The assessment of testing papers and students’ competence in sunrise programmed in Kurdistan schools

Other Title(s)

تقييم أسئلة الامتحانات و كفاءاة الطلبة في برنامج Sunrise في مدارس كوردستان

Dissertant

Khidr, Muhammad Aba Bakr

Thesis advisor

Ali, Wuria Izz al-Din

Comitee Members

Jukil, Ali Mahmud
Wali, Husayn Ali
Faruq, Hoshang

University

Salahaddin University-Hawler

Faculty

College of Basic Education

University Country

Iraq

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Date

2012

English Abstract

The present study, which is entitled “The Assessment of Testing Papers and Students’ Competence in Sunrise Programme in Kurdistan Schools”, shows the extent of applicability of the characteristics of a good test in teacher-made tests.

The second aim of the study is to identify strong and weak points in the tests.

Another purpose of the study is to describe and analyse Sunrise 9.

To achieve the first two aims of the study, two procedures are used which are three questionnaires (one for supervisors, one for teachers, and the other for students) and analysis of tests.

The instruments of the study were exposed to some experts as jury members from different levels and with different certificates in the field of linguistics, applied linguistics, methodology and translation to achieve face validity.

To achieve the third aim, the analysis of the book was conducted which was repeated twice to get a true description of the textbook (Student’s book and Activity book).

The samples of the study are restricted to English language specialist supervisors, to the teachers teaching Sunrise 9, and to the students at the ninth grade in the Governorate of Hawler for the academic year 2010-2011.

Four hypotheses were set for the study.

The first one is that training courses are not fruitful in the field of testing.

The second one is that most of the features of a good test are only to a little extent applicable to teachermade tests.

The third one is that the tests face some weak points.

The last hypothesis is that oral tests are given little importance.

The study includes two sides: theoretical and practical.

In the theoretical side language, testing is emphasized.

The main purpose of this side is to serve as the basis for designing the procedures- three questionnaires and analysis of tests.

The practical side is two dimensional: three questionnaires and analysis of tests.

The questionnaires aim at assessing the tests to check reliability, validity and practicality as seen and viewed by specialist supervisors, teachers and students, and analysed by the researcher.

In addition to this, some strong and weak points in testing are detected through the questionnaires.

The results of the questionnaires were interpreted and analyzed after being statistically analysed by using SPSS programme to show percentage of the responses for multiple-choice items.

Concerning open-ended items, content analysis is used to analyse them.

Analysing tests aims at checking accuracy, objectivity and scorability.

Unfortunately, no sample of oral test was obtained.

It implies that only written tests were analysed.

The analysis of test papers was conducted twice to get a truer and more reliable result.

Both times, the same results were obtained.

The study consists of five chapters: Chapter one is Introduction.

It includes the definition of the problem, the aims and scope of the study, the significance of the study, the hypotheses and the procedures of the study.

Also some basic terms used in the study are defined in this chapter.

Chapter two is Theoretical Background of Language Testing.

It deals with a brief history of language teaching in Iraqi Kurdistan, a brief history of language testing, test construction, test rubrics, qualities of a good test and some aspects related to the process of testing such as psychological aspect, feedback, training courses, test strategies and backwash.

Also, students’ competence in a second/ foreign language is tackled in this chapter.

Chapter three is Description and Analysis of Sunrise 9.

It deals with both Student’s Book and Activity Book.

It describes the textbooks both horizontally and vertically.

The portion of each activity and test technique is shown, too.

Chapter four is Data Collection and Interpretation.

It includes a description of the samples of the study, construction of the items of the questionnaires, interpretation of the items, and analysis of the items.

It also deals with the analysis of tests.

Besides, it describes the students’ results during one academic year to show their competence.

Chapter five is Conclusions, Recommendations and Suggestions for Further Studies.

Major findings are shown with providing suitable recommendations in accordance with the results of the questionnaires and test paper analysis.

Potential areas for further studies are suggested.

Major findings of the study are: - The current training courses do not deal much with the process of testing in Sunrise programme.

- Most of the qualities of a good test are applicable to a great extent to teacher-made tests.

Yet, less attention is paid to accuracy and scorability.

- Oral tests are not given the importance they deserve.

- Teacher-made tests in grade nine face some shortcomings.

It can be concluded that the first, the third, and the fourth hypotheses are accepted, while the second hypothesis is partly rejected.

This is because most of the characteristics of a good test are to a reasonable extent applicable to teacher-made tests.

Main Subjects

Educational Sciences

Topics

• Iraq
• Kurdistan

No. of Pages

140

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-314538