Languages in Secondary Education: An Overview of National Tests in Europe 2014/15

The report compares the national assessments of language competencies of secondary school students across 34 European countries and provides comprehensive information on various aspects of national tests in languages that have become increasingly important across Europe. It reviews how the tests are administered – looks at who is responsible for carrying out tests, what students are targeted and what skills are tested. The authors also discuss the varying importance of the tests for students by differentiating between high and low stakes tests. Furthermore, the relationship between national tests and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is also analysed.