Manual for relating Language Examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) 

and Reference Supplement
with new sections H and I (see below)

The primary aim of this Manual is to help the providers of examinations to develop, apply and report transparent, practical procedures in a cumulative process of continuing improvement in order to situate their examination(s) in relation to the CEFR.

The Manual aims to:

• contribute to competence building in the area of linking assessments to the CEFR;
• encourage increased transparency on the part of examination providers;
• encourage the development of both formal and informal national and international networks of institutions and experts

Forms for detailed analysis of examinations or tests (27 pages)

As indicated in chapter 4 (point 4.3.1.) of the Manual, forms and related tables are provided for each of the Communicative Language Activities (CEFR Chapter 4) and for the Aspects of Communicative Language Competence (CEFR Chapter 5). The forms are tools to provide a detailed analysis of the examination or test in question and to relate that examination/test to the relevant subscales of the CEFR. In most of the forms, a short description, reference and/or justification is asked for.
Whilst making these forms freeely available, the Language Policy Division recalls that it is not the role of the Council of Europe to verify and validate the quality of the link between language examinations and the CEFR's proficiency levels and that the member states are responsible for guaranteeing the quality and fairness of testing and assessment on the basis of the guidelines issued by the Council of Europe: rather than vis-à-vis the Council of Europe, it is towards one's own learners and one's European partners that one has a responsibility for making coherent, realistic use of the CEFR.

(about this: see point II.3 of the Report on the Forum concerning the use of the CEFR)
The Manual is accompanied by Further Material on Maintaining Standards across Languages, Contexts and Administrations by exploiting Teacher Judgment and IRT Scaling.

This Reference Supplement accompanies the Manual for “Relating Language Examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR)”. Its aim is to provide the users of the Manual with additional information which will help them in their efforts to relate their certificates and diplomas to the CEFR.
It contains three main components: quantitative and qualitative considerations in relating certificates and diplomas to the CEF and different approaches in standard setting.
 
The text of the supplement is available in PDF format and can be downloaded as separate sections:

• Overview and Introduction: Table of contents, Foreword by Sauli Takala (2009) and Section A, an overview of the linkage process

• Section B: Standard Setting by Felianka Kaftandjieva
• Section C: Classical Test Theory by Norman Verhelst
• Section D: Qualitative Analysis Methods by Jayanti Banerjee
• Section E: Generalizability Theory by Norman Verhelst
• Section F: Factor Analysis by Norman Verhelst
• Section G: Item Response Theory by Norman Verhelst
• Section H: Many-Facet Rasch Measurement by Thomas Eckes ^New
• Section I: Cito variation on the bookmark method by Frank van der Schoot ^New
• Last update : 4 December 2009