The washback effect of a Thai national English test on learning and teaching and teachers’ beliefs about the test

Realizing the importance of assessment as a tool for the improvement of education, The National Institute of Educational Testing Service sought to assess Thai students’ knowledge by using the Ordinary National Educational Test (O-NET) so that the quality of Thai educational system can be evaluated. However, previous studies pointed that the O-NET had strong negative washback effects or impact on the curriculum. Therefore, this study investigated the core beliefs of English language teachers about the O-NET and how the English O-NET at Grade 12 affects teachers’ beliefs in pedagogical practices. In this study, English teachers in 119 public secondary schools under the Secondary Educational Service Area Office 1 and 2, Bangkok area were chosen for the mixed-method analysis using questionnaire, classroom observation, and the interview. The results show that teachers believed that the test aligned with the English learning strands prescribed on Basic Educational Core Curriculum B.E. 2551, and there were direct and indirect effects on stakeholders, the test, and beliefs of teachers in different ways.