CaMLA English Placement Test

The CaMLA English Placement Test (EPT) is used principally by English language teaching schools to assess students’ language ability levels and place them in the right English language course. It is also used by organizations as a screening test to evaluate the English language proficiency of prospective employees.

CaMLA EPT logo

The CaMLA EPT is developed by CaMLA, a not-for-profit collaboration between the University of Michigan and the University of Cambridge, and has been in use for over four decades.[1] A major revision of the test occurred in 2013 leading to the launch of CaMLA EPT Forms D, E and F.[2] A further three test forms were released in 2015: Forms G, H and I.

The CaMLA EPT can be used with learners of English as a second language at all levels, from beginners to advanced. It tests the following key skills: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, grammatical knowledge and vocabulary range. The test can be taken on either a computer or on paper.

Test format

There are multiple forms of the test (Forms D, E, F, G, H and I), which are parallel in difficulty. Each form has unique content—no questions are shared across the different forms.

All the CaMLA EPT forms use the same test format:

  • The test lasts 60 minutes.
  • There are 80 questions.
  • All questions are multiple-choice, with three options for questions in the listening section, and four options for the questions in the other sections.[3]

The CaMLA EPT has the following test sections:

Section of the testNumber of questionsQuestion types[4]
Listening comprehension25Question type 1: test takers hear a question or statement requiring a response and select the most appropriate response from three options.

Question type 2: test takers hear a short conversation between two speakers and answer a question about the conversation by selecting the most appropriate response from three options.

Grammar in conversational contexts20Test takers read a short conversational exchange between two speakers where part of the exchange has been omitted. Test takers are asked to correctly complete the exchange by selecting the most appropriate word or phrase from four options.
Selection of vocabulary to fit the context of single sentences20Test takers read a sentence where one word has been removed. Test takers are asked to correctly complete the sentence by selecting the most appropriate word from four options.
Reading comprehension of sentences and texts15Question type 1: test takers are presented with one sentence, followed by a question concerning its meaning. Test takers must select the correct answer from four options.

Question type 2: test takers are presented with a short reading passage (approx 150 words), followed by 4 to 5 reading comprehension questions. Test takers must select the correct answer for each question from four options.

Question type 3: test takers are presented with a longer reading passage (approx 300 words), followed by 5 to 6 reading comprehension questions. Test takers must select the correct answer for each question from four options.

The computer-based test contains exactly the same items, in exactly the same order, as the paper-based test.[5] Research has shown that the two different delivery methods lead to test takers achieving statistically equivalent results.[6]

Scoring

In the computer-based test, results are available instantly as soon as the test is completed.[1]

In the paper-based test, the institution scores the test using the provided scoring template. Institutions can administer the test, calculate scores and report back to test takers within one day.

Test-takers receive a total score between 0–80. Scores have been allocated into six levels of language ability, although it is up to each institution to determine their exact cut-off points.

Test scores are also linked to the proficiency levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR).

CaMLA EPT scoreLevel of language abilityCaMLA EPT scoreCEFR Level[7]
0–26Beginner0–30A1
27–40Beginner (High)31–38A2
41–50Intermediate (Low)39–52B1
51–61Intermediate53–60B2
62–68Advanced (Low)61–80C1
69–80Advanced61–80C1

Older versions of the CaMLA EPT Test (e.g. Forms A, B and C) use the same scoring approach. Institutions can use equivalence tables to see how raw scores on the current forms of the test compare to the raw scores on the older version of the test, which had 100 items.[8]

Usage

Typically, the CaMLA EPT is used by language schools to test incoming language learners whose English language level is not known. Test scores are used to place learners in level-appropriate classes.

Institutions may administer the CaMLA EPT again after a period of instruction to assess learners’ readiness to advance to the next level course. Alternatively, institutions may choose to use tests specifically focused at a learner’s level, such as the MTELP Series to measure the learner’s progress.

Many English language institutions use CaMLA EPT to make placement decisions and as proof of English language proficiency. Examples include:

Preparation

CaMLA provides free sample test questions on the official website.

See also

References
  1. "(cb) CaMLA EPT | CaMLA". www.cambridgemichigan.org. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  2. http://www.cambridgemichigan.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/EPT-Development-Report-2013.pdf Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 29 August 2015
  3. "CaMLA EPT | CaMLA". www.cambridgemichigan.org. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  4. "CaMLA EPT Sample Items - CaMLA". www.cambridgemichigan.org. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  5. Cambridge Michigan Language Assessments (2015-06-24), CaMLA Computer-Based English Placement Test (CB EPT), retrieved 2015-08-29
  6. CaMLA, Comparing the paper-based and computer-based CaMLA EPT, http://www.cambridgemichigan.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/ept-pb-cb-comparison-20141222.pdf Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 29 August 2015
  7. CaMLA, Linking the Common European Framework of Reference and the CaMLA English Placement Test, http://www.cambridgemichigan.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/EPT-Technical-Report-20140625.pdf Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 29 August 2015
  8. Walter, D. & Hentschel, J., September 2013, CaMLA English Placement Test (EPT) Forms D-F: Development Report, http://www.cambridgemichigan.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/EPT-Development-Report-2013.pdf Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 29 August 2015
  9. http://www.aec.edu/sites/default/files/AEC-2015-Catalog-CF.pdf Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 29 August 2015
  10. https://www.an.edu/documents-library/international/eli/ESL-Faculty-Handbook.pdf Accessed 29 August 2015
  11. http://astarinstitute.org/american-english-culture-programs/placement-tests/Accessed 29 August 2015 Archived 2014-07-19 at the Wayback Machine
  12. https://www.auc.edu/ICS/icsfs/2015_JULY3_-_AUC_Catalog_-_Final_Online_Version.pdf?target=892cf5e7-3910-49d0-a54d-915ab6ae71d7 Archived 2015-09-05 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 29 August 2015
  13. "Intensive English Language Programs in the US | Intensive English USA | Carson-Newman University". intensiveenglishusa.org. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  14. "Placement and Progress". chicagoivy.com. 2014-02-22. Archived from the original on 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  15. http://www.newamericacollege.org/wp-content/uploads/NAC_handbook_2014.pdf Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 29 August 2015
  16. http://www.sacredheart.edu/media/sacredheart/academics/ug2015/admissions.pdf Archived 2015-09-05 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 29 August 2015<
  17. http://www.solex.edu/assets/Docs/SOLEX-College-Catalog.pdf Archived 2015-09-08 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 29 August 2015<
  18. http://www.ucwv.edu/uploadedFiles/University_of_Charleston/Faculty_and_Staff/Faculty_Center/Advisor_Documents/Advising%20International%20Students.pdf%5B%5D Accessed 29 August 2015
  19. "ESL Placement Exam | English as Second Language | Webster University". 2016-08-23. Archived from the original on 2016-08-23. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
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