The attitude of Raters toward writing scales among Iranian EFL raters

The present study examined the attitude of raters toward writing scales among Iranian EFL raters. To investigate the issue, the present study launched a wide-scale survey in the Iranian EFL writing assessment context. An interview schemes about rating task was used. The interview was administered to ۸ raters from Aviation University in Iran, Bandar Abbas. All the raters in this study held MA in TEFL. Raters attended ۲۰ minutes interview session. The interview data that was audio-recorded was transcribed by the investigator for a qualitative analysis of the data. Through an in depth content analysis of the data. Results of the interviews with Iranian EFL raters showed that rating scale in its common sense did not exist. It means that raters through their long years of practice relied on their own impression and used a subjective rating method. Therefore development of rating scale was emphasized.

Keywords:

EFL raters , EFL writing assessment , rating scale.