Construction and validation of an English language proficiency test: A tool toward global competence

Abstract

This descriptive study aimed to construct and validate an English language proficiency test in the areas of grammar, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. A researcher-made test underwent ten phases or stages such as constructing a table of specifications. constructing the initial draft, examining the initial draft for face and content validation, revising the test instrument, presenting the revised test to the panel members, conducting the pilot-test, performing item analysis to establish index of difficulty, index of discrimination and effectiveness of distracters, preparing the final form of the test, conducting the final try-out and establishing the reliability and predictive validity of the test. The test consisted of 100 multiple choice items, completion, and essay types contextually presented using sentences, dialogues, selections or passages, poems, and story lines. For pilot testing and try-outs, 25 elementary and high school teachers of a private school in Iloilo City were utilized and for the final try-out of the English language proficiency test, 25 elementary and high school teachers of a public school in Iloilo were the respondents.