This study examined the effect of class sizes on differences in the trajectories of elementary school students' long-term Japanese language achievement by analyzing panel data composed of standardized achievement test scores at five points from around the end of first grade to around the end of fifth grade. The data for 103 schools, 162 classes,…

The topic of physical and chemical changes is one of the basic and essential issues of both the lowersecondary school science curriculum and the upper-secondary school chemistry curriculum in many countries. The focus of the present study is to investigate the students' cognitive structures on the topic of physical and chemical changes at…

This study was aimed at investigating the influencing factors on students' English proficiency levels based on Cambridge English Tests for Children and Young Learners. A preliminary survey was undertaken to select the sample of elementary schools that offered English as a subject. As many as 157 students who sat in Grades 4, 5, and 6 from nine…

Since its introduction in 2017, NFER has been contracted by Ofqual to develop, deliver and analyse the results of the National Reference Test (NRT) in English and maths. The NRT is administered annually and shows if student performance in English and maths at GCSE level has changed from year to year. The NRT results are based on analysis of data…

In response to the recent sharp increase of L2 students in Reykjavik schools, allocation criteria for special L2 services were adopted that were based on length of residence and on whether children's home language was tonal or not tonal. This study set out to evaluate the appropriateness of these criteria, and to replicate previous findings of a…

This study investigates the influence of the pre-2018 English Language Teacher Education (ELTE) program outcomes in the attainment of the generic competencies for teaching profession with a specific focus on professional skills. It collects the views of EFL teacher trainers and trainees to evaluate the extent to which these competencies have been…

This study investigates to what extend do teachers of English as a school subject (ESS) in Saudi schools follow recommendations and guidelines suggested by language testing specialists in developing tables of specifications and preparing blueprints to their formative and summative language tests. To answer the study questions, a thirteen-statement…

The development of a language ability scale for English as a Second Language in Hong Kong secondary schools is described. The project used a local computer network designed as a database of teacher-designed English language tests. From test items in the database, a series of seven tests was prepared, one for each grade level. Tests for the lowest…