Examining passage dependency in IELTS reading comprehension tests through its relation to IQ: A probe into test-taking strategies

Abstract

The primary objective of the present study is to explore the extent to which the reading comprehension items in IELTS can be answered correctly by test takers in passage out condition, that is, the passage independency of the items. Furthermore, the study makes an attempt to investigate the role of different kinds of intelligences and the use of test-taking strategies in successful reading achievement of test takers in two conditions of the test (when the passage is present and when the passage is absent). The target participants of the present study comprised 175 male and female EFL students who were selected from three private EFL institutes of Mashhad. The instrumentation in the present study consists of two questionnaires and two tests. As the result shows, there is a significant difference between the passage-out, and passage-in conditions in terms of IELTS reading comprehension.