An Internal Construct Validation of the AGU English Language Tests in the Entrance Examinations

Abstract

The present paper reports on a construct validation study of English language tests used as a component of entrance examinations in Aichi Gakuin University (AGU). The 1999 test version of the English language was selected and divided into the four subtests in order to carry out an internal correlation study which was utilized in Alderson, Clapham, & Wall (1995). The data was gathered from 157 students in AGU. The results indicated that each subtest was somewhat valid because the score of each subtest contributed to the total test score of the English language test. However, the correlation between each pair of subtests was a little higher than expected, which implied the tendency for each subtest to measure the same trait. The implications of the results for further improvement of English language tests in AGU entrance examinations are also discussed.