Part 1 – Responsibilities of ALTE Members
Developing Examinations
Members of ALTE undertake to provide the information that examination
users and takers need in order to select appropriate examinations.
In practice, this means that members of ALTE will guarantee to
do the following, for the examinations described in this book:
Define what each examination assesses and what it should be used
for. Describe the population(s) for which it is appropriate.
Explain relevant measurement concepts as necessary for clarity
at the level of detail that is appropriate for the intended audience(s).
Describe the process of examination development.
Explain how the content and skills to be tested are selected.
Provide either representative samples or complete copies of examination
tasks, instructions, answer sheets, manuals and reports of results
to users.
Describe the procedures used to ensure the appropriateness of
each examination for the groups of different ethnic or
linguistic backgrounds who are likely to be tested.
Identify and publish the conditions and skills needed to administer
each examination.
Interpreting Examination Results
Members of ALTE undertake to help examination users and takers
interpret results correctly.
In practice, this means that members of ALTE will guarantee to
do the following:
Provide prompt and easily understood reports of examination results
that describe candidate performance clearly and accurately.
Describe the procedures used to establish pass marks and/or grades.
If no pass mark is set, then provide information that will help
users follow reasonable procedures for setting pass marks when
it is appropriate to do so.
Warn users to avoid specific, reasonably anticipated misuses of
examination results.
Striving for Fairness
Members of ALTE undertake to make their examinations as fair
as possible for candidates of different backgrounds (e.g. race, gender, special requirements etc.).
In practice, this means that members of ALTE will guarantee to
do the following:
Review and revise examination tasks and related materials
to avoid potentially insensitive content or language.
Enact procedures that help to ensure that differences in
performance are related primarily to the skills under assessment
rather than to factors such as race or gender.
When feasible, make appropriately modified forms of examinations
or administration procedures available for candidates requiring special arrangements.
Informing Examination Takers
Members of ALTE undertake to provide examination users and takers
with the information described below.
In practice, this means that members of ALTE will guarantee to
do the following:
Provide examination users and takers with information to
help them judge whether a particular examination should be taken,
or if an available examination at a higher or lower level should
be used.
Provide candidates with the information they need in order
to be familiar with the coverage of the examination, the types
of task formats, the rubrics and other instructions and appropriate
examination-taking strategies. Strive to make such information
equally available to all candidates.
Provide information about the rights which candidates may
or may not have to obtain copies of papers and completed answer
sheets, to retake papers, have papers re-marked or results checked.
Provide information about how long results will be kept on
file and indicate to whom and under what circumstances examination
results will or will not be released.
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