An Investigation Of Washback Effect Of The National Matriculation English Test

The effect of testing on teaching and learning is known as backwash or washback. It is an important phenomenon in language testing. A large number of studies have been carried out abroad and in China on the washback effect of language testing, especially high-stake testing, such as Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), College English Test-Band 4 (CET4), and CET6. These studies results have enriched the test theory, deepened people's understanding of this phenomenon and to some degree promoted the reform and innovation in language testing and teaching.The National Matriculation English Test (The NMET) in China is the test of English used jointly with tests on a number of other subjects to select secondary school graduates for studies at institutions of higher learning. There are numerous arguments on the backwash effect of the test, but insufficient empirical researches have been done to explore their nature. This study is to conduct an investigation of the NMET washback effect, using foreign research results, in particular their research methods and models and combining China's high school English teaching practice. It aims to find out how and to what degree the NMET affects English teaching and learning in senior high schools, and seek for teachers' and students' opinions and suggestions on the test. According to the English test results, this paper offers positive ways of backwash effect, with a view to improving the examination, to promoting high school English teaching and learning and to providing practical value in reform and innovation in Chinese English education as well. The investigation adopted qualitative and quantitative research methods with research instruments, namely questionnaire, classroom observation and interview, to collect data from Seniorâ…¢English teachers, freshmen and Seniorâ…¢students. The data were analyzed using SPSS.The results of the data analysis show that the NMET exerts both positive and negative effects on senior middle school English teaching and learning. Specific findings are shown as follows:First, the NMET promotes middle school English education and hence the overall improvement of middle school students' English proficiency. The NMET helps to select students for higher education, drives the whole society to attach importance to English and stimulates teachers and students to teach and learn English well.Second, the selection function of the NMET and misuses of the NMET scores to evaluate schools and teachers bring schools, teachers and students great pressure and anxiety from competition. The pressure triggers teaching mainly to achieve higher scores in the NMET rather than to develop students' desired ability to use language effectively.Third, the misuses of the NMET scores induce the phenomenon of "teaching to the NMET content and format" and "learning to the NMET content and format" in Senior English class, especially in Seniorâ…¢English classroom.Fourth, both teacher and student respondents hold the same view on the content and format of the NMET. They think most items in the NMET are reasonably or well constructed while they don't prefer cloze test and proofreading. Considering there being no unified oral test in the NMET, they appeal for inclusion of oral test in the NMET to motivate teachers and students to attach importance to spoken English, requiring that other more test formats should be adopted than the currently predominant multiple choice in the NMET.Based on the findings, the present study suggests ways to promote the beneficial backwash effects of the NMET, in addition to innovative college entrance examination papers. We must also strengthen the secondary school teachers' training of English Language Testing theoretical knowledge and strengthen the communication between the education planners and the education implementors, at the same time, requiring more people to be concerned about testing and English education reform and development. This study also points out the need for further research in this field.