Page 9 - ELG2210 Oct Issue 482

NEWS
English exams on test

Can IELTS and TOEFL results be
extrapolated for academic success? PHOTO GILLIAN CALLISON FROM PIXABAY

By Gillian Ragsdale specifically to test proficiency in
TOEFL and IELTS scores are academic English, although IELTS
equally valid for college entrance, is generally considered to also have
but their ability to predict overall a more everyday usage component.
academic success is weak, according However, as well as testing
to a meta-analysis by Samuel language proficiency specifically, was small (r= 0.2, p< 0.001) and While good TOEFL and
Ihlenfeldt and Joseph Rios at the TOEFL and IELTS scores are also there was no difference between IELTS scores certainly facilitate
University of Minnesota, USA. commonly used to assess overall using TOEFL or IELTS scores. higher education in English,
Increasing numbers of non- likelihood of academic success, The authors were able to both admissions personnel and
native English-speaking students despite not being developed test whether level of study students should avoid being overly
are applying for undergraduate or validated for this purpose. (undergraduate vs postgraduate) or optimistic – or pessimistic – about
and postgraduate courses taught in In practice, where applicants type of school (public* or private) overall academic success.
English, in their own countries or have borderline or slightly lower moderated the relationship between
in an English-speaking country. For academic grades, students with English scores and academic *In the US, government-run schools
example, in 2019 there were over higher TOEFL or IELTS scores success. Surprisingly, neither had are referred to as ‘public’, whereas in
a million international students may be more likely to be admitted. any influence. Most of the studies the UK, these are ‘state’ schools, and
in the US, over 5% of the total Ihlenfeldt and Rios combined in this meta-analysis were based ‘public’ schools are actually private,
student body – an increase of 60% 32 previous studies (2006-2021) in the US and the students were fee-paying schools.
since 2010. to test whether TOEFL and mainly taking business or social-
Currently, TOEFL (Test of IELT scores can actually predict science courses, leaving open REFERENCE
English as a Foreign Language) academic success (principally as questions regarding how the two n Ihlenfeldt, SD and Rios, JA (2022),
and IELTS (International English GPA – grade point averages). English assessments relate to ‘A meta-analysis on the predictive
Language Testing System) are They found that, although both different academic subjects, such validity of English language proficiency
the leading English language assessments were significant as science and technology – as well assessments for college admissions’.
assessments for college entrance. positive predictors of academic as the influence of students’ native Language Testing, DOI: 10.1177/
These assessments were designed success, the size of the correlation language and host institution. 02655322221112364

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