English Proficiency Test For Higher Secondary School Students In Gujrat

English is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo Saxon Era. English is major language especially in the UK and in the US. Hence, today in world we have British English and American English having their own unique styles of accent and spellings. Indian education system has adopted British English, because of British colonial rule in India during pre-independence era. Indian English also has its own style and uniqueness. In the present study, I refer to the English language taught to the Higher Secondary students who follow the syllabus of Gujarat State Education Board of schools in Ahmedabad city. English language proficiency of the students of Gujarat is always under question. I thought over it and decided to investigate the level of their proficiency in English language. The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary defines test in the following ways: (1) The means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined; a means of trial. (2) The trial of the quality of something: to put to the test. (3) A particular process or method for trying or assessing. (4) A set of questions, problems, or the like, used as a means of evaluating the abilities, aptitudes, skills, or performance of an individual or group; examination. In the present study, I conduct a test in order to evaluate the English proficiency of Higher Secondary school students. In the present study, I refer to the students who study in 11th and 12th standard and follow the syllabus of Gujarat State Education Board of Schools.

Construction and Standardization of English Language Proficiency test for Higher Secondary School Students

1. To construct and standardize English language proficiency test for higher secondary school students. 2. To investigate the significance of difference in English language proficiency between subgroups based on standard, area, sex, stream and medium of instruction.

For present study, the term means a research tool designed to measure the English language proficiency which comprises of components like use English language correctly and effectively with proper selection of words and better way of expression.

Survey method was used. Scores were obtained on the test. So, it also becomes a quantitative method. In addition, norms are also established. Hence, it becomes a Normative Study.

For present study, sample was selected via stratified random sampling. The state of Gujarat was divided into five zones namely North Gujarat, South Gujarat, Central Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kacchh. Districts, tehsils, schools and students were selected randomly. The sample consisted of 2225 students.

I decided to frame the test having four language components namely Grammar in Use, Reading Comprehension, Expression, Vocabulary. After referring various tests, I made first draft of the test. After pre-piloting and receiving the suggestions of experts, piloting of the study was carried out. After item analysis proper items were selected in the final form of the test. There were 70 items in the final form which are classified in the following table.

I visited the schools personally and the data was collected from the selected sample.

For descriptive analysis of the data mean, median were computed. Skewness and kurtosis were found out and the C.R of skewness and kurtosis were also computed. For inferential statistics t- test and F- test were used. Reliability was obtained via Test-Retest Method and Split-half Method. Thus, the reliability quotient via different methods is found in the range of 0.81 to 0.90 which is high and positive. So, it can be said that the test is reliable.

Face validity, content validity, construct validity, content validity, construct validity were found quite good. The concurrent validity was found in the range of 0.76 to 0.89.

Factor analysis through principle component method was established. Two common components were found. One is Comprehension Ability and the other is Verbal Ability. Score plot was derived.

The findings of the study are as follows. 1. The average English Language Proficiency of the students of Gujarat found on the test is 27.37 (39.1%) which is very low. 2. Students of standard XI score higher than the students of standard XII. 3. Students of urban area score higher than the students of rural area. 4. Female students score higher than their male counterparts. 5. Students of Commerce stream score higher than the students of Arts stream and the students of Science stream score higher than the students of Commerce stream. 6. Students of English medium score higher than the students of Gujarati medium. 7. Same findings were found with reference to different components of the test.

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