Examination System

Setting and Pretesting

1.1 Selection of materials

The test materials for the different levels and skills are written by members of the Board of examiners (jury dexamen) who are appointed for one year at a time by the Ministry of Education on the recommendation of the CLL. All oral and written tests are based on materials related to social, economic and cultural topics. These authentic materials are either used in their original form or specially adapted for use in tests.

There are guidelines which regulate the following aspects of test design:

• skills to be assessed;

• linguistic complexity;

• subject matter;

• item and task types.

These guidelines are complemented by samples and detailed marking scales.

1.2 Test item writing

Test items are written by individual members of the Board of examiners. item writers are always practising teachers. The president of the Board and the teacher acting as secretary to the Board check the test proposals, make modifications and select tasks and items to construct three versions of the test for each test battery.

1.3 Pretesting

There is no formal pretesting.

Marking

2.1 Process

As the number of candidates is limited and as they do not normally live or work very far from the premises of the CLL, there is only one examination centre. All the members of the Board may be appointed as examiners for oral and for written testing.

For the oral component of each examination, candidates are interviewed by two examiners, neither of whom may have taught them. scripts from all written tests are marked independently by two examiners.

2.2 Training

Before each examination session examiners have to undergo in-service training in order to ensure uniformity of standards of assessment. Two meetings are held: the first one is to deal with test criteria, item writing and marking. The second one is to deal with the processes of test construction and the application of the marking scales.

2.3 Checking

Performance in the oral and written components of the test is assessed independently on detailed scales by each examiner. At a later meeting a co-ordinator checks for borderline cases or cases where examiners marks differ widely. These cases are then discussed with the examiners.

Results

For the ZLaF (Zertifikat Lëtzebuergesch als Friemsprooch), 1 DLAF (Éischten Diplom Lëtzebuergesch als Friemsprooch) and the 2 DLAF (Zweten Diplom Lëtzebuergesch als Friemsprooch), candidates have the option of taking the whole examination or choosing the components which test the skill(s) they are interested in: oral communication, reading or writing. Candidates can also choose to take the test at a different level for each skill. Results and certification are given in the form of Pass or Fail for each skill and each level.

For the IDL (Ieweschten Diplom Lëtzebuergesch) candidates have to attempt all components: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The results are given in the form of Pass or Fail. To be awarded this diploma the candidate has to be successful in all the four skills. However, a provisional certificate can be issued for those components which the candidate has passed, before he or she has taken all four.

Security

Every stage of the examination process is carefully controlled. The whole process, from the first proposals for test items to the final evaluation of candidates performance, is strictly confidential. No test is ever re-used.