Ijaz Arabi Journal of Arabic Learning
Vol 9, No 3 (2026): Ijaz Arabi: Journal Of Arabic Learning

Policy Challenges and Implementation Gaps in Arabic Proficiency Testing at Indonesian Islamic State Universities

Raodhatul Jannah (Institut Agama Islam Negeri Parepare)
Darmawati Darmawati (IAIN Parepare)



Article Info

Publish Date
20 Jul 2026

Abstract

The implementation of Arabic proficiency testing in Indonesian Islamic State Universities presents several challenges and opportunities for improving students’ language proficiency. This study explores the experiences of students and educators in navigating the Arabic proficiency tests and examines the implications for institutional and pedagogical practices. The study focuses on three major challenges in the implementation of testing policy: (1) inconsistency in testing standards across institutions, (2) misalignment between the test content and the Arabic curriculum, and (3) inadequate institutional support for student test preparation. This study adopts a qualitative case study design of Arabic proficiency testing at the State Islamic Institute of Parepare (IAIN Parepare). Data were collected through policy analysis, test results, and interviews with students from various academic programs.  The findings indicate that students often perceive the test as difficult due to unfamiliar test formats and content that exceeds the curricular scope. Moreover, educators struggle to integrate test-oriented skills into regular instruction due to the lack of clear institutional guidelines. The analysis reveals that, while the tests play a critical role in assessing students’ language skills, these challenges hinder the policy's effectiveness. Despite these challenges, the study offers recommendations for improving the standardization of testing procedures, aligning the curriculum more closely with the tests, and enhancing institutional support to prepare students better. Addressing these issues will help create more equitable and accurate assessments of Arabic proficiency across all institutions.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ijazarabi

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Ijaz Arabi; published twice a year since 2018 (April and October), is a multilingual (Bahasa, Arabic, and English). This journal is published by the Arabic Department, Faculty of Education and Teachers Training, Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim ...