1. The National Examinations in Foreign Languages in Slovakia
Ivana Pichaničová
Network meeting
Relating language curricula, tests and examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference
GRAZ, 3 – 4 October 2017

2. Content Introduction of NUCEM
The development and current trends of school-leaving examination (Maturita) in foreign languages in Slovakia
Characteristic features of foreign languages tests, tested skills, written part of the Maturita
Perspectives of foreign languages testing - English language test on level A2 in Testing 9 (at primary schools)

3. NÚCEM Primary mission: was established on the 1st September 2008
implementation of educational measurements:
the secondary school-leaving examination (Maturita): external part & written form of the internal part
Testing 5 and Testing 9 (testing of the 5th and 9th grade primary school pupils)
international measurements according to the programs in which the Slovak Republic participates (PISA, PIRLS, TIMSS)
research and development in the area of educational measurements
evaluation of the quality of education in SR

4. Maturita – the school-living exam
regular exam date (March), substitute examinations (April) and repair tests (September)
instructions are translated also in Hungarian language
adaptations for students with health disadvantages
STRUCTURE
External part
Internal written part
Internal oral part
The 1st Foreign Language (Eng)
4-year grammar school  4 hours per week
secondary vocational schools and conservatories  min 3 hours /week.

5. The development and current trends of Maturita in foreign languages in Slovakia
until 2004
School-leaving examination (MATURITA exam) in foreign languages – only oral exam
Examiners: internal teachers + one external teacher, internally prepared topics
External elements: missing (objectivity, reliability, comparability of students)
Disappointment (memorizing)
2000
New model of MATURITA – external part and written form of internal part of foreign languages
(comparable to EU countries, external tests, written part)

6. The development and current trends of Maturita in foreign languages in Slovakia
2000 – 2003
the pilot tests
2004
the New Maturita test rehearsal
since 2005
MATURITA exam (including foreign languages ) obligatory
2008
The New School Act came into force
foundation of NÚCEM
external part and written form of internal part of Maturita exam (including the foreign languages) prepared and organised by NÚCEM

7. The development and current trends of Maturita in foreign languages in Slovakia
2008
preparation of relevant documents based on National Curricula (for foreign languages primarily based on CEFR descriptors):
the Catalogue of requirements for graduates (structure and content of school leaving exam) - created and updated by National Institute for Education
since 2012
secondary grammar school students (B2 level)
secondary vocational students (B1/ B2 level)
since 2015
cancelled the possibility of replacing the foreign language Maturita by language certificate (Cambridge, TOEFL, etc.)
since 2017
bilingual school students (C1 level)

8. Foreign language/level
The development and current trends of Maturita in foreign languages (FL) in Slovakia
Foreign language/level
2000
Eng/A
2006
FL/A, B
FL (Eng, Ger/1,2)
FL/A, B, C
2004
Eng, Ger/1, 2
FL/B1, B2
2005
Eng, Ger/A, B
2016
Eng, Ger, Rus / C1
Fre, Rus, Spa/A, B
2017
Eng, Ger, Rus/C1 FL
6 Foreign languages (Eng, Fre, Ger, Ita, Rus, Spa)
Pilot tests
Rehearsal exam
MATURITA

9. Number of students in Maturita of English and German Language

10. Number of students in Maturita of other Foreign languages
The graph shows that the number of pupils from other foreign languages is still decreasing, with the greatest interest in Russian language at secondary vocational schools.

11. Characteristics of foreign language (FL) tests, tested skills, written part of Maturita
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
(CEFR)
National Curriculum
Catalogue of requirements
for graduates
from FL FL
TESTS
B1, B2, C1
Maturita tests are based on the CEFR and are in line with the national curriculum. This provides a key document for test development the Catalogue of requirements
for graduates
Language descriptors

12. MATURITA Subjects External part Time & Items structure Written part
mc = multiple choice (items)
o = open-ended (items)
Subjects
External part
Time &
Items structure
Written part
Time
languages of instruction
(SLL, SLSL, ULL, HLL)
100 min
(40 mc + 24 o)
150 min
foreign languages B1 level
(36 mc + 24 o )
60 min
foreign languages B2 level
120 min
(46 mc + 34 o)
foreign languages C1 level
(64 mc + 26 o)
90 min
Mathematics
(10 mc + 20 o) -

