Some writing challenges facing Iraqi graduate applicants

Abstract EN

The present study aims to investigate the writing challenges faced by Iraqi graduate applicants, from different disciplines, who needed to pass an English placement test so as to be able to apply to graduate programs.

One of the main linguistic skills faced by learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), and may be the hardest, is considered writing as it is related to the production of language (Fareed, Ashraf, & Bilal, 2016).

EFL learners face many linguistic challenges in writing.

Samples were collected from 49 anonymous mixed-gender subjects who were asked to answer questions of 80% multiple choices and 20% of writing essays.

Essays were collected and manually annotated.

In addition, seven students and three instructors were interviewed.

The study was directed in order to identify miscellaneous challenges: causes will be revised and suggestions to overcome those challenges are to be advised.

The study found that there are problems on the individual level and on the institutional level.

These problems can be resolved if concentrating on the reasons behind each problem.