The relationship between English self-efficacy and TOEFL scores of university students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65431/jrell.v1i2.29Keywords:
English self-efficacy, TOEFL scores, university studentsAbstract
This study investigates the relationship between English self-efficacy and TOEFL scores among university students, emphasizing the importance of psychological factors in language assessment performance. As English proficiency becomes increasingly vital for academic and professional opportunities globally, understanding the psychological determinants of language test outcomes is crucial. While prior research has examined specific language skills or general academic self-efficacy, limited studies have explored the holistic role of overall English self-efficacy in predicting performance on standardized tests like the TOEFL within university settings. This research aims to fill this gap by analyzing how students’ confidence in their English abilities influences their test results and whether self-efficacy serves as a significant predictor of TOEFL performance. Employing a correlational research design, the study involved 94 undergraduate students from various faculties at an Indonesian university. Data collection included administering a validated English Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and retrieving institutional TOEFL scores from the university database. Participants volunteered and provided informed consent, ensuring ethical compliance. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression procedures to examine the predictive relationship between self-efficacy and TOEFL scores. The key findings indicate a significant positive correlation between English self-efficacy and TOEFL performance, with self-efficacy emerging as a meaningful predictor of test scores. Students with higher confidence in their English skills tend to achieve better results, demonstrating the psychological influence on language assessment outcomes. These results underscore the importance of fostering positive self-beliefs in learners to enhance both motivation and performance in high-stakes testing environments. The study's implications suggest that language instruction should integrate strategies to boost learners' self-efficacy, thereby contributing to improved academic achievement and more effective language assessment practices. This research offers valuable insights for educators and policymakers aiming to support optimal language learning and testing success.
References
Akmal, S., Risdaneva, R., Habiburrahim, H., & Sari, M. (2020). The English teachers’ challenges in TOEFL preparation for senior high school students. Journal on English as a Foreign Language, 10(1), 25-45. https://doi.org/10.23971/jefl.v10i1.1627
Apostolidis, H., & Tsiatsos, Τ. (2021). Exploring anxiety awareness during academic science examinations. PLOS One, 16(12), e0261167. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261167
Assumpta, C., Noreen, E., & Chika, C. (2024). Academic self-efficacy and substance use among undergraduate students of Nnamdi Azikiwe university, Awka, Anambra state. African Journal of Health Nursing and Midwifery, 7(1), 94-107. https://doi.org/10.52589/ajhnm-chrgkuwh
Beatson, N., Lange, P., Tharapos, M., O’Connell, B., Smith, J., Scott, S., … & Greatbanks, R. (2023). An examination of self‐efficacy and sense of belonging on accounting student achievement. Accounting and Finance, 64(1), 723-738. https://doi.org/10.1111/acfi.13160
Bennett, D., Knight, E., Koshy, P., & Li, I. (2021). Does regionality influence students' perceived employability and career orientation? a study of students at an Australian university. Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 31(3), 61-80. https://doi.org/10.47381/aijre.v31i3.305
Brown, D., Barry, J., & Todd, B. (2020). Barriers to academic help-seeking: the relationship with gender-typed attitudes. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 45(3), 401-416. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877x.2020.1774049
Bwalya, A., & Rutegwa, M. (2023). Technological pedagogical content knowledge self-efficacy of pre-service science and mathematics teachers: a comparative study between two Zambian universities. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education, 19(2), em2222. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/12845
Chen, G., Shuo, C., Chen, P., & Zhang, Y. (2022). An empirical study on the factors influencing users’ continuance intention of using online learning platforms for secondary school students by big data analytics. Mobile Information Systems, 2022, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9508668
Cho, Y., & Blood, I. (2020). An analysis of TOEFL primary™ repeaters: How much score change occurs? Language Testing, 37(4), 503-522. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265532220927751
