How Well Performance in Curriculum-based Tests Predicts that in Life-based Tests: A Study of 12th-grade Students Learning Chinese Language

Abstract

A sample of 209 secondary (12th grade) students were tested for their knowledge of Chinese characters, words, and idioms as specified in a Chinese Language syllabus. The students also took comprehension tests in the form of cloze tests based on passages selected from Chinese newspapers and literary works, covering occupations, social events, sports, leisure pursuits and international news. Although performance in curriculum-based tests was satisfactory, the students were found to have difficulty comprehending life-based reading materials. Probable causes for the lack of consistency between performances in the tests using different reading materials are discussed.

Descriptors:

• Chinese language
• comprehension
• cloze
• language testing