• Daniel Ghamarian

  Author

Iranian universities expect students to demonstrate solid English language proficiency
performance by taking standardized English language proficiency tests such as TOEFL iBT
and IELTS tests; however, some students experience complications during communication
despite getting ideal scores. This correlational study aims to investigate the relationship
between Iranian students’ language proficiency performance and their communication
strategies usage pattern. Besides, the relationship between the washback effect of IELTS and
TOEFL iBT tests and students’ communication strategies usage pattern is discussed. The
other objective of the study is to investigate the relationship between the constructs
underlying language proficiency and students’ communication strategies usage pattern.
Three hundred and eighty four Iranian students having TOEFL iBT and IELTS test scores
and pursuing their Ph.D. degrees participated in the present study. The researcher used
Nakatani’s (2006) Oral Communication Strategy Inventory (OCSI) to collect data. The
findings showed negative and significant correlation between the washback effect of both
IELTS and TOEFL iBT tests and participants’ communication strategies usage pattern.
Likewise, significant and weak positive correlation has been found between participants’
language proficiency performance and their communication strategies use. Additionally, the
outcomes displayed significant and weak positive correlation between the constructs
underlying language proficiency and communication strategies usage pattern. Moreover, the
pedagogical implications of the study are discussed.

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