For their contribution to the content development and refining of early drafts, acknowledgements
APTIS SCORING SYSTEM
KAREN DUNN
PAGE 3
1. INTRODUCTION
A test’s scoring system is one of three elements that lies at the heart of the test in the socio-cognitive
model of validation (O'Sullivan, 2015). With this core role in mind, the Aptis scoring system has been
developed to provide meaningfulness in the use and interpretation of scores for all stakeholders.
This document explains the key features of the scoring approach for an audience with an interest
in the mechanisms and technicalities of Aptis scores.
2. REPORT SUMMARY
This report describes the scoring and reporting processes in the Aptis suite of tests, as well as
outlining the rigorous standards by which Aptis is constructed and aligned with the Common European
Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (Council of Europe, 2001).
An overview of Aptis score reporting is given in Section 3. This is supported by information about
setting and maintaining standards in Section 4 and the relationship between Aptis and the CEFR in
Section 5. Information about the process by which Aptis is benchmarked to the CEFR and how cut
scores are established is found in Section 6, with further details on CEFR level allocations for
individual skill areas and overall L2 English ability in Sections 7 and 8 respectively. Finally in
Section 9, there is a discussion on the use and interpretation of Aptis test scores, both on the
numerical scale and as CEFR level.
3. OVERVIEW OF
APTIS SCORE
REPORTING
Aptis test performances for the four skills components – Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing –
are reported on two scales: as a numerical score and a CEFR level. Test performance in the Grammar
and Vocabulary component, the “Core” component, is reported as a numerical score only. Candidates
who sit all four skills components, plus Grammar and Vocabulary, are additionally awarded an overall
numerical score and an overall CEFR level which summarises their L2 English language ability.
3.1 Scores and levels for individual skill areas
Scores are allocated for each skill based on candidates’ achievement in the relevant test component.
Writing and Speaking are marked by a team of trained examiners, while Listening, Reading and the
Core component are marked using an automated system. Numerical scores for all components are
reported on a scale of 0–50. The scale score is not equivalent to the raw score, or the number of
correct items. As is common industry practice, raw scores are converted to scale scores for reporting.