September 2009

Defense Language Institute

English Language Center
Lackland Air Force Base, Texas

American Language Course

Placement Test

HANDBOOK
 PREFACE

This September 2009 edition of the Handbook for the American Language Course Placement
Test (ALCPT) provides information and instructions for obtaining, administering, scoring,
interpreting, and controlling the ALCPT. It supersedes the previously published Handbook for
the American Language Course Placement Test (ALCPT), February 2008.

There are currently 30 forms of the ALCPT available for purchase; new test forms are developed
each year. Previously available ALCPT forms may still be used. If these exams have been kept
secure and have been used solely for testing purposes, they should yield reliable English
comprehension proficiency scores. Scores achieved on currently available ALCPTs (Forms 61-
90) do not require the use of a conversion table.

Inquiries concerning this handbook, including requests for copies, should be addressed to:

DLIELC/LESL
2235 Andrews Ave.
Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 78236-5259
or
E-Mail: LESL@lackland.af.mil

Recommendations for improving this handbook are encouraged. Letters should be addressed to:

DLIELC/LEAT
2230 Andrews Ave.
Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 78236-5207
or
E-Mail: DLITesting@lackland.af.mil

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 HANDBOOK FOR THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE
PLACEMENT TEST (ALCPT)
CONTENTS
PAGE

PREFACE i

TABLE OF CONTENTS ii

CHAPTER 1 - DESCRIPTION OF TEST 1

A. PURPOSE 1
B. SPECIFICATIONS AND FORMAT 1
C. TEST KIT COMPONENTS 1

CHAPTER 2 - TEST SECURITY 2

A. APPOINTMENT OF TEST CONTROL OFFICER 2
B. PHYSICAL CONTROL OF TEST MATERIALS 2
C. PREVENTION OF TEST COMPROMISE 2
D. PROCEDURE FOR LOST OR COMPROMISED ALCPTs 2
TEST CONTROL OFFICER (TCO) MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD (MFR) 4
ALCPT ADMINISTRATION LOG 5

CHAPTER 3 - DIRECTIONS FOR TEST ADMINISTRATION 6

A. NUMBERING TEST BOOKLETS 6
B. TESTING FACILITIES 6
C. SELECTION OF TEST FORM 6
D. ADMINISTRATIVE SECURITY 6
E. GUIDANCE FOR THE TEST ADMINISTRATOR 7

CHAPTER 4 - DIRECTIONS FOR SCORING 9

A. DOUBLE MARKS 9
B. USING THE SCORING KEY 9
C. SECURITY 9
ALCPT ROSTER 10

CHAPTER 5 - PROGRAMMING FOR LANGUAGE TRAINING 11

A. USING ALCPT SCORES FOR PLACEMENT 11
B. PLACEMENT AND PROGRAM SIZE 11
C. OTHER USES OF ALCPT SCORES 11
TABLE - GUIDELINES FOR PLACEMENT 12
D. RELATIONSHIP OF THE ALCPT TO THE ECL 12

CHAPTER 6 - OBTAINING THE ALCPT 13

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 CHAPTER 1

DESCRIPTION OF TEST

A. PURPOSE

The American Language Course Placement Test (ALCPT) is a proficiency test of listening
and reading comprehension in English. It can be used to place students in the American
Language Course (ALC) and to screen students for readiness to take the English Comprehension
Level (ECL) test. The ECL test is the official instrument used by the United States government
to measure the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers who are candidates
for US military training, and it is a strictly controlled assessment tool. Using the ALCPT to
determine a candidates progress reduces exposure to the ECL and helps minimize the possibility
of test compromise.

B. SPECIFICATIONS AND FORMAT

1. There are 30 alternate forms of the ALCPT currently available: Forms 61 through 90.
Each form is of approximately the same difficulty level, and each consists of a listening part and
a reading part. Both parts of the test contain four-option multiple-choice items that test some
aspects of grammar, vocabulary, and reading. All available ALCPT forms contain 100
questions.

2. Part I (66 items) of the ALCPT is presented aurally. The student listens to spoken
English in the form of questions, statements, and dialogs on the test tape and selects the correct
answer in the test booklet. Part II (34 questions) in the same booklet consists of reading items
and is designed to test the ability of the student to understand written material. The student
marks his or her answers (a, b, c, or d) for both parts of the test on a separate answer sheet. The
student does not mark the test booklet, which permits reuse of the booklet and easier scoring.

