IELTS Research Reports

Glenys Merrifieldfrequently moderated, this introduces an element of subjectivity in assessing language competency,but is consistent with what many users of international language tests see as authentic communication.Quality assurance procedures include occasional visits to test centres, monitoring a small sampleof interviews, both live and recorded, re-scoring of approximately ten per cent of written tests andportfolios, an annual moderation session and professional development event for examiners, andstatistical monitoring.Despite a good network of test centres within the UK and some international availability of the test,only one respondent included the ISE III/IV as an alternative to IELTS. It is unlikely that it would betaken up by professional bodies generally because the process is lengthy and difficult for overseasprofessionals to access.3.5 Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN)In Canada, control of language testing, professional standards and licensure has traditionally beendevolved to the provinces, unlike the UK and Ireland, where there is national regulation.However, an overarching body in Canada funded jointly by four of the larger provinces and theDepartment of Citizenship and Immigration Canada established the Centre for Canadian LanguageBenchmarks (CCLB) in the early 1990s, and the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) wereintroduced in 1996. The purpose of developing the benchmarks was not to produce a languageassessment test, but to devise a scheme which would act as a national standard for the description andmeasurement of second language proficiency. It was primarily intended to focus on education and theworkplace for migrants settling in Canada, and to provide a practical curriculum guide. The benchmarksrange from 1 to 12, one being the lowest level of communication and 12 being the highest.The Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) was an assessmentsystem created as an extension of this project to assess specific purpose English language skills ofoverseas trained nurses seeking licensure in Canada.The CELBAN was developed as an alternative to more generic English language assessment systemslike IELTS and TOEFL, and evaluates the four macroskills of speaking and listening, reading andwriting. The CELBAN is now administered by the Canadian English Language Assessment Services(CELAS) Centre, originally established in Winnipeg in 2004. The main disadvantage of the use of thistest is that the CELAS Centre is the only location in which the test can be taken.The CELBAN is recognised by ten Canadian provinces. In order to sit the tests, candidates must bequalified offshore and be in the process of applying for registration in Canada. Many of the provinceshave their own registration body for nurses, and so a new assessment system like the CELBANrequires recognition by each of these bodies, and this recognition is growing. A primary feature of thistest is that it has nursing-specific content, while the more global assessment systems do not, and this isseen by professional nursing associations in Canada as a major advantage.However, the fact that it is only available within Canada means that overseas applicants forregistration, many of whom complete a language assessment prior to applying for registration orrecognition from offshore, need to look for an alternative. IELTS and TOEFL, with their internationalaccessibility, are the primary alternative choices.32 www.ielts.org