7급 국가직 공무원 임용을 위한 다섯 가지 영어능력 검정시험의 유용성 분석

Abstract

As of 2017, the Civil Service English Exam (CSEE) Grade 7 at the national level (G7.N) was replaced with these five EFL tests: TOEIC, TOEFL, TEPS, G-TELP and FLEX. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate whether the replacement of the CSEE G7.N with the five EFL tests is reasonable in terms of construct validity, authenticity and impact proposed by Bachman and Palmer. This study yielded three significant results. First, the five EFL tests did not satisfy the construct validity in order to be used as an alternative to the CSEE G7.N even though they are known to be a reliable measure of English proficiency. Second, in regards to the authenticity analysis of the five EFL tests, TOEFL and G-TELP were found to have the lowest degree of authenticity while TEPS and TOEIC both displayed a fairly high degree of authenticity. Finally, the results of the questionnaire survey on test takers’attitudes and perceptions regarding the EFL tests in general were found to indicate that the CSEE G7.N’s replacement with the five EFL tests may not bring a positive impact either on individual test takers or our society. The implications of this study suggest that based on the specific purpose and target population, rather than utilize the five EFL tests, the CSEE G7.N should be developed by including test items more related to civil servants’ job descriptions to fulfill the need for construct validity, authenticity, and positive impact both on candidates and society.