C. TEST KIT COMPONENTS

Each of the forms of the ALCPT currently available may be bought separately. Each form is
sold as a kit consisting of the following items:

ITEM QUANTITY
1. Cassette Tapes * 2
2. Test Booklets 25
3. Scoring Keys 2
4. Handbook for the ALCPT 1
5. ALCPT Administration Log 1
* One audio compact disc (CD) is available in lieu of two cassettes.

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 CHAPTER 2

TEST SECURITY

A. APPOINTMENT OF TEST CONTROL OFFICER

A Test Control Officer (TCO) and Alternate Test Control Officer(s) (ATCO) should be
appointed at each facility which uses the ALCPT. (A sample Memorandum for Record [MFR]
for appointing the test control officers can be found on the next page.) These authorized officials
should control and administer the ALCPT.

B. PHYSICAL CONTROL OF TEST MATERIALS

All ALCPT components are controlled test items and must be handled accordingly. The
validity of test results depends on proper control and security of these materials. Controlled
items should be:

1. Stored in a locked cabinet when not in use.

2. Accounted for by serial number and inventoried at least annually by the TCO.

3. Logged each time they are used and the log retained at least one year. (A sample log can
be found on page 4.)

4. Handled, transported, and administered only by authorized personnel.

C. PREVENTION OF TEST COMPROMISE

The most important consideration under the general topic of test security is test
compromise. One of the easiest ways to compromise any test is through its inappropriate
use. No ALCPT should be administered for practice or training purposes. The
entire series of ALCPT forms can be quickly compromised through too frequent
administration of the various forms. For overseas intensive English-language programs,
the recommended frequency would be to administer one ALCPT to students upon class
entry and another ALCPT upon class exit. If the intensive course is 6 or more months
long, a mid-point ALCPT might be also administered. At overseas sites, the ALCPT can
also be administered on a one-time basis to screen candidates for the ECL test, to
evaluate the English language abilities of local personnel working for the military, to
qualify for in-country positions requiring a designated level of English, etc. An effective,
efficient approach is to develop and publish a schedule, e.g., the second Tuesday of each
month, so candidates can register and arrange to sit for the exam. The test administrator
can better track the test takers and the test forms used, and reduce multiple test
administrations. For CONUS sites, such as MEPS stations or ROTC sites, testing should
be consolidated as much as is feasible.

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D. PROCEDURE FOR LOST OR COMPROMISED ALCPTs

The loss or compromise of the ALCPT or of any of its parts should be reported immediately
to the TCO. The TCO should stop all testing at once and conduct an investigation to determine
the cause of the problem. When any form of the ALCPT has been compromised, that form
should be withdrawn and not used for a period of one year.

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 MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

SUBJECT: Appointment of Test Control Officer (TCO) and Alternate Test Control Officer (ATCO)
for the American Language Course Placement Test (ALCPT)

REF: Handbook for the American Language Course Placement Test (latest issue)

1. The following personnel are appointed subject duties IAW reference, effective _______________, and
until officially relieved or released from appointment. Signatures below signify that the appointee has
read and understood the Handbook for the American Language Course Placement Test and agrees to
follow its provisions.

________________________________ _______________________________________________
TCO (print or type name) RANK and SERVICE (grade and title, if civilian)

E-MAIL ADDRESS SIGNATURE

ATCO (print or type name) RANK and SERVICE (grade and title, if civilian)

E-MAIL ADDRESS SIGNATURE

ATCO (print or type name) RANK and SERVICE (grade and title, if civilian)

E-MAIL ADDRESS SIGNATURE

_____
ATCO (print or type name) RANK and SERVICE (grade and title, if civilian)

E-MAIL ADDRESS SIGNATURE

2. Appointments above supersede those of the previous TCO/ATCOs (provide names):

________________________
Signature of Appointing Official Date

________________________
Name/Rank/Title of Appointing Official (typed or printed) E-mail Address

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 PAGE
DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CENTER NUMBER
ALCPT TEST ADMINISTRATION LOG __ of __

OUT IN
BOOKLET
TEST TAPE/CD ANSWER CONVERSION NUMBER TEST TIME NAME OF TEST TIME NAME OF TEST
NUMBERS
FORM NO. KEY NO. TABLE NO.* TESTED DATE CHECKED ADMINISTRATOR CHECKED ADMINISTRATOR
e.g., 52 FROM TO OUT (TCO or ATCO Only) IN (TCO or ATCO Only)

* Previously available versions of the ALCPT (Forms 1R 35R) used conversion tables.

