A Study On The Washback Effects Of Listening Sub-tests In New CET-4 On Students' Listening Comprehension

Washback refers to the influence of tests on teaching and learning.As a complex phenomenon,it has been explored in various dimensions by many researchers at home and abroad.Recent years,there is a marked increase in researches on washback of large-scale and high-stakes tests in the field of language teaching and learning,quite a number of researches have explored the washback of CET-4.Among the tests are explored,general washback is more studied than specific one,teachers are more investigated than students.The innovation in the CET-4 listening sub-test has been conducted by the National College English Testing Committee in June of 2016.There are no researches on the washback effects of new CET-4 listening sub-tests on students' listening comprehension by far.Therefore,under the guidance of Alderson&Wall's(1993)washback hypothesis and Hughes&Bailey's PPP model,the present study attempts to investigate the washbackeffectsof new CET-4 Listening sub-tests on students' listening comprehension.Three hundred and sixty non-majored students who have taken the new CET-4 test was received questionnaire investigation,of which 8 students were received interview investigation,in terms of their perceptions towards CET-4 listening sub-tests as well as the influences of the test on their learning attitude,learning methods and learning behaviors.Furthermore,a comparison of the washback effects on students with different English levels was also made.Through both quantitative and qualitative analysis,findings revealed that new CET-4 listening sub-tests generated more positive washback effects than negative ones in terms of their perceptions towards CET-4 listening sub-tests as well as theinfluences of the test on their learning attitude,learning methods and learning behaviors.Furthermore,it exists disparity on their listening learning attitude,learning methods and learning behaviors.Moreover,based on the findings of the research,suggestions are put forward to promote positive washback of new CET-4listening sub-tests on students' learning and reduce the negatives ones.