E-Structural
Vol 4, No 01 (2021): June 2021

Students’ Difficulties in Answering “Structure and Written Expression” TOEFL-like at STKIP PGRI Sidoarjo

Joko Slamet (STKIP PGRI Sidoarjo)
Sulistyaningsih Sulistyaningsih (STKIP PGRI Sidoarjo)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jun 2021

Abstract

Abstract. This study was conducted to investigate the types of questions which were difficult in TOEFL-like and to find the students’ difficulties in answering the ‘Structure and Written Expression’ of TOEFL-like. The subjects of this study were the batch 5 students of Master of English Education (S2 MPBI) at STKIP PGRI Sidoarjo who had TOEFL-like test as the placement test in taking master’s degree. This research applied descriptive qualitative method. The instruments were students’ results of the TOEFL-like Test and interview. The data were taken from Longman Complete Course for the TOEFL written by Deborah Phillips (2003). The results show that there are 18 items (45%) categorized ‘difficult’. Meanwhile, there are 22 items (55%) categorized into ‘very difficult’. There are several reasons of students’ difficulties in answering the ‘Structure and Written Expression’ on the TOEFL-like done as the placement test. First, there was no preparation in advance. Second, students lack of vocabulary. Third, the test was considered difficult because the students took the TOEFL-like for the first time. Lastly, there was a limited time provided.Keywords: students’ difficulty, Structure and Written Expression, TOEFL-likeAbstrak. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan untuk mengetahui jenis-jenis soal yang sulit dalam TOEFL-like dan untuk mengetahui kesulitan mahasiswa dalam menjawab 'Structure and Written Expression' dari TOEFL-like. Subjek penelitian ini adalah mahasiswa Batch 5 program Magister Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris (S2 MPBI) STKIP PGRI Sidoarjo yang mengikuti tes TOEFL-like sebagai tes penempatan dalam mengambil gelar magister. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif. Instrumen yang digunakan adalah Tes TOEFL-like dan wawancara. Pengumpulan data diambil dari Longman Complete Course untuk TOEFL yang ditulis oleh Deborah Phillips. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat 18 soal (45%) yang dikategorikan 'sulit'. Sementara itu, terdapat 22 soal (55%) yang dikategorikan 'sangat sulit'. Ada beberapa alasan kesulitan mahasiswa dalam menjawab 'Structure and Written Expression' pada TOEFL-like seperti yang dilakukan saat tes penempatan. Pertama, tidak ada persiapan sebelumnya. Kedua, kurangnya penguasaan kosakata. Ketiga, tes dianggap sulit karena mahasiswa baru pertama kali mengikuti TOEFL-like. Terakhir, waktu yang disediakan terbatas.Kata kunci: kesulitan mahasiswa, Structure and Written Expression, TOEFL-like

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Journal Info

Abbrev

estructural

Publisher

Subject

Arts Humanities Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

Description

E-Structural is a scientific journal that is managed and published by the English Department of Universitas Dian Nuswantoro, Semarang, Indonesia. It is committed to publishing studies in the areas of English linguistics, literature, translation, and culture. E-Structural is published twice a year, ...