The Common European Framework in its political and educational context What is the Common European Framework?

ALTE Breakthrough Level: a basic ability to communicate and exchange information in a
simple way.
Example: CAN ask simple questions about a menu and understand simple answers.
References
Alderson, J. C. 1991: Bands and scores. In: Alderson, J.C. and North, B. (eds.): Language testing in the
1990s. London: British Council / Macmillan, Developments in ELT, 71–86.
North, B. 1996/2000: The development of a common framework scale of language proficiency. PhD thesis,
Thames Valley University. Reprinted 2000, New York, Peter Lang. 
ALTE Handbook of language examinations and examination systems (available from ALTE Secretariat at
UCLES).
For further information about the ALTE project, please contact Marianne Hirtzel at
[e-mail]
Neil Jones, Marianne Hirtzel, University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, March 2000
Appendix D: The ALTE ‘Can Do’ statements
250

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Document D1
AL
TE skill level summaries
AL
TE Lev
e
l
Lis
tening/Speaking
R
eading
W
riting
AL
TE Lev
el 5
C
AN advise on or talk about com
plex or
C
AN unders
tand documents, 
C
AN writ
e lett
ers on an
y subject and full 
sensitiv
e issues, unders
tanding
cor
respondence and repor
ts, including 
not
es of meetings or seminars wit
h good 
colloq
uial ref
erences and dealing
the finer points of com
plex t
exts.
expression and accur
acy
.
confidentl
y wit
h hos
tile q
ues
tions.