Achievement Tests in light of The Objectives set for Master Students at the ESP Center, Damascus University: Analysis and Evaluation

Abstract

The title of this research is "Achievement Tests in light of the Objectives set for Master Students at the ESP Center , Damascus University: Analysis and Evaluation." The main purpose of this research is to reveal whether or not Master's English language courses are effective in raising the levels of the students in general and academic English. In order to prove the effectiveness of the courses , the researcher studied : (1) the extent to which the achievement tests represent the objectives of the course, (2) the objectives and whether they are suitable for the levels of the students , (3) and finally the criteria followed in scoring the subjective tests and whether they suit the level which the students are expected to reach at the end of the course ( the higher intermediate level ). The sample of the research consists of 1101 teachers and

1100/ students. It also includes a copy of Master's achievement tests, which was selected from the ESP Center. The methodology used in this research is the descriptive -

analytical approach.

The instruments used in this research include:

1. A questionnaire which contains all the objectives the students are expected to reach at the end of the course. This questionnaire aims to elicit the opinions of both the teachers and the students on the objectives. 2. A questionnaire for the teachers in order to elicit the criteria adopted by them when scoring the subjective tests, namely the creative writing tests (writing an essay and a summary) and the oral tests (an interview and an oral presentation).