This study examines the psychometric features of the Children’s English Proficiency Test (CEPT) in Saudi Arabia. The test is designed to assess non-native English speakers in listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills based on the Global Scale of English Learning Objectives (GSE) for children 6-14 years of age. This study examines the listening and reading parts, with focus on two test forms that differ in item formats (a) audio-pictorial format (APF): written item stems, delivered also in audio, and pictorial response options, and (b) written format (WF): written item stems and response options without audio and pictures. The psychometric analysis of test data for 3,367 children (9-12 years of age) was conducted in the framework of confirmatory factor analysis. Several key findings stemmed from the study results. First, the results supported the dimensionality and high reliability of the test scores. Second, in terms of how well the test items discriminate among examinees, the WF items performed better than the APF items on the listening part, whereas the differences in item discrimination for the reading part were negligible. Third, the APF items were predominantly more difficult than the WF items on the listening part, whereas just the opposite was the case on the reading part of the test. Plausible explanations of the findings and their implications for quality assessments of English proficiency for children are also discussed.

Authors:
Dimiter Dimitrov, Education & Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC), Saudi Arabia
Fathima M jaffari, Education & Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC), Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Sadaawi, Education & Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC), Saudi Arabia

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Dimiter Dimitrov is currently a Senior Psychometrician at the Education & Training Evaluation Commission in Saudi Arabia. His areas of expertise include psychometrics and advanced quantitative methods in education and psychology.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dimiter-Dimitrov-4/research

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