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Basic English Skills Test—Literacy BEST
Purpose: To test the basic literacy skills of adult
non-native speakers of English.
Target: Low-literacy-level adult English language
learners in survival English programs.
Method and format: Performance-based; group or
individual administration.
Content: Reading tasks include dates on a calendar,
labels on food and clothing, bulletin announcements,
and newspaper want ads. Writing tasks include
addressing an envelope , writing a rent check, filling
out an application form, and writing a short
biographical passage.
Administration time: 1 hour.
Levels and scoring: There is one test level. Test
scores are reported in terms of student performance
levels (SPLs) 0-7; and National Reporting System
(NRS) ESL functioning levels, from Beginning ESL
Literacy to Low Advanced ESL (into but not out of
this level).
Reliability/validity: BEST validity and reliability
procedures meet the standards of the American
Education Research Association (AERA), American
Psychological Association (APA), and National
Council on Measurement in Education (NCME)
(1999). The BEST Test Manual contains detailed
information about test validity and reliability.
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Number of forms: Two
Materials available: Non-reusable test
booklets, scoring sheets
Center for Applied Linguistics
4646 40th Street
NW Washington, DC 20016
202-362-0700
http://cal-org.wdi.net/BEST/
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CASAS Life Skills Pre - and Post-tests—Reading
Purpose: To assess the development of adult learners' functional reading skills
within an instructional level.
Target: Adult learners in basic skills programs.
Method and format: Group administration; multiple
choice questions.
Content: Life skills vocabulary and language
functions. Test items are aligned with more than 300
learner competencies related to basic communication,
employability and workplace skills, and computer
literacy.
Administration time: Information not available.
Levels and scoring: Scores are reported on a numerical
scale; CASAS skill descriptors provide information on how the numerical score
corresponds to the ability to accomplish life skills and job-related tasks.
Scaled scores correspond to student performance levels (SPLs) and NRS ESL
functioning levels Beginning ESL Literacy to High Advanced ESL. The post-test
gives measurable results after 80-100 hours of instruction.
Reliability/validity: "All CASAS assessment instruments
undergo rigorous test development and validation procedures and meet the
standards of the American Education Research Association (AERA), the National
Council for Measurement in Education (NCME) and the American Psychological
Association (APA). The CASAS Technical Manual contains detailed information
about test validity and reliability" (publisher's statement). |
Number of forms: Pre- and post-test at
each level
Materials available: Training is required
for all test administrators. Materials are
available only after training has been
completed.
CASAS
51551 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 220
San Diego, CA 92123
858-292-2900
http://www.casas.org
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