Wolter, B. (2002). Assessing proficiency through word associations: is there still hope? System, 30, 315–329.

5. Conclusion

This study set out to determine if a word association test for assessing proficiency could be developed. The results, like those of past studies, do not support the notion that word associations in a foreign language are clearly linked to proficiency. By the same token, however, the results do not seem to suggest that there is no relation at all, as indicated by the significant correlations between the C‑test and WAT scores and the fact that the native speaker group, on the whole, performed significantly better than the non‑native speaker group. Nonetheless, I still believe that a word association/proficiency measure can be developed, but even more consideration has to be given to the construction of the test. Prior to this, however, it may first of all be necessary to use a more comprehensive and accurate means of assessing proficiency.

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