A STUDY OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TEST AMONG THE FIRST YEAR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

The study aims at analyzing the English skills in an English Proficiency Test (EPT) shown by students at tertiary level or university students, particularly the first year university students (freshmen). The study centers around the students' English skills represented in English Proficiency Test, which are then related to the students' common problems investigated in this study. The three sections in English Proficiency Test analyzed in this study including listening, structure and written expressions, and reading. This study revealed reading skill was the major problems faced by the first year of university students, particularly, in reviewing overall reading text. To solve this problem, the cognitive strategies, particularly the top-down reading strategies are suggested to anticipate the author's purpose, preview the text, think about what one already knows about the topic, skim for main points, etc. An effective reading strategies training which is more focused and explicit should be regularly practiced and enhanced since it can significantly boost reading proficiency and language acquisition.