The National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA), Ministry of Education, China and the British Council (BC) jointly released the results of their collaborative research on linking IELTS and Aptis to China's Standards of English Language Ability (CSE). The successful completion of the research marks the official mapping of the CSE to the international examination systems, while demonstrating that Sino-UK educational collaboration has moved to a new stage.
近日，中国教育部考试中心与英国文化教育协会联合发布了雅思、普思（Aptis）考试与中国英语能力等级量表（CSE）的对接研究结果，标志着中国英语语言能力标准与国际考试系统接轨，中英在教育领域的合作进入新阶段。
What is “CSE”? Different from “CET4” and “CET6” tests, CSE was developed as the fundamental element of National Foreign Language Assessment Framework. The framework was designed to promote the comprehensive reform and development of foreign language education in China and to cultivate talents with global vision, language proficiency and a comprehensive knowledge of the international community.
那么什么是“英语能力等级量表”呢？“CSE”和我们熟知的“四六级”不同，它是根据国家英语能力等级考试制定的分级规范。设计等级考试将有助于我国进行全面的外语教育改革，助力培养具有全球化视野、熟练外语能力和综合知识的新型人才。
The standards categorize the ability of Chinese English learners into nine proficiency levels across the basic, intermediate and advanced stages, defining each level comprehensively through specific, accurate and easy-to-understand descriptors. It applies to all levels of English learners from elementary school to university, and focuses on abilities in communication in everyday life and work, as well as understanding the culture in English-speaking countries.
“英语能力等级量表”将我国英语学习者的语言能力分为九个等级，涵盖初、中、高等语言学习阶段，每一个等级都通过具体、准确、易懂的标准进行量化。与我们熟知的“四六级”不同的是，“量表”适用于小学到大学各个阶段的学习者，考察的内容也聚焦于日常生活和工作中的场景，并关注英语国家的文化风俗。
Launched at the beginning of 2017, the collaborative research on linking IELTS and Aptis to the CSE took two years to complete. The research team referred to previous studies on linking international language tests to language standards and employed a scientific approach which integrated expert judgements and empirical data, collecting evidences from multiple sources.
“英语能力等级量表”对接雅思和普思考试的工作始于2017年初，耗时两年完成。研究团队研究了国际上通行的多种英语评价机制，运用科学手段将专家评估意见和实验数据结合起来，一同制定了最终的标准。
The linking results will be of particular value to policymakers at educational institutions by helping them meet curriculum goals. They will also encourage the improvement of teaching methods, learning materials and teaching practices in classrooms.
考试分数的对接对于学校来说无疑是一大利好，除了能够更好地确立课程教学目标，与国际接轨后的英语考试也将有助于提升教学方法，完善教学内容和课堂内的训练。
VOCABULARY
proficiency: n. 熟练；精通
descriptor: n. 描述符；指示词
empirical: adj. 经验性的