Daryazadeh, S., Yavari, M., Sharif, M., Azadchahr, M., & Kiani, M. (2022). Correlation between self-esteem and academic self-concept in medical students. Educational Research in Medical Sciences, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.5812/erms-119946
Dewaele, J., & Ergün, A. (2020). How different are the relations between enjoyment, anxiety, attitudes/motivation and course marks in pupils’ Italian and English as foreign languages? Journal of the European Second Language Association, 4(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.22599/jesla.65
Duan, H., Zhao, W., Zhen-Jun, Z., Tao, J., Xu, X., Cheng, N., … & Guo, Q. (2024). The effect of teacher support on the sustainable online academic self-efficacy of college students: The mediating effect of academic procrastination. Sustainability, 16(5), 2123. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16052123
Erdoğan, S. (2022). Determination of English self-efficacy beliefs of sports sciences students. Akdeniz Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 5(Özel Sayı 1), 130-145. https://doi.org/10.38021/asbid.1208458
Findyartini, A., Greviana, N., Putera, A., Sutanto, R., Saki, V., & Felaza, E. (2021). The relationships between resilience and student personal factors in an undergraduate medical program. BMC Medical Education, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02547-5
Fowowe-ogunmilugba, B., & Animasahun, P. (2023). Effects of motivational interviewing and mindfulness-based cognitive therapies on academic burnout among extra-mural students in Ekiti state. Frontiers in Education Technology, 6(4), p1. https://doi.org/10.22158/fet.v6n4p1
Green, Z. (2022). Generalized self-efficacy shields on the negative effect of academic anxiety on academic self-efficacy during covid-19 over time: a mixed-method study. Journal of School and Educational Psychology, 2(1), 44-59. https://doi.org/10.47602/josep.v2i1.17
Habibi, M., Charkhabi, M., Fadaei, Z., Baker, J., & Dutheil, F. (2021). Academic expectations of stress inventory: a psychometric evaluation of validity and reliability of the Persian version. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(11), 1208. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11111208
Han, S., Eum, K., Kang, H., & Karsten, K. (2021). Factors influencing academic self-efficacy among nursing students during covid-19: A path analysis. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 33(2), 239-245. https://doi.org/10.1177/10436596211061683
Higham, P., Zengel, B., Bartlett, L., & Hadwin, J. (2022). The benefits of successive relearning on multiple learning outcomes. Journal of Educational Psychology, 114(5), 928-944. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000693
Intishar, I., Ampuni, S., & Buwono, S. (2024). Academic dishonesty in online learning during the covid-19 pandemic: The role of gender, moral self-concept, and academic self-efficacy. Jurnal Psikologi, 51(2), 121. https://doi.org/10.22146/jpsi.90823
Jeremić-Knežević, M., Bojinovic, M., Koprivica, D., Maletin, A., Knežević, A., Sarac, M., … & Ramić, B. (2024). Impact of the covid-19 pandemic on self-confidence in patient treatment in the endodontic and restorative procedures of dentistry students at the university of novi sad. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(14), 4030. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13144030
Kang, C., & Seog, C. (2021). Exploring the three-dimensional predictors of college student's major fit based on the safe model. Asia-Pacific Journal of Convergent Research Interchange, 7(12), 159-171. https://doi.org/10.47116/apjcri.2021.12.15
Kholili, A. (2020). Potential relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and proficiency in grammar among tertiary EFL learners. ELT Forum Journal of English Language Teaching, 9(1), 38-44. https://doi.org/10.15294/elt.v9i1.38404
Koca, F., Kılıç, S., & Dadandı, İ. (2023). Attitudes towards distance education and academic life satisfaction: the mediation role of academic self-efficacy and moderator role of gender. Technology Knowledge and Learning, 29(2), 713-734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-023-09645-x
Li, J., & Wang, C. (2024). Measuring Chinese English as a foreign language learners’ self-efficacy in vocabulary learning: Instrument development and validation. Education Sciences, 14(6), 671. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14060671
Li, J., Ma, T., & Lee, C. (2024). Influence of conscientiousness on academic self-efficacy in college students: dual mediation by growth mindset and grit. Asia-Pacific Journal of Convergent Research Interchange, 10(4), 707-717. https://doi.org/10.47116/apjcri.2024.04.53
Liu, X., Zhu, C., Dong, Z., & Luo, Y. (2024). The relationship between stress and academic self-efficacy among students at elite colleges: A longitudinal analysis. Behavioral Sciences, 14(7), 537. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14070537
