Initial Testing in English for Upper Secondary Students in Romania

The aims of this study are to assess the performance of upper secondary school students studying English as a foreign language (FL1 and FL2) following the initial testing, compulsory for all secondary school students starting with school year 2011-2012, and to establish remedial action to be taken in order to address the mixed ability situations and the large gap that often exists between the level imposed by national curricula and the actual students’ level. The initial tests design was checked against the national curriculum standards. We randomly analysed the initial tests taken by 51 EFL1 students (10th grade) and 49 EFL2 students (10th grade). Testing items were clustered around the following competences and sub-competences: I. Reading comprehension (reading for detail, opinion/attitude); II. English in Use (structure, lexis); III. Writing (letter writing). Pedagogical insights into classroom teaching methodology to address the existing problems facing state schools in Romania will be provided.