ندا بخشی

Assessing language skills in an integrative form has drawn the attention of assessment experts in recent years. While some research data exists on integrative listening/reading-to-write assessment, there is comparatively little research literature on listening-to-speak integrated assessment. Also, little attention has been devoted to the role of individual attributes within the context of integrated assessment. The objective of the current research was to investigate the relationship between integrated listening/speaking assessment and individual characteristics of ambiguity tolerance (AT), use of cognitive/metacognitive strategies, and foreign language anxiety (FLA). Oxford Quick Placement Test was used to homogenize 60 EFL learners in terms of language proficiency (B2-C1). Additionally, integrated listening/speaking performances were collected using sample TOEFL-iBT tests. The transcribed spoken samples were evaluated by two raters using TOEFL-iBT rubrics in terms of overall description, delivery, language use, and topic development. Additionally, information on individual characteristics was gathered by means of 3 different questionnaires. Data analysis revealed that FLA had a negative relationship while AT and the use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies had a positive correlation with integrated listening/speaking test performance. Individual differences have generally been neglected in the assessment literature, but this study revealed that performance on integrated listening/speaking tests can be affected by language-irrelevant constructs such as individual attributes in addition to test-takers’ language competence.