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 CHAPTER 3

DIRECTIONS FOR TEST ADMINISTRATION

A. NUMBERING TEST BOOKLETS

Each new test booklet should be numbered upon receipt to help account for materials.

B. TESTING FACILITIES

The testing room should be well lighted, ventilated, and quiet. A sign with a warning such as
"QUIET - TESTING IN PROGRESS" should be placed on the door and in nearby areas to keep
noise at a minimum. Students should be positioned far enough from each other to ensure the
integrity and validity of test results.

C. SELECTION OF TEST FORM

To minimize the possibility of test compromise, the TCO should use a different form of the
ALCPT at each testing session, and the test forms should be alternated randomly.

D. ADMINISTRATIVE SECURITY

1. Instructors must not become familiar with ALCPT test items, as doing so places
instructors in the position of either teaching items they know to be on the test, or avoiding the
subject matter entirely to prevent "teaching the test." Both of these situations may result in test
bias and compromise.

2. The TCO is responsible for ensuring the proper administration of the ALCPT and may
authorize other persons to be test administrators and proctors. Proctors should be available at a
ratio of one for every 15 students. They should observe the students continuously during the
testing period. No one other than the students and authorized testing personnel should be in the
testing room during the test. When it is necessary, interpreters may serve to identify students and
assist them with preliminary test directions; however, these interpreters must leave the room
before the test begins.

3. Students should not bring anything into the testing room, and they should not leave until
they have finished the test and returned all test materials. Students who leave the room before
completing the test should not be permitted to return to the test room. They should be scheduled
for retesting with another form of the ALCPT. The test administrator should brief all students on
this requirement before the test begins.

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 4. The test administrator should issue to the student an answer sheet, two sharpened pencils,
an eraser, and a test booklet. Test booklets should be checked before and after testing, to ensure
that all pages are intact and that there are no extraneous marks. The test administrator should
also check photo IDs and assign seats. Students should not be informed of seat assignments until
they report to the test area.

5. When testing is completed, the administrator should collect all materials and check all
booklets to make sure that all are accounted for and that examinees have not marked the pages.

E. GUIDANCE FOR THE TEST ADMINISTRATOR

1. Steps to Take Before the Test Begins. The test administrator should:

a. Prepare the answer sheets before giving them to the students, or have the students fill
in the information just before beginning the test.

b. Before the arrival of the students, make sure the tape or CD player is functioning
correctly, and check to ensure the tape/audio CD can be heard by all examinees. A tape or CD
other than that in the ALCPT kit should be used to conduct this sound check.

c. Be careful not to erase a cassette tape when playing or rewinding.

d. Instruct the students not to mark on or in the test booklet, and to mark only one
answer for each question on the answer sheet.

2. Procedures for Administration of the ALCPT.

a. At the start, the test administrator should say: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU
ARE HERE TO TAKE AN AMERICAN LANGUAGE COURSE PLACEMENT TEST.
DO NOT TALK OR COMMUNICATE IN ANY WAY DURING THE EXAMINATION.
IF YOU MUST LEAVE THE ROOM BEFORE FINISHING THE TEST, I WILL PICK
UP YOUR TEST MATERIALS, AND YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO RETURN
TO THE ROOM TODAY. YOU WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR A RETEST AT A LATER
DATE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, RAISE YOUR HAND AND I WILL HELP
YOU. I WILL PASS OUT THE ANSWER SHEETS NOW. DO YOUR BEST.

b. At this time, only the answer sheets should be distributed to the students.

(1) If the answer sheets have already been filled out, the test administrator should
say: CHECK THE INFORMATION ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET TO BE SURE IT IS
CORRECT.

(2) If the students are to fill out their own answer sheets, the test administrator will
instruct them on how to do so properly. The test administrator should prepare the exact wording
of the instructions to ensure completeness of all needed student information. The test
administrator should check for accuracy of the information.

