Iowa Listening Certification Guidelines
DATE: March 16, 2004
TO: ABE Coordinators, ESL Faculty, Other Interested Parties
FROM: Division of Community Colleges and
SUBJECT: Iowa Listening Certification Guidelines
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for issuance of listening
skill certificates for CASAS Levels A-C. Local adult literacy programs will
issue listening certificates following the established procedures outlined below.
Listening skill certificates are awarded after adult learners have completed
pre/post assessment requirements. Table 1 and Table 2 provide the CASAS standard
score range, CASAS certificate score range and listening descriptors for CASAS
Levels A-C. These tables should be used to determine when an adult learner is
eligible for the appropriate CASAS level listening certificate.
Table 1
CASAS Listening Skill Levels and Descriptions
with Standard and Certificate Scale Score Ranges
| CASAS Listening Skill Level |
CASAS Standard Score Range |
CASAS Certificate Score Range |
CASAS Listening Skill Level Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 150-200 | 195-200 | Individuals at this level can understand simplified conversation on everyday subjects containing frequently used words in context and very simple phrases, spoken slowly and repeated. They can understand simple greetings, common social language, and questions about basic personal information. They can understand simple questions, negative statements (e.g., with don’t, can’t), commands, requests, and warnings (e.g., Be careful!) related to immediate needs. They frequently require assistance (rephrasing, explanation, demonstration) to understand even basic communication. |
| B | 201-220 | 215-220 | Individuals at this level can participate in simple conversations on familiar and some unfamiliar subjects spoken slowly and with some repetition, and can interpret some informal speech using colloquial language. They can understand learned phrases easily and short new phrases containing familiar vocabulary. They have limited ability to understand simple telephone conversations. They can recognize the main idea and understand some supporting details expressed in everyday spoken language and brief informational messages on familiar topics. They can follow oral directions in familiar contexts, including simple multi-step directions. |
| C | 221-235 | 230-235 | Individuals at this level generally can comprehend communication in most routine life-skill and social contexts. They can participate in conversations on a variety of everyday subjects, including some involving unfamiliar vocabulary, but may need repetition or rewording. They have some ability to understand telephone conversations on familiar topics. They can follow detailed spoken directions on familiar topics. They can understand the main idea and some details of informational communication on non-technical topics, simple discussions, and descriptive narrative in familiar contexts. They can recognize tone and degree of formality in speech in a variety of situations. |
IOWA GUIDELINES FOR BASIC SKILLS CERTIFICATES IN LISTENING (ESL)
Table 2
CASAS Listening Skill Levels with
Standard and Certificate Scale Score Ranges
| CASAS Listening Skill Level |
CASAS Standard Score Range |
CASAS Certificate Score Range |
|---|---|---|
A |
150 – 200 |
195 - 200 |
B |
201- 220 |
215 - 220 |
C |
221 - 235 |
230 - 235 |
The following notes use Level A as an example. The guidelines also apply to Levels B and C.
General Rule
If the pretest is between 150 and 194 in Level A and the post-test is in the Level A Certificate range (195 – 200), then a Level A certificate is awarded.
Notes
If the pretest is in the Level A Certificate range and the post-test is also in the Level A Certificate range, no certificate is awarded.
If the pretest is in Level A (150 – 200) and the post-test is in Level B below the Level B certificate range, then award a Level A certificate.
If the pretest is in the Level A range (150 – 200) and the post-test is in the Level B certificate range, award a Level B certificate.
If the pretest is in the Level A range (150 – 200) and the post-test is in the Level C range below the Level C certificate range, award a Level B certificate.
If the pretest is in Level A and the post-test is in the Level C certificate range, award a certificate ONLY for Level C.
If the pretest is in Level A and the first post-test is in the Level B certificate range, and another post-test is in the Level C certificate range, award a certificate ONLY for the higher level (Level C).
Clarification
If the post-test is below the certificate range in the same level as the pretest, no certificate is awarded.
If a student is post-tested and the score falls just short of the certificate range by a few points, offer instruction to the student before re-testing. It is not appropriate to give another post-test right away.
A student can earn a certificate in more than one modality (e.g., in both reading and listening).
If there are questions, please contact me.
Sincerely,
John Hartwig
State Director of Adult Education