With teaching and learning apparently being affected by backwash (Hughes, 2003: 1) but with its existence also being questioned, (Alderson & Wall, 1993), it is difficult, without empirical evidence, to state whether or not backwash has a major influence on IELTS or those involved with the teaching or studying of it. Backwash does however become important when considering if IELTS ever becomes a major predictor of language ability in tests such as exit tests from universities, as detailed by Qian (2007: 33). His research showed that the ultimate goal in implementing an exit test is to demonstrate the importance of proficiency in English, which would result from enhanced teaching and learning activities, in turn resulting, largely, from positive backwash. He also touches on the negative backwash effect of IELTS as there are “a number of discrete-point item types, such as multiple choice and matching, which may cause negative impact on teaching and learning, as such formats allow for too much guessing”.