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 c. Each test booklet indicates the actual time limit for Parts I and II of the test. These
times do not include the time required for giving instructions or passing out test material. It is
important that the test administrator follow the time limits carefully.

d. Before the booklets are distributed, the test administrator should say: I WILL NOW
PASS OUT THE TEST BOOKLETS. WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE TEST BOOKLET,
YOU SHOULD WRITE THE NUMBER OF THE TEST BOOKLET ON THE ANSWER
SHEET. DO NOT OPEN THE BOOKLETS UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

e. The test administrator should hand a test booklet to each student. After all the test
booklets are passed out, the test administrator should say: THE TEST CONSISTS OF TWO
PARTS: PART I - LISTENING AND PART II - READING. MARK ONE ANSWER, A,
B, C, OR D, FOR EACH ITEM ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET. MAKE A HEAVY, DARK
MARK ON THE LETTER. MAKE ONLY ONE MARK FOR EACH QUESTION. IF
YOU MAKE A MISTAKE OR AN EXTRA MARK, ERASE IT COMPLETELY.
ANSWER EACH QUESTION, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT SURE OF THE CORRECT
ANSWER. DO NOT MARK THE TEST BOOKLET. MARK ONLY YOUR ANSWER
SHEET. NOW OPEN THE TEST BOOKLET AND LISTEN TO THE DIRECTIONS.
The test administrator then starts the ALCPT tape or CD. The test administrator should not stop
it or replay any portion of it. It should be played only one time during the test. Repeating any
portion of it will adversely affect the validity and reliability of the test results.

f. The TCO or a test administrator should be in the testing room at all times during the
test administration. The test administrator should not permit any talking during the examination
and should listen and watch for any signs of attempted communication between students, such as
pencil tapping or other movements. The test administrator should stop any suspicious behavior
by standing quietly behind the suspected student. Students should work independently.

g. At the end of the audio portion, the students will hear a voice say, THIS IS THE
END OF THE LISTENING PART OF THE TEST. When Part I is finished, the test
administrator should say: YOU MAY BEGIN PART II NOW. YOU WILL HAVE _____
MINUTES TO COMPLETE THE TEST. (See the front of test booklet for the time limit for
Part II.) The test administrator will also post the exact completion time in writing: THE TEST
ENDS AT _____. The test administrator may give the examinees a ten-minute warning and a
one-minute warning before the end of the test.

h. Students who finish the test early should raise their hands. The test administrator
should collect each student's answer sheet, test booklet, and pencils, and should check the test
booklet before the student leaves. The student should then leave the room quietly.

i. When the allotted time has been completed, the test administrator should say: STOP!
THE TEST IS OVER. PUT YOUR PENCILS DOWN. CLOSE THE TEST BOOKLETS.
REMAIN IN YOUR PLACES UNTIL I HAVE COLLECTED ALL THE TEST
MATERIALS.

j. The test administrator should first collect all the test booklets and then all the answer
sheets and pencils.

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 CHAPTER 4

DIRECTIONS FOR SCORING

A. DOUBLE MARKS

The test administrator should scan the answer sheets to see if any items have more than one
letter marked. These items should be counted wrong.

B. USING THE SCORING KEY

1. Each ALCPT Form has a unique scoring key. The test administrator should not mark the
correct answers on completed answer sheets. Doing so will create additional answer keys and
increase the potential for test compromise.

2. The test administrator should place the key over the student answer sheet, making sure
that they are properly aligned, then count the number of correct responses and record the score
on the answer sheet.

C. SECURITY

1. The TCO should ensure that all answer sheets are scored in a secure area with no
students present.

2. For record keeping purposes, the TCO may wish to maintain a roster for each test
administration, to include such information as names of examinees, test form, date administered,
and scores. A sample ALCPT Roster is shown on the next page. For test security, scored
answer sheets that have already been logged should be destroyed by shredding or burning.

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 ALCPT ROSTER
TEST BOOKLET DATE ID RAW CONVERTED
RANK NAME (LAST, FIRST, MI) NUMBER SCORE * DISPOSITION
VERSION NO. OF TEST SCORE

* Previously available versions of the ALCPT (Forms 1R 35R) used conversion tables.

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 CHAPTER 5

PROGRAMMING FOR LANGUAGE TRAINING

IN THE ALC CURRICULUM

A. USING ALCPT SCORES FOR PLACEMENT

Students can be placed at different levels in the ALC based on their ALCPT scores as well as
other information, such as records of a student's language background and/or student interviews.
This background data may be useful in determining if and for how long a student has previously
studied English, as well as in providing a rough idea of the student's communicative ability in
English. Such information is especially critical for students with low ALCPT scores. Since the
ALCPT is a multiple-choice test, students can score up to 25 or 30 just from guessing answers.
Scores in this range do not reliably measure a student's English proficiency. The table on the
next page provides guidelines on using ALCPT scores to place students in appropriate levels of
the ALC program. The table shows an acceptable range of ALCPT PLACEMENT SCORES for
each of the ALC books.

