Table 2 Factor analysis of students’ observable washback

Factor 1: Integrated practising English daily and online contents

 P06. Reading English novels and magazines

0.82

 − .03

.04

0.13

 − 0.12

 − .03

 P07. Writing in English (e.g. dairy, memo, story/novel)

0.75

 − .08

0.26

 − .09

 − .05

 − .08

 P03. Listening to English radio programmes

0.70

 − .06

 − .05

 − .06

 − .01

 − .06

 P05. Reading English newspapers

0.67

0.17

.01

 − 0.12

 − 0.16

0.17

 P16. Finding information about the test on online forum

0.65

0.18

 − .06

.01

.05

0.18

 P17. Spending time on test preparation-specific websites

0.53

0.16

.00

.00

0.20

0.16

 P12. Surfing or enrolling in online forum for daily use

0.41

 − .09

0.15

0.30

0.19

 − .09

 P11. Surfing English websites

0.39

 − .07

.01

0.39

0.11

 − .07

Factor 2: Practising English with test-specific material and drilling

 P23. Drilling of vocabulary materials (e.g. word cards, textbook)

.05

0.87

.03

 − .08

 − .06

 − .07

 P24. Memorising information about the test and getting used to it (e.g. test format, timing, question types)

.02

0.80

.01

0.10

 − 0.24

.02

 P18. Doing past exam papers of DSE English Paper 4

0.19

0.69

 − 0.18

.00

0.11

 − 0.11

 P20. Enrolling in or organising a mock examination

 − 0.25

0.64

0.13

.06

0.13

0.11

 P22. Drilling of grammar materials (e.g. class notes, textbook)

0.29

0.63

 − 0.10

 − .05

0.10

 − .01

 P21. Enrolling in or organising a study group with classmates

 − 0.20

0.53

0.21

 − 0.14

0.27

0.18

Factor 3: Practising English with communicative purposes

 P08. Writing to people in English (e.g. SNS, messages, letters)

0.21

 − 0.16

0.83

 − .09

.06

 − .01

 P09. Seeking opportunities to speak with native speakers of English

0.14

0.21

0.67

0.17

 − 0.20

 − 0.10

 P15. Using SNS with others in English (e.g. WhatsApp, Skype, FaceTime)

 − 0.14

0.11

0.65

0.15

.01

 − .02

 P10. Speaking English with friends and family members for practice purposes

0.21

 − .07

0.58

 − 0.21

0.15

0.10

Factor 4: Practising English in digital gaming

 P13. Playing online games that use English to communicate

 − .04

 − .02

.01

0.89

.05

.04

 P14. Playing single player games that require reading in English

 − .05

.02

.01

0.89

.00

0.12

Factor 5: Practising English in tutorial classes

 P25. Finding and enrolling in tutorial classes that focus on DSE English Paper 4

 − .06

 − .05

.01

.02

0.98

.00

 P26. Continue to enrol in a tutorial class when the tutor can improve my preparation

 − .05

0.11

 − .01

.08

0.80

 − .03

 P19. Drilling via a test preparation specific commercial book, CD, or DVD

0.19

0.30

.01

 − .02

0.43

 − .08

Factor 6: Practising English in entertainment contents

 P01. Watching English movies videos

 − .01

.02

.01

0.11

.03

0.80

 P02. Watching English TV programmes and dramas

0.29

 − 0.14

 − 0.14

.01

0.10

0.69

 P04. Listening to English songs

.04

0.11

.08

.05

 − 0.18

0.65