The predictive validity of IELTS

Abstract

In recent times there has been an increase in the number of overseas students choosing to study in universities in English-speaking countries. As a result, the issue of eligibility criteria has become an important one, with measurement of proficiency in the English language being a key aspect. At present, one of the most widely used tests for this purpose is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This test is used at Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia. The purpose of this study is to investigate how accurate IELTS is as a predictor of performance and success in the Schools of Business, Science and Engineering. To do this a small-scale quantitative study was carried out amongst first-year undergraduate students from diverse non-English-speaking backgrounds who were admitted on the basis of their IELTS score. The findings show little evidence for the validity of IELTS as a predictor of academic success, confirming previous research findings which suggest that language is but one of many important contributing factors.