dc.description.abstract |
Tests/examinations are assumed to be powerful determiners of what happens in classrooms
.,? and it is commonly claimed that tests affect leaching and learning activities. The influence of
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tests on teaching and learning is often referred to as 'washback '. The purpose of this study
was to investigate the washback effect of the Primary School Leaving Certificate (PSLC)
<,
English examination on teaching and learning of English language. The participants of the
study were six grade eight English teachers, hundred grade eight students, and hundred
grade nine students...._ The instruments used to collect data were document analysis,
questionnaire, and interview. After the data were collected through these instruments, the
findings were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings of this study indicated that
the Primary School Leaving Certificate (PSLC) English examination does not adequately
reflect the contents of the textbooks. The study alsoshowed that the Primary School Leaving
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Certificate (PSLC) English examination influences teachers' focus to the contents to be
taught, and their way of preparing classroom tests/examinations. Moreover, the study
indict/led that students' attention to different contents of the English language is influenced
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by the Primary School Leaving Certificate (PSLC) English examination. Based on the
findings, the researcher recommends that all contents need to be included in Primary School
Certificate (PSLC) English examination, priority need to be given for the attainment of the
objective of th; course, there need to be a means for classroom tests to take part in selecting
students to the next grade level (grade nine), and teachers need to be given instruction about
'washback:'. |
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