IELTS Research Reports

A multiple case study of the relationship between the indicators of students’ English languagecompetence on entry and students’ academic progress at an international postgraduate universityS sPStE T SPIWPILPIRPITS PRepWS PRepLNS PRepRS PRepSExamscrSOM1 IELTS 6 5.5 34 33 67 B B B+ B Critical oflanguageS WThesisRevise andrepresentSOM2 IELTS 6TOEFLIBT 645 36 27 63 B+ A- A- B+ Critical oflanguageEquivocalRevise andrepresentSOM3 IELTS 5.5 4 29 18 47 C-/C C C C- None Revise andrepresentSOM4 IELTS 6 5.5 21 18 39 A- B+ A- B Critical oflanguageAdverselyRevise andrepresentSOM5 IELTS 6 5.5 27 25 52 B B+ B+ B/B+ Positiveon styleAdverselyMinorcorrectionsSOM6 IELTS 5.5 5.5 24 21 45 B B B B Criticalof styleRevise andrepresentSP St Summer Programme studentE T S Entry test scorePI Pre-test IELTS W Writing L Listening R Reading T TotalSP Rep Summer Programme Reports LN Listening and note taking S SpeakingExam scr Exam Scripts None no comments about languageS W Supervisory workloadTable 11. SOM Summer Programme students’ entry scores and measures of progressStudent SAS2 was awarded a PG Diploma, not a Masters degree, and on condition the student retookone exam. Six of the remaining students (54%) are required to revise and represent and of whomfour have other evidence of language problems from their supervisors. However, the supervisorof SAS1 has reported that there are no language difficulties which is congruent with the student’sPre-test IELTS scores and Summer Programme report grades which suggests that academic reasonsunderlie the need for major thesis revision. Perhaps of more concern are the three students (SAS5,10 and 11) who have passed the thesis but who are reported as having writing problems. This leavesseven students where language problems have been identified as contributing adversely to academicoutcomes, two whose writing abilities are reported as satisfactory and two students who are revisingtheir theses but whose supervisors have not responded to the questionnaire.IELTS Research Reports Volume 11171