Anxiety in Language Testing: The APTIS Case

Published

2017-11-29

Ansiedad en la evaluación de las lenguas: El caso APTIS

Keywords:

Anxiety, computers, foreign language, testing (en)
ansiedad, ordenadores, evaluación de lenguas extranjeras, habilidad oral (es)

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Authors

Jeannette de Fátima Valencia Robles

Abstract (en)
Abstract (es)

The requirement of holding a diploma which certifies proficiency level in a foreign language is constantly increasing in academic and working environments. Computer-based testing has become a prevailing tendency for these and other educational purposes. Each year large numbers of students take online language tests everywhere in the world. In fact, there is a tendency to use these tests more and more. However, many students might not feel comfortable when taking this type of exams. This paper describes a study regarding the fairly new APTIS Test (British Council). Thirty-one students took the test and responded to a structured online questionnaire on their feelings while taking it. Results indicate that the test brings a considerable amount of anxiety along with it.

El requisito de tener un diploma que certifique el nivel de competencia en una lengua extranjera está aumentando en entornos académicos y laborables. La evaluación por ordenadores se ha convertido en una tendencia que facilita la recolección y procesamiento de las respuestas. Cada año, un considerable grupo de estudiantes toma los exámenes online para evaluarse en un idioma. Sin embargo, muchos de ellos pueden no sentirse cómodos con este formato de evaluación. Este artículo describe un estudio con el relativamente nuevo APTIS Test del Consejo Británico. 31 estudiantes realizaron la prueba y respondieron un cuestionario online con preguntas abiertas sobre los sentimientos que tuvieron mientras se examinaban. Los resultados indican que la versión online provoca un considerable nivel de ansiedad.

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References

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