Errors in the Answers to the Language Usage Examination of the First-year Students in the Semester 1/2012

Abstract

This article aims to examine, analyze, and compare all errors in the answers to the language usage examination (section 1 language use) of the first-year students in semester 1/2012. 58 students who participated in this study were divided into two groups: the social science students in the regular program (Group 1, N =29) and the science students in the special program (Group 2, N = 29). The results show that errors can be categorized into two types: (1) incorrect answers and (2) misreading instructions. Students from the science group performed less well in error detection and correction tasks than the social science group. In addition, errors from misreading instructions can be found only in the science group.