The interpretation and use of proficiency test scores in university selection: How valid and ethical are they?

Language Assessment Quarterly

Volumn 8, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 146-160

  O'Loughlin, Kieran ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE   (Australia)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 79957951767     PISSN: 15434303     EISSN: 15434311     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/15434303.2011.564698     Document Type: Article

References (28)

1. American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, and National Council on Measurement in Education. (1999). Standards for educational and psychological testing.Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association.
2. Bachman, L. F. (2005). Building and supporting a case for test use. Language Assessment Quarterly, 2, 1-34.
3. Banerjee, J. V. (2003). Interpreting and using proficiency test scores. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Department of Linguistics and Modern English Language, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom.
4. Chalhoub-Deville, M., & Turner, C. (2000). What to look for in ESL admission tests: Cambridge certificate exams, IELTS and TOEFL. System, 28, 523-539.
5. Chapelle, C. A. (2008). The TOEFL validity argument. In C. A. Chapelle, M. Enright, & J. Jamieson (Eds.), Building a validity argument for the test of English as a foreign language (pp. 322-354). New York, NY: Routledge.
6. Coleman, D., Starfield, S., & Hagan, A. (2003). The attitudes of IELTS stakeholders: student and staff perceptions of IELTS in Australia, UK and Chinese tertiary institutions. In IELTS research reports (Vol. 5, pp. 160-207). Canberra: IDP Education Australia.
7. Coley, M. (1999). The English language entry requirements of Australian universities for students of non-English speaking background. Higher Education Research & Development, 18, 7-17.
8. Davies, A. (2004). Introduction: Language testing and the golden rule. Language Assessment Quarterly, 1, 97-107.
9. Graham, J. G. (1987). English language proficiency and the prediction of academic success. TESOL Quarterly, 21, 505-521.
10. Hamp-Lyons, L. (2000). Social, professional and individual responsibility in language testing. System, 28, 579-591.
11. Hyatt, D., & Brooks, G. (2009). Investigating stakeholders' perceptions of IELTS as an entry requirement for higher education in the UK. In IELTS research reports (Vol. 10, pp. 17-68). Manchester, UK: The British Council and Canberra: IDP Education Australia.
12. IELTS Guide. (2009). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge ESOL, the British Council and IDP Education Australia.
13. IELTS Handbook. (2007). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge ESOL, the British Council and IDP Education Australia.
14. IELTS Scores Explained. [DVD] (2009). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge ESOL.
15. Ingram, D. (2005). English language testing: a pass for proficiency is not necessarily the answer. UniNews, 14, 4-5. Retrieved from http://archive.uninews.unimelb.edu.au
16. International Language Testing Association. (2007). Guidelines for practice. Retrieved from http://www.iltaonline.com/code.htm
17. International Testing Commission. (2000). International guidelines for test use. Retrieved from http://www.intestcom.org/
18. McDowell, C., & MerryLees, B. (1998). Survey of receiving institutions' use and attitude to IELTS. In IELTS research reports (Vol. 1, pp. 116-139). Canberra: IDP Education Australia.
19. McNamara, T. (2000). Language testing. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
20. Messick, S. (1996) Validity and washback in language testing. Language Testing, 13, 241-256.
21. Miles, M. B., & Huberman, M. A. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
22. Rea-Dickins, P. R. Kiely, R., & Yu, G. (2007). Student identity, learning and progression: The affective and academic impact of IELTS on "successful" candidates. In IELTS Research Reports (Vol. 7, pp. 59-136). Manchester, UK: British Council and Canberra: IDP Education Australia.
23. Rees, J. (1999). Counting the cost of international assessment: why universities may need a second opinion. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 24, 427-438.
24. Shohamy, E. (2001). The power of tests. New York, NY: Longman.
25. Spolsky, B. (1995). Measured words: The development of objective language testing. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
26. Stake, R. E. (1994). Case studies. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 236-247). London: Sage.
27. Van Nelson, C., Nelson, J. S., & Malone, B. G. (2004). Predicting success of international graduate students in an American university. College and University Journal, 80, 19-27.
28. Xi, X. (2008). Methods of test validation. In E. Shohamy & N. H. Hornberger (Eds.), Encyclopaedia of language and education, Volume 7: Language testing and assessment. (pp. 177-196). New York, NY: Springer Science and Business Media.