ABSTRACT
Aligning language tests to external performance levels is important as it provides additional meaning to the scores beyond the usual reporting mechanism: a score, grade, or percent. This paper reports on a project to make the test results of the British Council’s Aptis test more meaningful in the Chinese context by aligning the test to China’s Standards of English Language Ability (CSE), a set of comprehensive performance scales of English proficiency specifically designed for the Chinese context. The chapter outlines the rationale behind the procedures undertaken, details the actual process, and reflects on the lessons learnt. While the implications of the study are of significance to all researchers engaged in studies linking assessment systems and educational standards, it is perhaps most relevant within the context of Chinese education. By developing an alignment process built on evidence and arguments, the project has helped the National Educational Examination Authority (NEEA) identify the quality of support required for any claim of a link between a locally or internationally developed English language test to the CSE. The project has also revealed the great potential of the CSE in promoting teaching, learning, and assessment.
