysis and evaluation levels both got (0).

These results refer to the concentration of the test designers on the questions which measure the level of knowledge then comprehension and application more than other cognitive levels.

This means that the questions of these final exams were mostly aimed to elicit the knowledge the students had accumulated before.

Finally, some recommendations and suggestions are presented by the researcher to enhance examinations' procedures and the educational process in Iraq.