Relating the BESTEP Speaking Test to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - LTTC-BESTEP Research Report - BESTEP-02

Oct 1, 2026

Uploaded by nayy☆

A research report establishing an evidence-based link between the BESTEP Speaking test and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It applies the Council of Europe staged approach to test linking, including familiarization, specification, standardization, benchmarking/standard setting, and validation. The document describes the BEST program context, details the semi-direct speaking format, timing, parts, and scoring bands, and presents how speaking scores are interpreted in relation to CEFR levels using a correspondence table and Can-Do descriptors.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages37

Reading Time1 h 33 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

The BEST program and BESTEP tests

The BESTEP Speaking test

Score interpretations

Relating the BESTEP Speaking Test to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages LTTC-BESTEP Research Report BESTEP-02 Anthony Green and Chihiro Inoue Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment University of Bedfordshire, UK Relating the BESTEP Speaking Test to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Anthony Green and Chihiro Inoue, University of Bedfordshire 1. Introduction This study was undertaken to corroborate the intended relationship between the Speaking component of a recently launched test of academic language use (BESTEP) and the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR; Council of Europe 2001) . The study employed the staged approach to linking recommended by the Council of Europe (2009a) which includes Familiarization, Specification, Standardization, Benchmarking/ Standard Setting and Validation. 1.1. The BEST program and BESTEP tests The Program on Bilingual Education for Students in College (BEST, [best.twaea.org.tw](best.twaea.org.tw)) was initiated by the Taiwanese Ministry of Education in 2021. The program promotes English as a medium of instruction (EMI) at universities and colleges , contributing to the government’s ambitious long-term policy objective of building a bilingual environment in Taiwan by 2030. According to the Ministry, students with a level of English matching the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) (Council of Europe 2001) will “possess essential abilities for taking EMI courses [i.e. , courses taught through the medium of English], and their professional learning will not be affected when encountering teaching in unfamiliar languages” (Ministry of Education , Republic of China 2021, p.5) . Although a B2 level in relevant aspects of language may be an essential baseline for students pursuing university or college-level study , difficulties attributable to language are likely to persist (Deygers et al. , 2018) . It should be noted that a B2 level provides no guarantee that students will be free from serious language-related challenges that may limit their chances of realizing their potential and achieving academic success (Harsch et al. 2017, Hamnes Carlsen 2018, Green 2018, Aizawa et al. 2023) . To support the BEST project, the Ministry funded the Language Training & Testing Center (LTTC) to develop and administer the BEST Test of English Proficiency (BESTEP) . The BESTEP , launched in autumn 2022 , is designed to assess English for general academic purposes and English communication skills in international academic and workplace situations. The test consists of four subtests , each assessing one of the traditional four skills of speaking, writing, listening , and reading. 1.2. The BESTEP Speaking test This report focusses on the BESTEP Speaking test , a semi-direct speaking test that takes approximately fifteen minutes to administer with test takers allowed up to five and a half minutes in total to record their responses. Test takers are seated at workstations and record their responses to audio-visual prompts presented via headphones and on paper. There are three distinct Parts on the test, each intended to be more challenging than the last. In the first Part, test takers answer a series of six questions related to school life and learning. They have 15 seconds to record each response. In Part 2 , they are asked to view a chart on a learning-related topic and, guided by three questions, have 90 seconds to prepare and then 90 seconds to respond. They are expected to explain key points from the chart and express their opinions. In Part 3 they have 150 seconds to prepare and then 150 seconds to record a short presentation. They are expected to integrate learning-related information from textual and visual inputs presented on screen and on paper, summarize key points, and compare key information. All responses are recorded by the software and stored for scoring. Responses to

FAQs

What is the purpose of linking BESTEP Speaking to the CEFR?

To corroborate the intended relationship between the BESTEP Speaking component and CEFR levels, using an evidence-based linking approach.

How is the BESTEP Speaking test structured across its parts?

It has three parts with increasing challenge: Part 1 has six school-life questions recorded within short time limits; Part 2 uses a chart with guided questions; Part 3 requires a short presentation integrating information from visual and textual inputs.

How are BESTEP Speaking scores interpreted in CEFR terms?

BESTEP results are intended to be interpreted using CEFR correspondences published by LTTC, with a table that includes score ranges and Can-Do style descriptors for expected language use.

Oct 1, 2026

Uploaded by nayy☆