Mapping IIUM students’ English language writing proficiency to CEFR

• Main Authors: Abu Sufi, Mohd. Khairul, Engku Ibrahim, Engku Haliza
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia 2021
• Subjects: PE English
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/92895/1/92895_Mapping%20IIUM%20students%E2%80%99%20English%20language.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/92895/7/92895_Mapping%20IIUM%20students%E2%80%99%20English%20language_SCOPUS.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/92895/8/92895_Mapping%20IIUM%20students%E2%80%99%20English%20language_WoS.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/92895/; http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/resources/files/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JSSH%20Vol.%2029%20(S3)%202021/05%20JSSH(S)-1512-2021.pdf; https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.29.S3.05

The goal of this research was to determine the English language writing skills of the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) graduating undergraduates based on two linguistic levels; the IIUM English Proficiency Test (EPT) and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), based on two descriptors: IIUM’s EPT descriptor, and CEFR’s ‘General linguistic range’ descriptor (Council of Europe, 2001, p 110).. The EPT results show that the majority (48 %) of the English language writing skills of IIUM undergraduates were in Band 6, while Band 5.5, Band 5 and Band 4 respectively ranked 31.3%, 4.9 % and 0.4 %. On the other hand, Band 8, Band 7 and Band 6.5 were attained by 0.2 %, 2.4 % and 12.2 % of undergraduates. A significant proportion of IIUM undergraduates (46.3 %) were found to be at Level B2 + when assessed against the CEFR scale for ‘Ggeneral linguistic range’, while 2.2 %, 12.4 %, 33.9 and 5.2 % of students were found to be at Level C2, C1, B2, B1 + respectively. The results also showed that a mere 0.2 % was at Level B1. This research also showed that despite some inaccuracies and improper uses, IIUM students are able to write effectively and are able to understand and use reasonably complicated language, particularly in familiar situations. Based on the CEFR scale for ‘Ggeneral linguistic range’, the results of this study show that IIUM graduating undergraduates could clearly articulate themselves in their writing.