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Empower Competency Tests Scoring Information

Contents Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3 A1.................................................................................................................................................................4 Mid Course Tests .....................................................................................................................................4 End of Course Tests .................................................................................................................................4 A2.................................................................................................................................................................5 Mid Course Tests .....................................................................................................................................5 End of Course Tests .................................................................................................................................5 B1 .................................................................................................................................................................6 Mid Course Tests .....................................................................................................................................6 End of Course Tests .................................................................................................................................6 B1+ ...............................................................................................................................................................7 Mid Course Tests .....................................................................................................................................7 End of Course Tests .................................................................................................................................7 B2 .................................................................................................................................................................8 Mid Course Tests .....................................................................................................................................8 End of Course Tests .................................................................................................................................8 C1 .................................................................................................................................................................9 Mid Course Tests .....................................................................................................................................9 End of Course Tests .................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction The purpose of this document is to show how students’ results in Empower Competency Reading and Listening Tests are measured and to explain the likely difference between results in the Competency Tests and results in the Unit Progress Tests. Percentages of marks correct will vary between the Unit Progress Tests and Competency Tests by design, due to certain key differences in purpose of the two types of test. Unit Progress Tests focus on a limited construct related to the material covered in the relevant unit of the Empower course book; they test key lexis/grammar/functional language from a unit, in particular, focusing on newly introduced structures and vocabulary. The purpose of Unit Progress Tests is to provide feedback on learning in the unit in question; it would probably be expected that candidates would get many items correct, with incorrect answers providing for immediate remedial action by indicating particular structures and/or vocabulary which the learner could benefit from revisiting, before moving on to the next unit or level. Competency Tests, on the other hand, are designed to assess a much broader construct of language proficiency based on a cognitive processing model of language use, in order to assess the learner’s progress over a longer period of time and in terms of where they stand more generally in terms of proficiency against the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). Furthermore, since it is possible for candidates to perform better than ‘level achieved’ against the CEFR band in question, there must be sufficient room (ie additional items) above the ‘level achieved’ threshold to accommodate this. For these reasons, a ‘level achieved’ threshold set at a percentage of correct marks similar to those typical of Unit Progress Tests would not be appropriate, so the Competency Tests include more difficult items in accordance with their purpose. It is also important to note that the pass mark for Cambridge English’s general proficiency exams (e.g. Cambridge English: First (FCE), Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET) etc.) is usually around 60%. Scoring information has been provided for the Reading and Listening Competency Tests at the following levels: o o o o o o

A1 A2 B1 B1+ B2 C1

The paper-based Writing Competency Test is scored on a scale from 1 to 5; the assessment criteria are included in the Marking Instructions for Teachers document at each level. The paper-based Speaking Competency Test is also scored on a scale from 1 to 5; the rating scales are included in the Speaking Competency Test Instructions document at each level.

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A1 Mid Course Tests Reading Test scores 0-9 10-12 13-15 16-17 18-25

CEFR result Progressing towards A1 Close to A1 A1 level achieved Good performance Strong performance

Listening test scores 0-5 6-7 8-10 11-12 13-20

CEFR result Progressing towards A1 Close to A1 A1 level achieved Good performance Strong performance

Listening Test scores 0-8 9-11 12-13 14-15 16-20

End of Course Tests Reading Test scores 0-9 10-12 13-15 16-17 18-25

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A2 Mid Course Tests Reading Test scores 0-13 14-15 16-19 20-22 23-25

CEFR result Progressing towards A2 Close to A2 A2 level achieved Good performance Strong performance

Listening test scores 0-9 10-12 13-15 16-17 18-20

CEFR result Progressing towards A2 Close to A2 A2 level achieved Good performance Strong performance

Listening Test scores 0-9 10-11 12-14 15-17 18-20

End of Course Tests Reading Test scores 0-11 12-14 15-18 19-21 22-25

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B1 Mid Course Tests Reading Test scores

CEFR result Working towards B1 Progressing towards B1 Close to B1 B1 level achieved

Listening Test Scores 0-6 7-10 11-14 15-20

Reading Test scores

CEFR result

Listening Test scores

0-7

Working towards B1

0-6

8-12

Progressing towards B1

7-10

13-17

Close to B1 B1 level achieved

11-14 15-20

0-7 8-12 13-17 18-25

End of Course Tests

18-25

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B1+ Mid Course Tests Reading Test scores

CEFR result Progressing towards B1 Close to B1 B1 level achieved Good performance Strong performance

Listening Test scores 0-8 9-12 13-15 16-17 18-20

Reading Test scores

CEFR result

Listening Test scores

0-10

Progressing towards B1

0-8

11-16 17-19 20-22 23-25

Close to B1 B1 level achieved Good performance Strong performance

9-12 13-15 16-17 18-20

0-9 10-14 15-18 19-21 22-25

End of Course Tests

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B2 Mid Course Tests Reading Test scores 0-16 17-18 19-23 24-26 27-30

CEFR result Progressing towards B2 Close to B2 B2 level achieved Good performance Strong performance

Listening Test scores 0-12 13-14 15-18 19-21 22-25

CEFR result Progressing towards B2 Close to B2 B2 level achieved Good performance Strong performance

Listening Test scores 0-14 15-16 17-19 20-22 23-25

End of Course Tests Reading Test scores 0-16 17-19 20-23 24-26 27-30

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C1 Mid Course Tests Reading Test scores 0-16 17-18 19-23 24-26 27-32

CEFR result Progressing towards C1 Close to C1 C1 level achieved Good performance Strong performance

Listening Test scores 0-13 14-15 16-18 19-21 22-26

CEFR result Progressing towards C1 Close to C1 C1 level achieved Good performance Strong performance

Listening Test scores 0-12 13 14-17 18-20 21-26

End of Course Tests Reading Test scores 0-16 17 18-22 23-25 26-32

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