A Description of the Level of Proficiency in the Written English of First-Year University Students in Kenya

Abstract

The study measures the level of proficiency in English of first-year university students admitted to universities by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) in 2021. This is a descriptive study with a sample of 405 students randomly selected from 15 public and private universities in Kenya. The study uses the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to measure proficiency. Four areas of language proficiency were measured in this study: proficiency in grammar, proficiency in discourse organisation, proficiency in sociolinguistic aspects and proficiency in communication strategies. The study entailed a detailed content analysis, and scores were assigned on a scale of 1 to 6. The analysis revealed that proficiency in grammar and in discourse organisation both had an average score of 3.3, proficiency in sociolinguistic aspects had a score of 4.0, while proficiency in communication strategies had a score of 3.4. The overall average proficiency score for the study data was 3.4, which is at level B1. This level is characterised by language ability that enables one to use language independently for most purposes. It is, however, marked by numerous errors in grammar, structure, mechanics and vocabulary. This raises concern because proficiency in written English is indispensable for first-year university students in Kenya who use the language for academic writing. There is, therefore, a need to aim for level B2 of written proficiency at university entry because this level would enable students to express themselves fluently even on complex, abstract and technical topics.