English (E8) Standards Tests

The Standards Tests are a first step towards a permanent large-scale secondary-level system-monitoring programme commissioned by the Austrian Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. The aim of this programme is diagnosis, not selection. Currently, the target group are pupils in grade 8 in grammar schools [Allgemeinbildende Höhere Schulen (AHS)] and secondary schools [Allgemeinbildende Pflichtschulen (APS), i.e. former Hauptschulen].

In May 2006 a sample of approximately 8,000 pupils in 90 pilot schools from all over Austria were tested in the receptive skills of Reading and Listening. In May 2007, about 6,000 pupils were tested in Reading and Listening, and 500 of these pupils were also tested in the productive skill of Writing. In May 2008 the Speakingtest completed the E8 Standards Tests.

The E8 tests have been developed at LTC by a team of experts working with a group of item writers, who are all practicing teachers teaching pupils at grade 8 in AHS and APS. LTC has been responsible for item screening, archiving, pilot testing including item analysis, test construction and analysis of the results for the entire population, as well as communicating relevant aspects of the results to different groups of stakeholders (test takers, teachers, school principals, teacher trainers, educational authorities, and the ministry).

In May 2009 a baseline study was conducted in the course of which 10 percent of all Austrian pupils in grade 8 were tested in Reading and Listening, and a certain percentage of these in Writing and Speaking as well. The psychometric analysis of the E8 baseline study will be done by LTC.

In the future the E8 Standards Tests will take place every three years.