ALTE CEFR/Manual SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

Background: ALTE and comparability of language tests

The work of ALTE and ALTE members in the field of test comparability across languages has been considerable over the years, even before the Common European Framework of Reference existed. When ALTE was formed in 1990 one of its principal objectives was:

to establish common levels of proficiency in order to promote the transnational recognition of certification in Europe

Prior to the publication of the CEFR, ALTE produced its own system of levels and provided users with tables to assist in the comparison of tests of its members. The ALTE Can Do Project began in 1998 and calibrated items to Can Do Statements, and a description of this project can be found in Appendix D of the CEFR.

Since the publication of The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (the CEFR) in 2001 by the Council of Europe – Language Policy Division, this objective has been updated to make reference to the CEFR:

to promote the transnational recognition of certification in Europe by reference to the common levels of proficiency established by ALTE members and the Common European Framework of Reference.

Relating tests to the CEFR

The CEFR has generated such a great interest among providers of language testers, that a number of tools have been developed, many of which with the contribution of ALTE members, to help test providers with the process of relating their exams to the CEFR. Some of these tools are illustrated below:

tools which explain

tools which exemplify

practical tools

Manual for Relating Examinations to the CEFR

illustrative samples

CEFR Grids

Standard Setting and Standard Maintaining

reference level descriptors

CEFR tables

tools which explain	tools which exemplify	practical tools
Manual for Relating Examinations to the CEFR	illustrative samples	CEFR Grids
Standard Setting and Standard Maintaining	reference level descriptors	CEFR tables

Aims of the CEFR/Manual SIG

The CEFR/Manual Special Interest Group was originally formed to assist the ALTE consultant in the authoring group by providing feedback from a wider group of ALTE members. Additionally, members of the CEFR/Manual SIG have found it very useful to share their experiences of working with the CEFR, the preliminary pilot version of the Manual for Relating Examinations to the CEFR and other tools in the toolkit. The CEFR/Manual SIG provides as a platform for the development of CEFR-related tools and documents are and where workshops and other events are planned.

Activities and outputs

The ALTE CEFR/Manual SIG has been especially active in the area of performance testing:

two different grids have been developed to analyse sample performances and the tasks which elicit them. The grids can be used in many different ways, such as in familiarisation, specification and standardisation phases of a linking project.
Several members of ALTE have provided sample tasks and performances in order to help others establish the characteristics of performances at particular CEFR levels. The languages in which these samples have been made available are:
Writing
English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese

Speaking
English, French, German, Italian
(other samples may soon be added, such as those from the cross-language benchmarking in 2008)

ALTE members were also involved in hosting a recent event which aimed to bring together the experiences of many test providers who have used the Manual for Relating Examinations to the CEFR. Some of the presentations were made by members of the ALTE CEFR/Manual SIG, on the work they had done to date in relation to this manual.

Future plans and membership

Aligning examinations to the CEFR is, just as test development and revision is, an ongoing process. Members of this SIG will continue to discuss their work in this field and seek to find ways to share their experiences with a wider audience. The special interest group is open to any ALTE member or affiliate. Those wishing to attend a future meeting, or simply find out more should contact the ALTE Secretariat.