IELTS and Backwash
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”.