改革后的大学英语四级考试反拨效应实证研究

Study of the Washback Impact of Reformed CET4

随着大学英语考试改革的不断深入,作为规模最大、参与人数最多的全国性标准化英语测试,大学英语四级考试(CET4)对大学生英语学习将产生一定的影响,即反拨效应,而这种影响在CET4成绩与学位脱钩的情况下表现如何?针对这些问题,本文对苏州大学2009级10个专业175名学生进行了问卷调查和访谈。研究结果发现:改革后CET4对大学生的英语学习总体上存在积极的正面影响;CET4成绩与学士学位脱钩对英语学习影响较小;通过进一步改革CET4试题题型结构和选材能提高其正面影响,减小其负面影响。

With the development of CET reform,as one of the nationwide high-stake standardized English tests,CET4 will inevitably exert some effect and impact on college English learning.We call this type of effect 'washback'.If CET4 certificate is not the precondition of granting Bachelor's Degree,what will be the washback effect? An investigation into the issues in question was conducted by questionnaire and interview.175 juniors in 10 different majors participated in this study.The findings of the study are: The reformed CET4,as a whole,exerts positive washback effect on students' college English learning;CET4 is not the precondition of granting Bachelor's Degree,which has little influence on students' English learning;to facilitate the positive washback effect and diminish the negative one,we should make further reform in the composition and contents ofCET4,as well as the source of materials used in the test papers.