A test-taker’s performance in a listening comprehension test is seen to be
a function of at least two variables: his or her listening comprehension ability and
the test method. To know how this trait-method unit works, it is necessary to look
into the test-taking processes of test-takers. Accordingly, employing an immediate
retrospective verbal report procedure, a study was conducted among Chinese EFL
test-takers. The test format investigated was multiple-choice. The results
identified the subjects’ listening processes leading to comprehension and
comprehension breakdowns and captured the effect of the multiple-choice format on
the subjects’ test performance. The immediate retrospection research
methodology as applied to the test of listening comprehension was explored.
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