BULATS results are reported in terms of the ALTE Framework Council of Europe’s Common European Framework for Languages: learning, teaching and assessment. ALTE members were involved in the development of the Common European Framework, and there is an exact correspondence in the levels, supported by a continuing programme of research.
Council of Europe Level C2 - ALTE Level 5
Upper advanced level. Fully operational command of the language in most business and work situations, e.g. in the workplace can argue a case confidently, justifying and making points persuasively.
Council of Europe Level C1 - ALTE Level 4
Advanced level. Good operational command of the language in a range of business and work situations, e.g. can participate effectively in discussions and meetings.
Council of Europe Level B2 - ALTE Level 3
Upper-intermediate level. Generally effective command of the language in a range of familiar situations, e.g. can make a contribution to meetings on practical matters, but is unlikely to follow a complex argument.
Council of Europe Level B1 - ALTE Level 2
Intermediate level. Limited but effective command of the language in familiar situations, e.g. can take part in a routine meeting on familiar topics, particularly in a exchange of simple factual information.
Council of Europe Level A2 - ALTE Level 1
Elementary level. Very limited command of the language in a range of familiar situations, e.g. can understand and pass on simple messages.
Council of Europe Level A1 - ALTE Level 0
Beginner level. Very limited command of the language. Candidates at this level may know some phrases but cannot communicate in the language.
Can-do statements - The ALTE Can Do Project
ALTE has produced a series of Can Do statements, which describe what language users are actually able to do in a particular language. These statements have been through a thorough validation process, in order to place them correctly on the 5 levels of the ALTE Framework. There are approximately 400 statements, which are divided into three main subject areas: Social & Tourist, Work, Study. Within each subject area there are sets of statements relating to separate skills: Listening & Speaking, Reading, Writing.
Some example statements appear below:
Levels |
Writing (Work) |
Reading (Study) |
Listening/Speaking (Social & Tourist) |
| C2 Level 5 | CAN make full and accurate notes and continue to participate in a meeting or seminar. | CAN access all sources of information quickly and reliably. | CAN talk about complex or sensitive issues without awkwardness. |
| C1 Level 4 | CAN handle a wide range of routine and non-routine situations in which professional services are requested from colleague or external contacts. | CAN read quickly enough to cope with the demands of an academic course. | CAN keep up conversations of a casual nature for an extended period of time and discuss abstract/cultural topics with a good degree of fluency and range of expression. |
| B2 Level 3 | CAN deal with all routine requests for goods or services. | CAN scan tests for relevant information and grasp main point of text. | CAN keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics, such as personal and professional experiences, events currently in the news. |
| B1 Level 2 | CAN make reasonably accurate notes at a meeting or seminar where the subject matter is familiar and predictable. | CAN understand basic instructions and messages, for example computer library catalogues, with some help. | CAN express opinions on abstract/cultural matters in a limited way and pick up nuances of meaning/opinion. |
| A2 Level 1 | CAN write a short, comprehensive note of request to a colleague or a known contact in another company. | CAN understand the general meaning of a simplified text book or article, reading very slowly. | CAN express likes and dislikes in familiar contexts using simple language such as 'I (don't) like...'. |
| A1 ALTE Breakthrough Level | CAN write a simple routine request to a colleague, such as 'Can I have 20X please?'. | CAN read basic notices and instructions. | CAN ask simple questions of a factual nature and understand answers expressed in simple language. |
For further information about the project and the statements, please contact:
ALTE Secretariat
1 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB1 2EU
www.alte.org
Tel: + 44 1223 552780
Fax: + 44 1223 553036
e-mail: stevens.b@ucles.org.uk
