A Preliminary Study Of CET4 Washback

Washback is an important phenomenon in language testing. A large number of studies have been carried out abroad on the washback effect of language testing,especially high-stake .testing,such as TOEFL and IELTS. These studies have deepened people's understanding of this phenomenon and promoted the reform and innovation in language testing and teaching.CET4 is considered as a large-scale foreign language testing in China. It exerts great influence on English teaching and learning in colleges and universities. Although there are numerous discussions about College English teaching and testing,little empirical research has been conducted on the washback effect of CET4. The present study is a preliminary investigation of CET4 washback effect. It intends to find out the aspects of College English teaching and learning influenced by CET4,and the nature of the influence (or washback). It also attempts to find the ways to promote CET4 positive washback. The investigation resorts to three research methods,i.e.,questionnaires,classroom observations and interviews,which are widely applied in washback studies abroad. The subjects are the College English teachers and the undergraduates in grade 1999 and 2000 in the 1 1 universities in Chengdu and Chongqing.Based on the investigation carried out in the 1 1 universities,the study finds out that CET4 exerts influence on a variety of aspects of College English learning and teaching and the nature of the influence is both negative and positive. The results show that the majority of the teachers and students believe that CET4 exerts more positive washback than negative one,which is opposite to the assertion that CET4 is predominantly negative. The results also indicate that the intensity of CET4 washback differs from ordinary universities to key universities,from grade 1999 to grade 2000. In addition,the findings indicate that a large majority of the English teachers and students vote for the new test methods and CET4 Spoken English Test,while in practice,there is a lack of corresponding adjustments. The study concludes that CET4 washback is a result of various factors,of which test methods and test policies play an important role. Based on thesefindings,the author puts forward several strategies for promoting CET4 positive washback and points out the need for further research in this field.