Customised Assessment and Reporting

British Spelling Test Series (BSTS)

Denis Vincent and Mary Crumpler; East London Assess

NFER-Nelson, 1997

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Range: 5 years - adult
Administration: Group or individual, students write in test booklet, approx. 30 mins

This series of norm-referenced spelling tests consists of five levels, each with two parallel forms of the test (Form X and Form Y) which allow year on year testing as each level spans more than one chronological year grouping. This means that schools can retest pupils next year on the same level but on a different form so that they don't have to repeat the same test for two years running.

BSTS levels cover the following ages:

  • BSTS 1: 5.0 - 8.11 years
  • BSTS 2: 7.0 - 11.11 years
  • BSTS 3: 9.11 - 15.5 years
  • BSTS 4: 12.6 -17.5 years
  • BSTS 5: 15.6 years - adults

PARALLEL FORMS
Forms X and Y of each test in the series are closely matched in content and difficulty and may be used either to evaluate the short-to-medium term effects of teaching or as part of a longitudinal monitoring programme over a number of years.

TEST FORMAT
The format is similar throughout the series and uses a variety of methods, including:
individual word dictation

  • gap filling
  • passage dictation (which only certain target words are scored)
  • proof reading
  • error detection

For BSTS level 1, 2 and 3 the words to be spelled are within the written vocabulary of the intended age range for each test while being prone to misspelling in varying degrees of frequency.
For BSTS level 4 the words have been taken from those most frequently misspelt in national exams.
For BSTS level 5 the words to be spelt were taken from a selection of broadsheet newspapers.

USES
The BSTS is suitable for a range of purposes for which standardised, educational tests are routinely applied. These include screening, monitoring and educational guidance. The tests can also be used as part of a diagnostic battery in the assessment of individuals with learning difficulties.

Progress can be measured by comparing scores between administrations of two parallel forms or two successive levels. This is represented by an Age Ability Score.