Four-skill assessment of Turkish language: Results from a pilot project

Abstract

This study analyses the results of the ‘Four-Skill Test in Turkish Language’ (FSTTL) project conducted by the Ministry of National Education to assess the language skills of students as a pilot project and investigates the effects of various variables on language skills. Relationships between language scores and school type, gender, preschool participation, parents’ level of education, and course grades are investigated in this descriptive study. The sample is consisted of 1932 students in seventh grade who participated in the pilot study. Test battery, consisted of reading, listening, writing, and speaking subtests, is used to assess the language skills of students within the scope of the FSTTL. Findings show that students in imam-hatip middle schools and middle schools performed at a similar level in all subtests. Female students performed significantly higher than male students in all subtests. Students participated in pre-school education performed significantly higher than those who did not participate in reading, writing, and listening subtests. Findings also show that the increase in parents’ level of education leads to an increase in students’ subtest scores. The effect of parents’ level of education on subtest scores is comparatively higher than the effects of other factors in focus. Significant correlations have been obtained between the four-skill scores and student’s Turkish course, social sciences, mathematics, and science course grades. It is suggested that FSTTL must be developed based on the experiences of the pilot project as a standardized test in accordance with the international standards and actively used to improve educational processes.