RESEARCH OF SOCIAL SCIENCES (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED(ROSS) & PAKISTAN SOCIAL SCIENCES REVIEW (PSSR) adheres to Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License. The authors submitting and publishing in PSSR agree to the copyright policy under creative common license 4.0 (Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International license). Under this license, the authors published in PSSR retain the copyright including publishing rights of their scholarly work and agree to let others remix, tweak, and build upon their work non-commercially. All other authors using the content of PSSR are required to cite author(s) and publisher in their work. Therefore, RESEARCH OF SOCIAL SCIENCES (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED(ROSS) & PAKISTAN SOCIAL SCIENCES REVIEW (PSSR) follow an Open Access Policy for copyright and licensing.
How to Cite
Investigating Washback Effects of the GRE (Verbal) on Test Takers (Successful & Unsuccessful) in Sindh, Pakistan
Abstract
This study has investigated the washback of the verbal section of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) on test takers, specifically focusing on washback upon learners’ perceptions, attitudes, and test preparation strategies in Sindh, Pakistan. The study employed a mixed method research design where survey was conducted from 56 participants and two focus group interviews were conducted from 8 GRE test takers. Two instruments were adapted from Hawkey (2006) and Moore et. al. (2012) respectively and the analysis was done using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis method. The data revealed that washback of GRE (verbal) was strong and it worked in both positive as well as negative directions. Students had positive views about the usefulness, motivation for taking the test, and standardized and systematic nature of the test making organisation, while they had negative views regarding the cost of the test, its difficult language and non-communicative vocabulary. Unsuccessful test takers were seen willing to take the test again by learning from their own experiences. Successful test takers shared preparation plans and strategies which helped them in getting the required scores. Test making authority of the GRE test must look into what test takers have to say about its cost and difficult language so that the test could be made more authentic and communicate for those who have to take it for getting scholarships abroad.
Authors
Tehmina Kalwar
MS Scholar, English Language Development Centre, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
Sania Sachal
Lecturer, English Language Development Centre, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
Wafa Pirzada
MS Scholar, English Language Development Centre, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
Keywords
ETS, Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Language Tests, Verbal Part of GRE, Washback