13. Test (external part of MATURITA)B1 B2 C1
Time
100
120
150
Listening Comprehension
3 recordings
20 items
(30 min)
30 items
(40 min)
Language in Use
2 texts
(25 min)
3 texts
40 items
(45 min)
(40 min)
Reading Comprehension
(45 min)
20 items (45 min)
4 texts
30 items (70 min)

14. (written form of internal part of MATURITA)
Writing
(written form of internal part of MATURITA)
Conditions:
students write their essays at the same time
the topic is designed by NÚCEM, the same topic in all FL (different for B1+ B2 vs. C1)
students are not allowed to use dictionaries
assignment is based on the topics specified in the catalogue of requirements for graduates
Level
Time (min)
Range (words) B1 60
160 – 180 B2
200 – 220 C1 90
260 – 320 (min 180)

15. Supporting documents published by NÚCEM
Test specifications for teachers
Guidelines and evaluation criteria
Final reports
task performance
item characteristics
test quality, test scores
the achievements of students - in percentage in different skills
All tests, answer keys and answer sheets are published as didactical material after the test in the electronic form in the .pdf format on NUCEM website

16. Publishing
school results

17. Perspectives of foreign languages testing Teaching and testing foreign language (FL) at primary schools
The general objective of FL teaching in Slovak Republic (SR)
ensure the communication level B1/B2 according the CEFR in the 1st FL and the communication level A2/B1 according to CEFR in the 2nd FL for all pupils of the education system in the SR at the end of the secondary school
Since 2011 English language compulsory for all pupils from 3rd to 9th grade of primary school for 3 hrs/week in each school year + 2nd FL from 6th to 9th grade for 4 hrs together for 4 years
Since 2015 the second foreign language optional
Summative tests in school level prepared by FL teachers

18. Perspectives of foreign languages testing - English language test on level A2 in Testing 9
Primary goals
To monitor knowledge, skills + key competencies (reading and mathematical literacy) of pupils at the end of lower secondary education
Tested subjects: Slovak language, Mathematics, Languages of instructions (Hungarian, Ukrainian)
To give a pupil a certificate of his or her success  Secondary schools accept student's results in T9 as one criterion in the entrance process
To guarantee the objectivity of the evaluation (exams)
We'd like to extend the testing 9 to the English language

19. English language test on level A2 in Testing 9
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
(CEFR)
National Curriculum
English language
level A2
Pedagogic documentation
ISCED 2
Language descriptors

20. English language test on level A2 in Testing 9
2010 – 2011: test specifications
2011 – 2012: test development
2011 – 2012: pilot testing
In the years 2010 to 2013, we launched a project (co-financed from EU) resources in which we prepared and piloted tests of A2 level according the CEFR.
2013: test samples + materials

21. English language test on level A2 in Testing 9
Basic information (structure and tasks):
60 items – 100 min
Instructions for A2 level test – in Slovak language
Listening Comprehension: 4 texts/exercises with 5 items = 20 test items aimed at listening (30 min)
Reading Comprehension + Language in Use (Grammar and Vocabulary): 8 texts/exercises with 5 items = 40 test items aimed at reading + grammar and vocabulary (70 min)
Multiple choice, matching, gap filling, true/false, open cloze, multiple-choice cloze, word formation

22. English language test on level A2 in Testing 9
Having results both from testing at A2 and B1/B2/C1 will be beneficial for teachers in 2nd degree of primary schools and also of secondary and grammar schools
Will A2 English language test
become a part of T9?
...still unknown (based on decision of the Ministry of Education)

23. Request specification for RELANG workshop Slovak Republic
Expectations:
- to increase qualification of item writers and test developers in linkage FL tests to the CERF
- to ensure that national language examinations are of a high standard and are fully in line with the CERF framework.
Objectives to be reached through the project activity:
- screening of foreign language tests (A2) for their links to the levels in the CEFR
- linking the tests and examinations to the (levels in the) CEFR and the validation of the linking process
Languages:
Primarily English, also German, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian
Target groups: language test developers, language testers and examiners, item writers and curriculum developers, examination center management
The evaluation of this activity will be carried out by the participants themselves in the form of a questionnaire. At the same time, the preparation and implementation of the workshop will be checked and evaluated by representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic.

24. Thank you for your attention.