Study On The Content Validity Of Reading Comprehension Tests In NMET (2007-2009)

This thesis "Study on the Content Validity of Reading Comprehension Tests in NMET" tends to explore the content validity of reading comprehension parts of NMET by quantitative and qualitative methods.On the basis of Bachman's task characteristics framework, this thesis puts forward a more practical assessment framework for reading tests by closely observing National English Curriculum Standards for Senior Schools (NECS) and the testing syllabus. With this framework, this thesis conducts a study on content validity of NMET reading comprehension tests.Results show that NMET reading comprehension test has a high content validity, and the samples in this study are representative for they cover the requirements of both NECS and the testing syllabus. The major findings of the study are presented as follows:1) NMET reading comprehension tests are well stable for the test structure and format.2) The text length, the reading speed and the new words meet the requirements of NECS and the testing syllabus well. 3) NMET reading tests have proper difficulty level and excellent item discrimination.4) There is a great variety of genres and topics in the reading materials which are novel, attractive, educational and enlightening.5) Students'integrated skills, especially the skill of textual understanding, are attached more importance to in almost all the papers.Meanwhile, some problems are found:only one format (multiple-choice question) is adopted in NMET reading comprehension part; it only involves 11 topics which cannot fully meet the NECS requirements; reading speed just reaches the low level of the first grade; the item difficulty and discrimination need a better balance; the examination of the reading skills requires to be covered more fully.At last, some implications on NMET reading comprehension design and English teaching and learning are put forward for further improvement.