Influence of Malaysian university english test training on the speaking performance of pre-university students

Abstract

Formal training in a second language (L2) could be one of the essential factors for acquisition of the target language. In Malaysia, Malaysian University English Test (MUET) training is provided to pre-university students (Lower Form Six and Upper Form Six) in preparation for the actual test. However, does the amount of MUET training received by these L2 learners influence their speaking performance? This study therefore aims to investigate if the amount of MUET training factor received by pre-university students significantly distinguish them with regard to their speaking performance. To this end, a speaking test was administered to seventy Malaysian pre-university students from two different intact classes (a group of 35 Lower Form Six and 35 Upper Form Six students). The results of the study revealed that the Upper Form Six students who received more exposure to MUET training obtained a significantly higher mean score than the Lower Form Six students in the speaking assessment. Hence, it can be concluded that MUET training provided to the Form Six students seems to have a significant influence on the L2 learners’ speaking performance