BEST Plus 3.0, developed by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL), is an individually administered, face-to-face, scripted oral proficiency assessment that measures adult English learners’ ability to listen and speak in English in authentic situations in the United States.
BEST Plus 3.0 was specifically developed to be aligned with the 2016 English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education (U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education, 2016), and examinee performances on BEST Plus 3.0 can be interpreted in terms of the National Reporting System’s 2017 Educational Functioning Levels (U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education, 2017).
BEST Plus 3.0 Test Administration
BEST Plus 3.0 begins with training to ensure accurate use and scoring of the test. All administrators are required to complete test administrator training before they may begin administering and scoring BEST Plus 3.0.
Learn more about BEST Plus 3.0 Test Administrator Training.
BEST Plus 3.0 Products
BEST Plus 3.0 comes in two versions—a computer-based version and a semi-adaptive print-based version.
BEST Plus 3.0 computer-adaptive version: the test tasks are delivered in sets via the CAL Test Platform application that can be installed on a computer, laptop, or tablet. The application selects the set of tasks that are most appropriate for the student’s ability according to the scores entered for previous responses. The CAL Test Platform Application is available as a digital download.
BEST Plus 3.0 semi-adaptive print-based version : a short locator test determines the level of test tasks that will be most appropriate for the ability level of the student. The test administrator administers each task on the selected level test to the student and scores the tasks. The test administrator then enters scores in the CAL Test Platform application after test administration is complete in order to obtain a final score report.
The BEST Plus 3.0 print version includes examinee test booklets (Forms 1 and 2) and corresponding picture cue books.
The CAL Test Platform Web Portal is a web-based online platform where all of a program’s test score data is stored. Each program can use this platform to access examinees’ test scores that were uploaded as well as view the number of test administrations distributed across all program devices. To access the Web Portal, test administrators should use the same credentials as the ones used to log into the CAL Test Platform Application. It is available for free access.
You can access the Test Platform Application and Web Portal here.
You can find the BEST Plus 3.0 Test Usage Policy here.
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