EVALUATING FINAL EXAMINATIONS AND THEIR WASHBACK EFFECT IN MOROCCAN TERTIARY EDUCATION: THREE DEPARTMENTS OF ENGLISH STUDIES AS A CASE STUDY

Authors

  • Anouar Mohamed El Kasri Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco
  • Mohammed Larouz Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco
  • Moulay Sadik Maliki Faculty of Letters & Humanities of Ain Chock, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
  • Imad Messouab Hassan II Institution of Agronomy & Veterinary Medicine, Rabat, Morocco
  • Abdelaziz Ouchaib Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v12i1.5786

Keywords:

washback effect, final examinations, study methods, study content

Abstract

The washback effect is one of the main principles of language assessment. The present study investigated the washback effect of university final exams in Morocco on learners’ study methods and content. 216 common core university students from Faculties of Letters and Humanities at three Moroccan Universities (Moulay Ismail University, Meknes; Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra; and Hassan II University, Casablanca) were asked to complete the Washback Effect Questionnaire developed by Hemmati and Soltanpour (2014) which consists of 20 five-point Likert scale items. The quantitative data of the questionnaire were descriptively analyzed using the SPSS program. The study results showed that the students’ studying methods and content in the departments of English studies in Moroccan Faculties of Letters and Humanities were influenced by final examinations. The exams were important for most learners who participated in the study and significantly influenced their studied content and methods.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Anouar Mohamed El Kasri, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco

    Dr Anouar Mohamed El Kasri, PhD in Applied Linguistics from Moulay Ismail University in Meknes, Morocco, has been a teacher of English for over 14 years. He has actively participated in many national and international conferences. His primary research interests include Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), assessment and testing, and soft skills.

  • Mohammed Larouz, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco

    Dr Mohammed Larouz is the Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Humanities at Moulay Ismail University in Meknes, Morocco, where he has been a faculty member since 2005. In addition to his leadership role, he directs the PhD program in Applied Linguistics and chairs the Research Group on Applied Linguistics & Language Development (ALLD). His research areas and expertise include applied linguistics issues in Morocco, and has research interests in TEFL, sociolinguistics, research methodology, and communication.

  • Moulay Sadik Maliki, Faculty of Letters & Humanities of Ain Chock, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco

    Dr Moulay Sadik Maliki is a professor at the faculty of arts and humanities, Hassan II Univesity, Casablanca, since 1988. He has published many articles and books on intercultural communication, culture and linguistic diversity in Morocco. He has also participated in many national and international conferences. Dr. Maliki is interested in cultural issues, applied linguistics, and translation.

  • Imad Messouab, Hassan II Institution of Agronomy & Veterinary Medicine, Rabat, Morocco

    Dr Imad Messouab is an assistant professor at Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine in Rabat, Morocco. His research areas and expertise include language teaching and learning, AI in education, and media studies.

  • Abdelaziz Ouchaib, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco

    Mr Abdelaziz Ouchaib is an English high school teacher. He holds a master’s in Applied Language Studies from the School of Arts and Humanities at Moulay Ismail University in Meknes, Morocco. Currently, he is a PhD candidate at the same university. His primary interests include Language Language Planning and Policy, TEFL, and Discourse Analysis. His current research evaluates the effectiveness of higher education reforms in Morocco.

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Published

2025-01-29

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2025)

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