Lomholt, J., Arendt, J., Bolvig, I., & Thastum, M. (2021). Children with school absenteeism: comparing risk factors individually and in domains. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 66(3), 411-426. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2020.1869085
Lu, H., Chen, X., & Qi, C. (2022). Which is more predictive: domain‐ or task‐specific self‐efficacy in teaching and outcomes? British Journal of Educational Psychology, 93(1), 283-298. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12554
Mabaroh, B., Sartika, D., & Aisyah, R. (2021). The students’ preference on using TOEFL applications for grammar iv course at Universitas PGRI Wiranegara. Journal of English Language Teaching Linguistics and Literature Studies, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.30984/jeltis.v1i1.1531
Maier, A., Schaitz, C., Kröner, J., Berger, A., Keller, F., Beschoner, P., … & Sosic-Vasic, Z. (2021). The association between test anxiety, self-efficacy, and mental images among university students: Results from an online survey. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.618108
Meng, Q., & Zhang, Q. (2023). The influence of academic self-efficacy on university students’ academic performance: The mediating effect of academic engagement. Sustainability, 15(7), 5767. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075767
Meo, M., Pramitharesthi, I., & M., A. (2021). The effect of academic self-efficacy training toward the nursing students’ academic burnout participating in block-system learning. Indonesian Nursing Journal of Education and Clinic (INJEC), 6(2), 113. https://doi.org/10.24990/injec.v6i2.363
Nwokolo, C., & Christiana, N. (2021). Does self-efficacy have a relationship with career aspiration? a study among secondary school students in Anambra state. Journal of Education Society and Behavioural Science, 155-161. https://doi.org/10.9734/jesbs/2021/v34i1230392
Rohmani, N., & Andriani, R. (2021). Correlation between academic self-efficacy and burnout originating from distance learning among nursing students in Indonesia during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions, 18, 9. https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2021.18.9
Sanseverino, D., Molinaro, D., Spagnoli, P., & Ghislieri, C. (2023). The dynamic between self-efficacy and emotional exhaustion through studyholism: Which resources could be helpful for university students? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(15), 6462. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156462
Saputri, R., Thohir, L., & Junaidi, A. (2024). Analysis of English learning strategies performed by successful EFL learners in non-English department. Journal of English Education Forum (JEEF), 4(3), 131-135. https://doi.org/10.29303/jeef.v4i3.653
Schoenherr, D., Dereski, M., Bernacki, K., Khayyata, S., & Attardi, S. (2021). Development and evaluation of an online integrative histology module: simple design, low-cost, and improves pathology self-efficacy. Medical Education Online, 27(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2021.2011692
Sharma, N., & Kumar, S. (2023). Self-regulated learning as related to academic performance of foster care and home reared children. Research Inspiration an International Multidisciplinary E-Journal, 8(2), 05-09. https://doi.org/10.53724/inspiration/v8n2.04
Tokumasu, K., Obara, H., Hirosawa, T., Ogawa, H., & Otsuka, F. (2024). Postgraduate year two medical residents’ awareness of personal development as a physician during the management of inpatients: A qualitative study. Healthcare, 12(16), 1621. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12161621
Wang, Y., & Huang, B. (2020). Washback of TOEFL preparation courses on students’ attitudes and score improvement. International Journal of Linguistics, 12(3), 84. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijl.v12i3.16940
Zafar, N. (2022). Effect of feedback specificity on students’ academic self-efficacy at intermediate level. Journal of Development and Social Sciences, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.47205/jdss.2022(3-ii)39
Zahidi, A., & Ong, S. (2023). Self-efficacy beliefs and self-regulated learning strategies in learning English as a second language. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(6), 1483-1493. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1306.17
Zeinalipour, H. (2021). School connectedness, academic self-efficacy, and academic performance: Mediating role of hope. Psychological Reports, 125(4), 2052-2068. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211006926
Zhao, R., Peng, J., Li, J., Qin, L., & Luo, B. (2023). Psychological resilience of Chinese college students: A cross-sectional study after the deblocking of China’s covid-19 pandemic strategy. Healthcare, 11(17), 2409. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11172409
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Research in English Language Teaching and Linguistics
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
