The Washback and Impact of Test on Language Teaching and Learning

For a long time, educational practitioners believed that assessment influence the learning and teaching process in various ways. In some research papers, test impact is considered as the long-term effect or the influence of test educational policy and planning that reflects a higher-level effect. Washback or backwash, however, refers to the immediate or a course-level effect of the test on teaching and learning. Generally harmful (negative) or beneficial (positive) washback is perceived by the learners. Nowadays, educational researches pay significant attention to the assessment and its stakeholders. Still the consequence of the test is not fully communicated to the teachers and learners. Thus, this paper focuses on how washback influence students' learning attitudes through finding the major factors that affect it; teachers' role as agents of promoting washback, and drawing pedagogical implication for teachers.