The Malaysian University English Test (MUET) and its use for placement purposes : a predictive validity study.

Rethinasamy, Soubakeavathi and Kee, Man Chuah (2011) The Malaysian University English Test (MUET) and its use for placement purposes : a predictive validity study. Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 8 (2). pp. 234-245.

[img] PDF
MUET.pdf

Download (150kB)
Official URL: http://e-flt.nus.edu.sg/main.htm

Abstract

The use of standardised English proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL for admission and placement purposes is widely practised in academic institutions throughout the world. Similarly in Malaysia, many tertiary institutions utilise the results of a localised version of such tests called the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) as a measure of students’ proficiency level, prerequisite for admission, as well as placement in various academic programmes. This paper reports on the predictive validity of MUET as a measure of undergraduates’ English language proficiency and the appropriacy of the MUET cut-off bands for placement purposes. The MUET bands of 2884 undergraduates from various faculties and the grade they obtained in an English language enhancement course were analysed to answer the research questions. The findings indicate a significant positive relationship between the undergraduates’ MUET bands and their grades in the English language course. Chi square results also indicate that the difference between MUET band 3 undergraduates’ ability to obtain good grades is significantly different compared to undergraduates with MUET bands 1 and 2. Besides providing evidence for MUET’s validity as a measure of students’ English language ability, the findings also recommend a need to review the cut-off MUET band for placement purposes.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Malaysian University English Test (MUET), placement purposes, 2011, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, UNIMAS, universiti, university, Borneo, Malaysia, Sarawak, Kuching, Samarahan, IPTA, education, undergraduate, research
Subjects: A General Works > AC Collections. Series. Collected works
Divisions: Academic Faculties, Institutes and Centres > Centre for Language Studies
Faculties, Institutes, Centres > Centre for Language Studies
Academic Faculties, Institutes and Centres > Centre for Language Studies
Depositing User: Karen Kornalius
Date Deposited: 14 Mar 2014 02:44
Last Modified: 23 Mar 2022 07:48
URI: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/1085

Actions (For repository members only: login required)

View Item View Item