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Construct Validity of the TOPIK Listening Test in the Glocal Era: A Comparative Analysis with IELTS

  • International Journal of Glocal Language and Literary Studies(약칭: IGLL)
  • Abbr : IGLL
  • 2025, 20(20), pp.115~128
  • Publisher : Glocal Institute of Language and Literary Studies(GILLS)
  • Research Area : Humanities > Other Humanities
  • Received : September 20, 2025
  • Accepted : October 20, 2025
  • Published : October 31, 2025

Kim Mi-Kyung 1 KWON, TAE HYEON 1

1충북대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study conducted a construct validity analysis of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) listening assessments to establish a Korean language testing framework aligned with international standards. The analysis revealed that TOPIK employs short passages with a limited number of items requiring both information retrieval and meaning inference. However, most items primarily assessed compositional knowledge, with insufficient incorporation of functional and sociolinguistic elements. By contrast, IELTS structures multiple items along the flow of extended discourse, enabling more effective measurement of authentic listening performance, yet it was also found to overemphasize compositional knowledge. Both tests exhibited gaps between their theoretical design and operational practice. By conducting a multi layered analysis of test items, this study evaluated the validity of Korean listening assessment in comparison with an international benchmark. The findings provide a foundation for improving TOPIK and enhancing its alignment with global testing standards.

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