Background: It has been hypothesized that L2 (second language) readers are not able to draw on their L1 (first language) reading skills for the successful development of L2 reading skills until they develop a certain proficiency in L2 because a lack of proficiency blocks transfer of L1 reading skills to the reading of L2 texts. This minimum degree…

The present study interviewed 16 international students (13 from Mainland China and 3 from Taiwan) in a Canadian university to explore their perceptions and experiences of two standardized English writing tests: the TWE (Test of Written English) and the essay task in LPI (English Language Proficiency Index). In Western Canada, TWE is used as an…

This study examined students' essay performance on topics from the Test of Written English (TWE) under time limits of 30 minutes, as currently administered, and 45 minutes. In the main groups of the study, each student wrote an essay on one topic under the current time limit and on another under the 45-minute time limit. A total of 820 intensive…