Assessment of Language Competence Certificates (ALC)
Introduction
What are the certificates?
The Assessment of Language Competence Certificates is a program designed to celebrate and enhance the learning of Languages in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region. The program is an initiative of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, in collaboration with ACER. The skills testing program includes listening and reading comprehension tasks in a multiple choice format designed to be both challenging and to enable all students to experience success.
The materials are designed to take into account current research in the assessment of languages as well as the experience of practising teachers. Materials are retained by participating schools to provide examples of good assessment ideas.
By participating in the testing program each student receives a certificate which describes the skills they have demonstrated in listening and reading. The school also receives a report which provides information about their students' performance and a summary statement of their school's results relative to all schools that have taken part.
Tasks
Certificate 1 students undertake listening task of approximately 20 minutes. The Certificate 2 and Certificate 3 materials consist of a 25-30 minute listening task and a 30 minute reading task and conducted in the school.
Students respond to realistic texts and situations using multiple choice format. The materials are designed to give all students experience of success.
There is no need to teach to particular topics for the ALC tests. Topics are not advertised beforehand so as to enable all students, regardless of state or country, to have equal access to the materials in the tests.
ALC tasks also draw on students’ knowledge and understanding of language beyond the topic level. This includes their sociocultural knowledge, their cognitive skills, their knowledge of the structure of language and of the purposes of language, and their knowledge of how texts are organised.