An Empirical Study of the Predictability of Vocabulary Knowledge and Reading Ability on Redesigned SAT Critical Reading and Implication for English Testing System in China

DOI

10.2991/seiem-18.2019.65How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Critical reading ability; redesigned SAT reading; depth of vocabulary knowledge; TEM 8 reading; text analysis tool

Abstract

This paper mainly discusses the relationship between vocabulary width, lexical depth and critical reading ability for intermediate and high-level proficiency level second language learners in China. By Pearson correlation and linear regress analysis of six types of data, it is found that vocabulary size is unable to predict learners' critical reading proficiency while depth of vocabulary knowledge can effectively predict language learners' critical reading ability and the TEM8 (Test for English Majors in china) has relatively high predictive power of learners' critical reading ability. Text difficulty analysis tool shows that in spite of common test objectives of SAT critical reading and china's TEM8, the SAT critical reading has higher text difficulty and two additional dimensions of test construct: ability to conduct rhetoric analysis and information synthesis.

Copyright

© 2019, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Wei Xu
PY  - 2019/01
DA  - 2019/01
TI  - An Empirical Study of the Predictability of Vocabulary Knowledge and Reading Ability on Redesigned SAT Critical Reading and Implication for English Testing System in China
BT  - Proceedings of the 3rd International Seminar on Education Innovation and Economic Management (SEIEM 2018)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 251
EP  - 253
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/seiem-18.2019.65
DO  - 10.2991/seiem-18.2019.65
ID  - Xu2019/01
ER  -