• Jaleh Hassaskhah

  Author

• Fatemeh Hajikhani Roudsari

  Author

Quick Placement Test (QPT), designed by Oxford and Cambridge University, is
claimed to be a valid and reliable test. However, its consequential validity is being questioned by
many students. As the test was validated against the native speakers' norms for acceptability, the
present study sought to investigate the relationship between non- native test takers' self-concept
and the consequential validity of placement test. To this end, 297 female students from a
language institute were chosen randomly. In order to assess their proficiency level, they were
given a Quick placement test to be placed in the right levels in the institute. After assigning the
applicants to their decided levels based on their placement scores, the participants started a
three-month term program at the language institute. In the middle of term, the learners' selfconcept
was assessed via self-Description questionnaire-II (SDQ-II) adopted from Marsh (1999
in Marsh, Byrne, & Young). Finally, the consequential validity of Quick placement test (QPT)
was examined by a consequential validity study form at the end of term. The result of Probit
Regression showed no statistically significant relationship between learners’ self-concept and
the consequential validity of QPT. Admitting that little empirical research has been conducted
on the consequential validity of placement tests, this study underscores the need for validating
the argument, decision, and consequences made based on the QPT results.

• pdf