Exploring the Relationship Between Motivation and IELTS Reading Proficiency Among Chinese Learners

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of motivational factors on the reading test performance of Chinese learners in the IELTS examination. The objectives are to evaluate the motivation levels, analyze the relationship between motivation and IELTS reading achievement, and identify the most influential predictors among intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Using a quantitative research design and a sample of 242 students from 12 IELTS training centers in southwest China, data were collected through the Motivation in English Reading Questionnaire (MERQ) and Cambridge Practice Tests for IELTS. Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis were employed to analyze the data. The results show significant positive correlations between various motivational constructs and IELTS reading scores. Total motivation (r = .634, p < .001), efficacy and engagement (r = .520, p < .001), utility value (r = .459, p < .001), and academic value (r = .424, p < .001) are all positively associated with reading proficiency. Regression analysis indicates that intrinsic motivation, specifically efficacy and engagement (β = 0.504), is the strongest predictor of reading scores, followed by utility value (β = 0.351) and academic value (β = 0.315). These findings underscore the essential role of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in improving reading proficiency among Chinese IELTS learners.