Examination System

Setting and Pretesting

1.1.Selection of materials

Items writers are commissioned to select material from a wide range of sources according to the examination specifications and the components of the examinations.

1.2 Test item writing

Item writers are practising teachers. There is a group of item writers for each test and an appointed team leader in charge of the group. The items are written by individual team members and then subjected to vetting and editing by the whole team. An Examination Officer supervises the process of item writing and test construction. Guidance is given to each member of the item writing team. An Examination Committee made up of experts on language teaching and language testing ensures the quality of tests.

1.3 Pretesting

There is no formal pretesting.

Marking

2.1 Process

Practising teachers trained as examiners mark the written component. Examiners can contact the Examiners Officer to discuss problems. Oral components are assessed by two examiners (except the Higher Level Certificate, which is assessed only by one examiner). Candidates for Certificat intermedi de català are tested in pairs. Candidates for the other examinations are tested individually.

2.2 Training

Training courses are organised periodically in a virtual training environment. During the training, assessments and marking are discussed and evaluated on the basis of selected sample scripts and training videos of mock interviews and then compared with those given by the Examinations Officer.

2.3 Checking

Examinations Officers from the SPL check samples of scripts marked by examiners to check their performance.

Results

Approximately ten weeks after the examinations take place, results are released and can also be consulted on the Internet.

Security

Every stage of the examination procedure, from test construction to administration, is controlled to ensure maximum security.