The CAA International EALTS Code of Practice

The CAAi EALTS adheres to the Code of Practice of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) as a framework for its development and administration. 1 ALTE is an international association with members representing twenty-six languages. It is a non-governmental organisation with special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and an international non-governmental organisation with participatory status in the Council of Europe.

The principal objectives of ALTE are as follows:

  • to promote international recognition of examination certification
  • to establish common minimum standards for all stages of the language testing process
  • to collaborate on joint projects and in the exchange of ideas and know-how

The ALTE Code of Practice focuses on the responsibilities of both examination providers and examination users and covers five principal areas:

  • developing examinations
  • interpreting examination results
  • striving for fairness
  • informing examination takers
  • quality of service

In addition to the ALTE Code of Practice, the specific aviation language test criteria adopted in the development and administration of the EALTS have been drawn from principles of best practice outlined in ICAO Doc. 9835 and detailed by the Proficiency Requirements in Common English Study Group (PRICE SG) in 2005 as contained in ICAO Cir 318-AN/180. 2

N.B. Although the CAAi EALTS has adopted the ALTE Code of practice in its development and administration, no endorsement of the EALTS by ALTE should be inferred.

For more information on ALTE visit: www.ALTE.org. For further information on the ALTE Code of Practice, visit: http://www.alte.org/quality_assurance/index.php and http://www.alte.org/quality_assurance/code/good_practice.pdf

1 c.f. ICAO Doc 9835 Ch.6 Aviation Language Testing 6.4. The CAAi EALTS adherence to the Code of Practice is in the following areas: test development, item and materials writing, test administration, marking and grading, reporting of test results, test analysis and reporting of findings.

2 c.f. ICAO Doc 9835 Ch.6 Aviation Language Testing, ICAO Cir 318-AN/180 Ch.1 Introduction to Language Testing, and ICAO Cir 318-AN/180 Ch.2 Test Design and Construct 1.1.3.