Alignment to China’s Standards of English Language Ability (CSE)

The UK-China business engagement programme organised by BESA introduced Klik2learn to Chinese education institutions and policy makers. As part of that engagement Klik2learn mapped it’s digital English courses to China’s Standards of English Language Ability (CSE). See the diagram below for a visual representation of how Klik2learn courses map to the CSE.

Alignment of digital English courses to the CSE

The diagram below shows how the Klik2learn courses align to China’s Standards of English Language Ability (CSE) using the research findings of the The National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA), Ministry of Education, China and the British Council (BC). 

Diagram - Linking Digital English Courses to CSE, CEFR & IELTS

CSE English Levels Aligned to Klik2learn Online Course

Version 1.2, 7 April 2021

CEFR as an international reference tool

The diagram links Klik2learn courses to the CSE and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Klik2learn’s digital courses correspond with levels A1 to C2 on the Common Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The CEFR is an international standard for describing language ability and has is widely used as a reference tool for teaching, learning and assessment. It means employers and educational institutions can compare qualifications to other exams in their country.

The CEFR broad levels of ‘basic user’, ‘independent user’ and ‘proficient user’ are broken down into two sublevels;

  • Basic Users levels A1 and A2
  • Independent Users levels B1 and B2
  • Proficient Users levels C1 and C2

Klik2learn’s Journey 2 Basic Skills course also includes a module for pre-beginner users with no knowledge of the English language (A0) through to A1 and A2.

To learn what each level of the CEFR means click here.

Linking IELTS Test Score

The diagram also links the digital English courses to the IELTS test to help educationalists understand how the course curricular (content) maps to the IELTS scoring system. IELTS is a world leading English language test for higher education and global migration that is jointly owned by The British Council, IDP:  IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English. Each over 3 million IELTS tests are taken by people seeking to demonstrate English language proficiency for education, migration or employment.

Linking CSE levels to school stage

CSE1 (CEFR A1) is specified as the target for the end of primary school,

CSE3 (CEFR A2) for the end of junior secondary school,

CSE5 (CEFR B1) for the end of senior secondary school,

CSE6 (CEFR B1+) for the Basic Requirement level of the CECR,

CSE7 (CEFR B2) for the Intermediate Requirement level of the CECR, and

CSE8 (CEFR C1) for the Advanced Requirement of the CECR.

References:

British Council, Linking IELTS and Aptis to China’s Standards of English Language Ability, 2018

Springer Open, Calibrating the CEFR against the China Standards of English for College English vocabulary education in China, 2017

WENR, An Introduction to China’s College English Test (CET), 2018