RESOURCES - free guides and reference materials
ALTE has produced many guides and reference materials, in a range of languages. They are all free to download.
We would like to provide our resources in as many languages as possible. If you are able to provide a version of a document in another language, please contact the ALTE Secretariat.
| Manual for Language Test Development and ExaminingThe "Manual for Language Test Development and Examining" (2011) was produced by ALTE on behalf of the Language Policy Unit of the Council of Europe. This manual is for use with the CEFR and it is available in Basque, Dutch, French and German. |
| Guidelines for the Development of Language for Specific Purposes TestsThe "Guidelines for the Development of Language for Specific Purposes Tests" (2018) was produced by ALTE as a supplement to the 2011 Manual for Language Test Development and Examining. The production of the Guidelines was co-ordinated by the LSP SIG. |
| Language tests for access, integration and citizenship: an outline for policy makersThis booklet (2016) was produced by the LAMI SIG on behalf of the Language Policy Unit of the Council of Europe. It is currently also available in Italian and Finnish. |
| Multilingual Glossary of Language Testing TermsALTE's multilingual glossary (1998) has a particularly significant role to play in encouraging the development of language testing in less widely taught languages by establishing terms which may be new alongside their well-known equivalents in the commonly used languages. The glossary contains entries in 10 languages: Catalan, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Irish, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. This volume will be of use to many working in the context of European languages who are involved in testing and assessment. |
Relating Language Examinations to the CEFR: A ManualALTE contributed to the Council of Europe's Manual for 'Relating Language Examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR) and produced Content Analysis Grids (2014) for Speaking and Writing (analysis and presentation). All of these are available on the Council of Europe's website. |
Minimum StandardsALTE has established a set of common standards for its members’ exams (2007), which cover all stages of the language testing process: test development; task and item writing; test administration; marking and grading; reporting of test results; test analysis; and reporting of findings. See our Setting Standards page for more information. Our 17 Minimum Standards are available in a range of languages. |
Procedures for Auditing (PfA)The PfA (latest version - June 2018) was produced by the QMS Working Group and contains all the detailed procedures for auditors and for organisations being audited. | ALTE FrameworkThe ALTE Framework (latest version - April 2019) shows whether an exam of our member organisations has the Q-Mark, following a successful audit. The Q-Mark is a quality indicator which ALTE Members can use to show that their exams have passed a rigorous ALTE audit and meet the 17 ALTE Minimum Standards (see below). The Q-Mark allows test users to be confident that an exam is backed by appropriate processes, criteria and standards. |
Content Analysis ChecklistsDevelopment and descriptive checklists for tasks & examinations (2001): | Checklists for Single TasksThese content analysis checklists are for use with one task (2001): Single Listening Task Checklist Single Speaking Task Checklist | Quality Assurance ChecklistsThese checklists (2001) are matched to each stage of the exam production cycle: Quality Assurance Checklist 1 - Test Construction Quality Assurance Checklist 2 - Administration and Logistics Quality Assurance Checklist 3 - Marking, Grading & Results Quality Assurance Checklist 4 - Test Analysis and Post-Exam Review |
ALTE Can Do ProjectThe ALTE "Can Do" project developed and validated a set of performance-related scales, describing what learners can actually do in a language (2002). The project contributed greatly to the development of the CEFR and is acknowledged in Appendix D of the 2001 CEFR document. The Can Do Statements are available in the following languages: |
ALTE Materials for the guidance of test item writersThis set of materials (2005) was designed to help in training anyone who is involved in any part of the process of developing, writing, administering and reporting the results of tests of a language learned as a foreign language. | Bibliography of ALTE Members' WorkALTE has collated references of papers, journal articles, books, etc., written by representatives of ALTE member organisations. Current version: January 2019. |