WU Sha National Education Examinations Authority of MOE

　　Abstract:

　　China’s Standards of English Language Ability (2024) (CSE) is the revision of the 2018 version by adding new scales for typical language activities, features of language use, and translation knowledge. As an important language standard, the CSE should be well validated. This study, drawing on the Assessment Use Argument (AUA) framework, proposes claims and corresponding warrants regarding the development and use of the CSE. It primarily focuses on validating the meaningfulness and sufficiency claims for the new scales, supported by data from multiple sources. The results indicate that the new scales are grounded in solid theoretical frameworks, including the communicative language ability model, educational taxonomies, and functional linguistics. The content of the new scales aligns well with the intended constructs, as verified through expert judgments, particularly in terms of the semantic clarity of the descriptors. Regarding sufficiency, the development team has collected diverse data from multiple groups to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the grading outcomes for the new scales. These findings provide robust support for the promotion and application of the CSE.

　　Key words:

　　China‘s Standards of English Language Ability; validation; Assessment Use Argument; meaningfulness; sufficiency

　　Source:

　　Modern Foreign Languages (Bimonthly), July 2025, Vol.48 No.4