B. PLACEMENT AND PROGRAM SIZE

Placement in a particular ALC program will depend somewhat on situations within that
program. A training program that has 100 new students entering each week can have more
classes and more precise placement than a program with only 50 new students each month.
Where precise placement is required, the appropriate ALCPT range information for each ALC
book (see table) may be helpful, or book quiz scores can be used.

C. OTHER USES OF ALCPT SCORES

1. Monitoring Progress. The table also gives suggestions for monitoring progress through
the ALC materials. Once students are placed, this chart can be used to check for satisfactory
progress and appropriate subsequent placement. The table shows the expected ALCPT
ADVANCEMENT SCORE for each ALC book. Book quiz scores can be used to indicate
readiness for advancement to the next book; however, a passing book quiz score alone does not
warrant continual advancement in the ALC. Care should be taken to ensure that ALCPT scores
are high enough for advancement. Conversely, if a student's ALCPT score is consistently above
the PLACEMENT SCORE range, the student may not be placed correctly. The program
administrator may want to consider advancement to a higher-level book.

2. Graduation Requirement. The ALCPT score required for graduation from the ALC will
depend on the English proficiency requirements of the training program each student is in, and
the requirement may vary from student to student.

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GUIDELINES FOR PLACEMENT IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING
AND ADVANCEMENT IN THE ALC BOOKS, 1-34
ALCPT and ECL RANGE
FOR:

PLACE- ADVANCE- PLACE- ADVANCE-

BOOK MENT MENT BOOK MENT MENT
SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE
1 0* 0* 18 59 - 63 61
2 0* 0* 19 61 - 65 63
3 0* 0* 20 63 - 67 65
4 0* - 29 0* 21 65 - 69 67
5 0* - 29 0* 22 67 - 71 69
6 0* - 29 25 23 69 - 73 71
7 25 - 33 29 24 71 - 74 73
8 29 - 37 33 25 73 - 75 74
9 33 - 41 37 26 74 - 76 75
10 37 - 45 41 27 75 - 77 76
11 41 - 49 45 28 76 - 78 77
12 45 - 51 49 29 77 - 79 78
13 49 - 53 51 30 78 - 81 80
14 51 - 55 53 31 79 - 82 80+
15 53 - 57 55 32 80 - 83 80+
16 55 - 59 57 33 81 - 84 80+
17 57 - 61 59 34 82 - 85 80+

* ALCPT and ECL scores of 29 or below cannot be considered valid indicators of a students
proficiency. Students at this level should be placed in appropriate books based on instructor
evaluation.

D. RELATIONSHIP OF THE ALCPT TO THE ECL

The content specifications (item types and formats, objectives, instructions, etc.) of the ECL
and the ALCPT are, by design, consistent. The two tests are generated using the same computer
program based on Item Response Theory (IRT), and they are statistically equivalent. When
administered under secure, controlled conditions, the tests yield comparable scores. The
correlation between uncompromised forms of the two tests is .95 or higher. Further information
on the reliability of the ECL and ALCPT test-generating system can be found in the following
article: Henning, G. (1994), Automated assembly of pre-equated language proficiency tests,
Language Testing, 11 (1), 15-28.

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 CHAPTER 6

OBTAINING THE ALCPT

A. DLIELC is the sole source for procurement for all ALC materials. Procedures for ordering
the ALCPT are included in the current catalog of ALC materials. Information is provided on
IMET programming and IMET requisitions, as well as on direct requisitioning from DLIELC
and on FMS-funded purchases. All requests for purchase of ALCPT materials must be screened
by the DLIELC Test & Measurement Branch. Organizations interested in purchasing the
ALCPT should submit an ALCPT Request form found online at:
http://www.dlielc.edu/testing/ALCPT.html.

B. The catalog may be accessed on the DLIELC website, http://www.dlielc.edu, under Courses
and Materials. To receive a hard copy of the catalog, contact the Logistics Branch (LESL) at
DSN 473-4711 (FAX 473-3063), commercial 210-671-4711 (FAX 210-671-3063) or email:
LESL@lackland.af.mil.

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