Language Testing at Entrance Examinations for Master’s Degree Program and PhD in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract: Higher education predetermines the socio-economic role of a government at the global arena. The education system of Kazakhstan has undergone many changes in order to improve its quality and create conditions to ensure its adaptation to integration requirements into the Bologna process, as well as changes in the world economy, culture, and social society on the whole.
The article represents the entrance exam technology for the master’s degree and doctorate in the form of testing. Entrance exam on foreign language is an important criterion for selection of candidates. It reveals the importance of foreign language skills at a country scale and the need to modernize the principles of creating tests, taking into account the international language certification.
A comparative analysis was made based on test results of 2012 and 2013, using of statistical processing by the Rasch model for dichotomous ratings “a correct answer — a wrong answer”. This analysis allows determining the quality of functioning items, as well as compliance with the difficulty level of the test to the readiness level of applicants. Statistical analysis shows the advantages and disadvantages of test and as a consequence the practicability of modification of their structure and specifications.

Key words: language certification, the entrance exam to master’s degree and doctorate, analysis of the quality of tests