Vol. 41 in the Studies in Language Testing series.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Validating Second Language Reading Examinations describes the development of an empirical framework for test validation and comparison of reading tests at different proficiency levels through a critical evaluation of alignment with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). It focuses on reading proficiency examinations, and explores procedures for linking tests to the CEFR, proposing both qualitative and quantitative methods that complement the procedures recommended by the Council of Europe.

Key features of the book include:
a detailed review of the literature on the CEFR alignment, vertical scaling, tets specifications and test comparability

a comprehensive and coherent approach to the validation of reading tests
an accessible and systematic description of procedures for collecting validity evidence
a case study comparing different testing system targeting the same CEFR level

This volume will be a valuable resource for academic researchers and postgraduate students interested in using CEFR alignment procedures and methodology to demonstrate differentiation across different levels of a testing system, and equivalence between examinations that target a particular CEFR level. It will be of a particular relevance to exam boards who wish to validate their reading tests, and will also be a useful reference for teachers and curriculum designers who wish to reflect real-life reading activities when they prepare reading tasks for language learning." (Book Cover)

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Series Editors' note

Abbreviations

1. Introduction

2. Defining levels of proficiency: A literature review

3. Methodology

4. Results and discussion 1: Vertical comparisons of GEPT reading tests at CEFR B1 and B2 levels

5. Results and discussion 2: Horizontal comparisons between the GEPT and Cambridge English reading tests at the same CEFR levels

6. Conclusions and implications

Appendices
Appendix 1: Cognitive Processing Checklist
Appendix 2: Contextual Parameter Proforma
Appendix 3: Cognitive Processing Proforma

References

Author Index

Subject Index