Wash-back Effects Of The English Reading Comprehension Tests In HSEE On Teaching And Learning Since 2009

Wash-back effect normally means the influence of language tests on language teaching and learning. According to the characters of its influence, there are positive wash-back and negative wash-back. In recent years, learners at home and abroad have done a great number of researches on wash-back effect from the aspects of theory and practice. But in China, related study on tests is still a relatively new field and most of the study focuses on wash-back effect on CET 4 and 6. It is not common to see wash-back effect on High-school Entrance Exams(HSEE), especially on a special question type and related questions in China. Since 2009, Hebei HSEE English has experienced some changes, especially in reading comprehension and study on wash-back effect of reading comprehension is still needed.Under the guidance of test theories and the analyses on reading comprehension of Hebei HSEE English, this paper preliminarily studies the wash-back effect of Hebei HSEE English reading comprehension on Middle School English teaching and learning. In order to do this research, questionnaires, interviews and class observations are used. This paper aims to find out the attitudes of teachers and students towards reading comprehension in HSEE English; in which aspects do reading comprehension in HSEE English affect teaching and learning; how to perform its positive effect to its greatest extent and to reduce its negative effect, and then try to find approaches to improve reading questions and explore ways to reform teaching and learning of English reading in Junior Middle School.The study result shows that Hebei HSEE English reading comprehension has both positive and negative influence on English teaching and learning in Junior Middle School. What is positive is that it facilitates the completion of teaching tasks; stimulates the teaching enthusiasm of teachers, strengthens students’ learning motivation, broadens students’ mind and improves students’ ability to solve practical problems. The negative influence is that some questions are so changeless that teachers and students can summarize the rules of those questions. It leads to examination-oriented education and may influence the cultivation of students’ comprehensive language competence. HSEE should pay attention to the vatiety of questions in case that teachers and students will sum up the rules; teachers should change their traditional teaching concepts and the class should be students-centred so that students’ reading competence can be developed roundly; students should attach importance to extracurricular reading and face it positively.