An Empirical Study of the Predictability of Vocabulary Knowledge and Reading Ability on Redesigned SAT Critical Reading and Implication for English Testing System in China

摘要

This paper mainly discusses the relationship between vocabulary width, lexical depth and critical reading ability for intermediate and high-level proficiency level second language learners in China. By Pearson correlation and linear regress analysis of six types of data, it is found that vocabulary size is unable to predict learners' critical reading proficiency while depth of vocabulary knowledge can effectively predict language learners' critical reading ability and the TEM8 (Test for English Majors in china) has relatively high predictive power of learners' critical reading ability. Text difficulty analysis tool shows that in spite of common test objectives of SAT critical reading and china's TEM8, the SAT critical reading has higher text difficulty and two additional dimensions of test construct: ability to conduct rhetoric analysis and information synthesis.