The mapping of TOEFL scores among EFL students in Aceh

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the proficiency level of English for Foreign Language (EFL) students based on their TOEFL scores. The samples for this descriptive quantitative study consisted of 30 English Education Department students from Syiah Kuala University and Ar-Raniry State Islamic University. The scores gathered from the organised TOEFL test were analysed according to the CEFR reference levels to categorise the English proficiency level of the students. The total TOEFL scores gathered showed that, on average, the students placed in the B1 (intermediate) level of English proficiency. Individually, there were four students in the A2 (elementary) level, 15 students in the B1 (intermediate) level, ten students in the B2 (upper intermediate) level, and one student in the C1 (advanced) level of proficiency. Regarding the skills proficiency, on average, the students achieved the B2 (upper intermediate) level in the first section, which was higher than the remaining two sections that averaged on the B1 (intermediate) level. The students’ proficiency levels found in this study showed that, on average, they were able to pass the universities’ TOEFL graduation requirement but still fall short for abroad scholarship admission.

Error Analysis in Completing Structure and Written Expression of Toefl Test

“…There are many patterns or grammar rules that must be remembered and memorized by the students (Akmal, 2020). Structure and Written Expression is the part that is most problematic for students, in that section all of them have the theme grammar with complex or problematic grammar rules which cause difficulties for participants in answering the TOEFL (Yosintha et al, 2021).. Found that the most frequent problems arise in the inversion and the use of verbs (Umar, 2022). (Atmojo, 2018) said that the mistakes that often made in Part A of the Subject-Verb Agreement in the Structure and Written Expression were not only made by non-English Department students but also by English Department students.…”