A Study On Washback Effects Of The Reformed CET4

Testing is an indispensable part in language teaching and learning. Washback is an important research subject in the field of language testing, which refers to the effect that language tests bring to teaching and learning. Researches on washback can both provide feedback to test design and give references to teaching. The present study aims to look into the washback effect of the CET4 reform launched in December 2013 on college English teaching and learning. Based on a review of literature concering theories of language testing and empirical studies on washback on College English Test in China, four research questions are put forward. Firstly, what are teachers? perceptions of and attitudes toward the reform? Secondly, what are students? perceptions of and attitudes toward the reform? Thirdly, to what extent does the reform exert washback effect on CE teaching? Fourthly, to what extent does the reform exert washback effect on CE learning? Data collected by means of questionnaire and face to face interviews were analysized via quantitative and qualitative methods, and the subjects of the study are 114 none English major students and 31 college English teachers at UESTC.The main findings of the study are as follows. Firstly, most of the teachers and the students are somewhat informed about the reform, but they are not very familiar to it. Secondly, majority of the students and the teachers hold a positive attitude towards the reform, but most of them are still doubtful on the issue whether the reformed CET4 has enhanced its validity or not. Thirdly, the reform only exerts washback on some of the teachers and the students, and the intensity of its washback varies from individual to individual. Fourthly, the reform brings more washback effect on the teachers? choice of teaching content than on their teaching method. The reform enhances the students? confidence, clarified their learning objectives and widens the scope of the English learning.Based on the above findings, several suggestions are proposed. Firstly, the publicity on CET4 reform needs to be enhanced. Adjustment should be further made on the structure of CET paper to further improve validity of the test. Secondly, teachers should pay more attention to the mutual impact between testing and teaching, and get a better understanding and take full advantage of CET4 washback so as to further improve their teaching efficiency. Students need to have right motivation on English learning, to make full use of CET4 so as to promote their English learning and improve their English ability in an all-rounded way.