More than ten years have elapsed since the publication of the CD which included samples of listening and reading items to exemplify the procedures outlined in the pilot version of the Manual for Relating Language Examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The Council of Europe (Language Policy Programme), with the primary aim of contributing to competence building in the area of linking assessments to the CEFR and to encourage transparency on the part of examination providers, has since then supported numerous projects and initiatives which can be traced in the documentation, materials and samples to be found in the Resources section.
 

This second collection of materials now made available, following the demand for additional CEFR exemplar test tasks and items, is intended to facilitate competent assessment of proficiency in reading and listening comprehension using the CEFR reference levels. The materials, containing samples in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish, have been compiled by a team of experts convened in the frame of Language Policy Programme of the Council of Europe. Dr Neus Figueras and Professor Sauli Takala, co-authors of the above mentioned Manual and responsible for the CD produced in 2005, were asked to coordinate the project. They were supported by an advisory board consisting of Dr Hanan Khalifa (ALTE - Cambridge English Language Assessment), Dr Vincent Folny (ALTE - CIEP), Mr Richard Ruhm (BiFie), Dr Jamie Dunlea (British Council), Professor Gudrun Erickson (EALTA) and Dr Raija Elsinen (CercleS). The Language Policy Unit expresses its great appreciation to the coordinators and the advisory board for their valuable contribution.

In order to be able to put together a pool of tasks and items which represented the diversity of examination and assessment contexts and purposes in Europe, invitations for contributions were openly and widely circulated. The response to the call for contributions was extensive, which is a sign of the progress made in the field of language assessment in terms of quality and transparency.
 

The Council of Europe wishes to acknowledge with gratitude all the institutions, who generously contributed to this project and sent their tasks and items accompanied with supporting documentation and data.