ABSTRACT
This case study investigates the test-repeaters’ perceptions on the TOEFL Listening test. The participants were students in a private university in Indonesia. Test-takers’ scores were analyzed and coded based on the name and the lowest score in each section. We collected the data of test-repeaters’ perceptions from a semi-structured interview. The interview transcript was analyzed, coded, and triangulated with test-repeaters’ scores. The results indicate that the participants believed that the TOEFL test was important, but it was challenging. Most participants failed on the listening sections due to a lack of preparation and problems relating to vocabulary, including pronunciation and accent used in the audio. This study emphasizes that having good planning and preparation is essential to avoid failure. This result carries crucial pedagogical implications for test-takers, TOEFL trainers, and policymakers.
