Guide for Taking and Scoring

the ECCE Sample Test, Form C

Introduction 5. Turn to the writing section on page 31. Read
the instructions. Then read the topics, choose
Additional information about the Examination for
a task, and begin writing. You should write your
the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE) is
essay on a separate piece of paper. After 30
available at MichiganAssessment.org.
minutes, stop writing.

How to Take the Test Scoring the Test

When you take the sample test you should follow Listening and GVR
these steps. 1. Compare your answers with the answer key.
1. You will need: If your answer matches the answer key then
award yourself one point. If your answer does
a. the sample test not match the answer key do not award yourself
b. the answer sheet a point.
c. access to the audio for the listening section
d. a piece of paper for the writing section 2. Add up all of your correct answers in the
e. pencils listening section. This is your listening section
f. a timing device such as a clock or score.
stopwatch 3. Add up all of your correct answers in the GVR
g. at least three hours of uninterrupted time section. This is your GVR section score.
2. Turn to the general instructions on page 1 of the 4. Read the Interpreting Your Scores section below
sample test. Read the instructions and fill out for an explanation of what your practice test
the answer sheet according to the instructions. listening and GVR scores mean.
3. Turn to the listening section instructions on page Writing
3. Once you start each section of the audio, do 1. Refer to the ECCE Writing Rating Scale and
not pause or stop it. Play the audio files in the writing benchmarks available in the Resources
order presented. Mark your answers directly section of Michigan Language Assessment’s
on the separate answer sheet, not in the test website.
booklet. The listening section takes 30 minutes
total. 2. Read your essay and then read each of the
sample essays. Pay attention to the comments
4. Turn to the grammar, vocabulary, reading (GVR) that accompany each sample.
section instructions on page 17. You have 90
minutes for this section. 3. Compare your essay to the sample essays and
decide which sample is the closest to yours.
4. The score of the sample which is closest to
yours is your score for the writing section. You
should ask a teacher to review your writing and
to confirm that you have chosen the right band
© 2019 Cambridge Michigan Language Assessment. score.

1/2019
ECCE Sample Test — Form C — Guide   1
5. Read the Interpreting Your Scores section below Writing Section
for an explanation of what your sample test
• Scores 28 and above: If you have strictly
essay score means.
followed the instructions for taking the sample
test, you are likely to pass the writing section of
Interpreting Your Scores the ECCE under exam conditions.
When the ECCE is taken under examination • Scores 24 – 27: You have a chance of passing
conditions, the listening section and the grammar, the writing section of the ECCE under exam
vocabulary, reading (GVR) section are scored conditions, but you may benefit from more
electronically using Item Response Theory (IRT). lessons or more practice before you register for
This method ensures that the ability required to the examination.
pass a section, or to receive a high score, remains
the same from year to year. IRT scores are not • Scores 23 and below: You are unlikely to
the same as number-right scores or percentage pass the writing section of the ECCE under
scores, but there is very high correlation between examination conditions and should spend more
the number of correct answers provided and the IRT time improving your English before taking the
scores. examination.

Listening Section Speaking Section

• Scores 38 and above: If you have strictly The ECCE speaking section (please see other
followed the instructions for taking the practice sample tests; a speaking sample is not provided
test, you are likely to pass the listening section with Form C) is scored analytically. Your speaking
of the ECCE under examination conditions. performance is awarded a numeric score derived
from scores assigned to each of the three ECCE
• Scores 32–37: You have a chance of passing speaking scoring criteria: Overall Communicative
the listening section of the ECCE under Effectiveness, Language Control & Resources, and
examination conditions but you may benefit Delivery/Intelligibility. The teacher or expert user
from more lessons or more practice before you of English who conducted your sample speaking
register for the examination. test for you may be able to help you evaluate your
• Scores 31 and below: You are unlikely to competence in spoken English. Use the ECCE
pass the listening section of the ECCE under Speaking Rating Scale and the speaking sample
examination conditions and should spend more test and commentary available in the resources
time improving your English before taking the section of Michigan Language Assessment’s
examination. website. You should assign eight individual scores
in stages 2, 3, and 4 of the ECCE Speaking Test.
Grammar, Vocabulary, and Reading (GVR)
Section If you have followed the instructions for taking a
sample speaking test and your speaking meets
• Scores 65 and above: If you have strictly the scoring criteria of at least at 3 in each of the
followed the instructions for taking the practice scoring sections or a total score of at least 24, then
test, you are likely to pass the GVR section of you have a chance of passing the ECCE speaking
the ECCE under examination conditions. section under exam conditions.
• Scores 60–64: You have a chance of passing
the GVR section of the ECCE under examination
conditions but you may benefit from more
lessons or more practice before you register for
the examination.
• Scores 59 and below: You are unlikely to
pass the GVR section of the ECCE under
examination conditions and should spend more
time improving your English before taking the
examination.

ECCE Sample Test — Form C — Guide   2

Passing the ECCE Overall Important Points to Note
ECCE section scores are reported in five bands. The 1. Although the sample materials are designed to
levels of performance, from highest to lowest, are: be similar in difficulty to the ECCE and will give
you a reasonable idea of how you should expect
to score on the exam, there is no guarantee that
ECCE Reporting System Band Scores
your score on the sample materials will be the
Scaled Score Per Section same as the score you receive when you take
Honors (H) 840–1000 the ECCE.
Pass (P) 750–835 2. The writing section and speaking section scores
Low Pass (LP) 650–745 you receive when you take an ECCE under
Borderline Fail examination conditions are determined by raters
610–645 trained and certified according to standards
(BF)
established by Michigan Language Assessment.
Fail (F) 0–605
It is possible that when you review your own
writing and speaking performance, the scores
ECCE test takers who achieve an average score assigned might be different from those that
of 650 or higher will be awarded a certificate. would have been assigned by certified raters
Additionally, those who achieve a score of 840 and examiners.
or higher in all four sections will be awarded a
Certificate of Competency with Honors.

Look at all your scores on the sample test sections.

• If your score is 28 or higher on the speaking and
writing sections and 38 or above on the listening
section and 65 or above on the GVR section,
you are likely to pass the ECCE under exam
conditions.
• If your score is 24 or higher on the speaking and
writing sections and 32 or higher on the listening
section and 60 or higher on the GVR section,
you have a chance at passing the ECCE under
exam conditions.
If you are able to meet the passing standards on the
sample test, then you are probably ready to take the
ECCE.

ECCE Sample Test — Form C — Guide   3