A Review of the Research on Test-taking Strategies in the Past 50 Years

XU  Yun; WU  Zunmin

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Foreign Language Learning Theory and Practice ›› 2011, Vol. 2 ›› Issue (1) : 43-51.

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A Review of the Research on Test-taking Strategies in the Past 50 Years

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Test-taking strategies, the consciously selected processes and procedures by test-takers, have become necessary evidence for test validation. In the 50 years’ (1958-2009) research history of test-taking strategies, test-wiseness strategies were firstly emphasized between the late 1950s and the mid-1980s. After that the research focus shifted to language learner strategies and test management strategies. This article reviews the research results of these two periods and points out that further research efforts should go to balancing the research topics, revising strategy classifications and validating research instruments. Test-taking strategy research should contribute more to test development and validation.

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XU Yun, WU Zunmin. A Review of the Research on Test-taking Strategies in the Past 50 Years[J]. Foreign Language Learning Theory and Practice. 2011, 2(1): 43-51

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