Association of Language Testers in Europe
The Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) is an association of language exam providers in Europe.
The ALTE "Can Do" project developed a simplified set of 400+ descriptors for language examinations which relate to the Common Reference Levels. These descriptors are in the form of "can-do statements", each saying more simply what a learner can do at every level. There are four sections: general, social/ tourist, work and study. The ALTE project also gave its own names to the CEFR levels from the "Breakthrough level" to "Level 5".
The ALTE was founded by the University of Cambridge in conjunction with the University of Salamanca so the first exams to be related to their "Can-Do" statements were the Cambridge EFL exams. However, today many more examining boards link their exams to the system. Below is a table of some examinations as an example.
ALTE now establishes a six-level framework of language examination standards.
The following table compares the ALTE levels with the CEFR levels and EFL exams:
Levels
The Common European Framework divides learners into three broad divisions which can be divided into six levels:
- A Basic User
- A1 Breakthrough
- A2 Waystage
- B Independent User
- B1 Threshold
- B2 Vantage
- C Proficient User
- C1 Effective Operational Proficiency
- C2 Mastery
The CEFR describes what a learner is supposed to be able to do in reading, listening, speaking and writing at each level, in details:
Conferences
ALTE aims to improve language assessment through sharing best practice and providing thought leadership through international conferences.
International conference themes have included supporting the European Year of Languages (2001), the impact of multilingualism (2005), the wider social and educational impact of assessment (2008) and the role of language frameworks (2011). Selected conference papers are published through the Studies in Language Testing (SiLT) volumes.
See also
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
- Cambridge English Language Assessment
- Studies in Language Testing (SiLT)