Assessment and the National Languages Strategy

Abstract

The Languages Ladder—a new framework for accrediting language proficiency—is a core element of the National Languages Strategy. This paper presents Asset Languages, the system being developed by Cambridge Assessment to implement the Languages Ladder, aiming to set it apart from existing qualification frameworks by accrediting clearly defined functional language skills and providing motivation and support for learning. The paper discusses the challenges of creating a framework which validly serves these two purposes, referring to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) as a model for the Languages Ladder. The scaling and standard‐setting methodology adopted is briefly described. The learner groups catered for by the inclusive Asset Framework differ widely, and comparing them within a common proficiency frame of reference, although a valuable aim, requires us to think clearly about these differences, giving due consideration to specific features of languages, and of learner groups.