An Analysis of EFL Test Takers’ Problems in IELTS Writing Task
Abstract
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one of the English proficiency tests which consists of 4 skills that should be tested including Writing which has two types “writing task 1 and task 2. However, there are many problems that testees face in doing writing such as problem in language use, word choice, punctuation and so on that make them could not pass the test. in this case, the researcher focueses on writing task 1 to know the problems that testees faced. The present study aims at (i) finding out the problems are faced by the testees,(ii) to find out the most frequent problems; and cause of error in language use made by the participants in ELC-IDP Makassar. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach, and the total number of the samples were 17. The instrument used for this study was archival documents (testees’ writing). In this case the authors clasify the problems of the testee’s writting into four categories: problem in word choice, punctuation, spelling and language use, then language use is identified and clasified into grammatical area: error of verb, noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb, article, preposition, and conjuntion, after that the error analized using procedure of error analysis. The finding indicates that:a total of whole problems are 88 numbers which made by the testees (i) the percentage of problems in word choice is 5 % (4), punctuation 10% (9), spelling 7% (6); (ii) the most frequent problem is error in language use about 78% (69) which the most frequent error is verb area (73%) 50 errors from 69 of total error and; (iii) the causes or error are interference of the learner’s mother tounge, overgeneralization, and false concept hypothesis.
References
Abe. 2008. Exploring the Role of Model Essay in the IELTS Writing test. Retrieved on 17-12, 2012 from: http://www.mendeley.com/research/exploring-role-model-essays-ielts- writing-test-feedback-tool/pdf
Ahmed, J. 2011.Common Grammatical Mistakes in IELTS Writing Task. Retrieved on 12 January 2012 from http://www.bukisa.com/articles/502752_common-grammatical-mistakes-in-ielts-writing-task
Atmowardoyo, Haryanto. 2010. Research Methods for Language and Literature Studies. Makassar: Badan Penerbit Universitas Negeri Makasar.
Chesla, Elizabeth. 2006. Write Better Essays. In Just 20 Minutes A Day. New York: Learning Express.
Crème, Phyllis and Mary R. Lea. 2008: 5. Writing at University. A guide for students. Third Edition
Creswell. (1994).thesis methodology. Retrieved on january 14 2012 from: http://www.ivythesis.com/samples/Free%20Sample%20Thesis%20Paper%20Methodology.htm
De Capua, Andrea. 2008. Grammar for Teachers. New York. Springer Science+Business Media, LCC
Dulay, Heidi, Mariana Burt, Stephen Krashen. 1982. Language Two. (Online),
(http://www.alibris.com/search/.../Language%20Two). Accesed 04th oktober 2011
Dykes, Barbara. 2007. Grammar For Everyone. Practical tools for learning and teaching grammar. Camberwell, Victoria. ACER Press.
Eastwood, John. 1994. Oxford Guide to English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Ellis, Rod. 1997. Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Enre, Fahrudin Ambo. 1988. Dasar-Dasar Ketrampilan Menulis. (Online), (http://repository.upi.edu/operator/.../s_c0151_053595_bibliography.pdf). Accesed 01th oktober 2011
Ghaith, Ghazi. Dr. 2011. Teaching writing. (Online), (http://nadabs.tripod.com/writing/). Accesed 24 th mei 2011
Gay. L.R. 2006. Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application. Second Edition. Ohio: Charles E. Merril Publishing Co.
Greenbaum, Sidney and Gerald Nelson. 2002. An Introduction to English Grammar. Second Edition. London: Pearson Education Limited.
Gucker, Philip. 1966. Essential English Grammar. New York. Dover Publications.
Hallows, R. Et al (2006).IELTS Express. Thomson
Harmer, Jeremy. 2004. How To Teach Writing. New York; Longman.
Hewings, Martin. 1999. Grammar in Use. A Self Study. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Jackson, Howard. 2005. Good Grammar For Students. London: SAGE Publications
Kane, S. Thomas. 2000. The Oxford Essential Guide to Writing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
La Mae. 2010. Error Analysis in Writing Production of The First Year Students of SMA Negeri 4 Bau-Bau. Unpublished Master Thesis. Makassar: State University of Makassar.
Meyers, Allan. 2005. Gateways to Academic Writing: Effective Sentences
Paragraph, and Essay. New York: Longman
Micheal A, Ellen, Mary.2005.toefl preparation guide test of English as a foreign language.Cliffs
Murrow, Patricia. 2005. Analysis of Grammatical Errors in Students’ Writing - indicators for curricula enhancement. (Online), (http://www2010.matsue-ct.ac.jp/.../k-report02.pdf). Acceced 04th October 2011
Morrison, Brian R.2010.Developing a culturally-relevant genre-based writing course for distance learning. Retrieved on 7 june 2012 from: http://www.camtesol.org/Download/LEiA_Vol1_2010/LEiA_V1_15_Morrison_Developing_a_Culturally_Relevant_Genre_Based_Writing_Course_for_Distance_Learning.pdf.
Nirmayani. 2011.Grammatical Errors in Writing Made by the Students of SMAN 1 Tanete Riaji. Unpublished Master Thesis. Makassar: State University of Makassar
Paul R. Hensel.2008.common student writing problems. Retrieved on 27 june 2012 from: http://www.paulhensel.org/teachprob.html
Peters, Pam. 2004. The Cambridge Guide to English Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Puspitasari, Murwani Retno Ayu. 2007. The Use Of Animation Movies For Developing Students’ Writing Skill of Narrative Texts A Case Study of Teaching English at Eleventh Grade Students of SMA Negeri 10 Semarang. Unpublished Thesis. Semarang: States University of Semarang
Raimes,A.1983.Technique in teaching writing and grammar in English.oxpord university press.
Richards, C. Jack and Richard Schmidt. 2002. Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching And Applied Linguistics. Third Edition. Longman.
Saville, Muriel and Troike. 2006. Introducing Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Savage, Alice and Masoud Shafiei. 2007. Effective Academic Writing 1. The Paragraph. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Taylor, Gordon. 2009. A Student’s Writing Guide. How to Plan and Write Successful Essays. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Terry, Morgan and Wilson, Judith.2006.Academic Skills for Ielts.longman
Authors who publish with Tamaddun journal agree to the following terms:
1. Authors retain the copyright and grant Tamaddun the right of first publication. The work will be licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits others to share the work with proper acknowledgment of the authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2. Authors may enter into additional non-exclusive agreements for the distribution of the published version of their work (e.g., posting it to an institutional repository or including it in a book), provided that the initial publication in this journal is acknowledged.
3. Authors are encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their personal websites) before and during the submission process. This can lead to productive exchanges and increase the visibility and citation of the published work.