Frequently Asked Questions
Categories:
Getting Started
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Does BEST Plus give a score that says a student is ready to take BEST Literacy?
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Do I need a computer to use the semi-adaptive print-based version of BEST Plus?
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Is there an additional cost for the BEST Plus Score Management Software?
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What are appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities?
Test Administrator Training
Ordering Materials
Activating Tests
Online Activation
Semi-adaptive Print-based Version
Administration and Scoring
Score Management Software
Technical Support
Trainer Certification
What materials do I need to get started using BEST Plus?
In order to administer BEST Plus, you will need the following:
Materials received at training
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BEST Plus Test Administrator Guide
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BEST Plus Test CD (includes test software and Score Management Software)
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BEST Plus Scoring Rubric
Materials to be purchased before testing:
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Computer administrations
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Laptop or desktop computer
or
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Semi-adaptive print-based examinee test bookletsand corresponding picture cue booklets
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Computer to score print-based test booklets using the Score Management Software
Test administrators must have their own complete Test Administrator Guide and Scoring Rubric available during testing. See Section II of the BEST Plus Test Administrator Guide for more information.
Does BEST Plus give a score that says a student is ready to take BEST Literacy?
No. Performance on BEST Plus does not predict performance on BEST Literacy. You may need to check with your state’s assessment policy or program director on how each assessment is to be used within your state.
Do I need a computer to use the semi-adaptive print-based version of BEST Plus?
Yes. You will need at least one computer to convert the raw scores into scale scores using the Score Management Software on the maroon BEST Plus Test CD.
Is there an additional cost for the BEST Plus Score Management Software?
No. The Score Management Software is included on the red BEST Plus Test CD received at training. You can also download a free enhanced version of the software online here.
What are appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities?
The purpose of BEST Plus is to obtain a measure of listening and speaking in English. Permissible accommodations related to BEST Plus include the use of hearing aids. BEST Plus is not designed to assess the communicative language skills of hearing- or speech-impaired students, nor should it be used with visually impaired students, as some of the questions depend on a photographic stimulus.
It is not an appropriate accommodation for a BEST Plus test administrator to allow an examinee to read the on-screen prompts as BEST Plus is a listening and speaking test, not a reading test.
Programs with trained BEST Plus test administrators can purchase BEST Plus materials online through the CAL Store using a credit card or you can download an order form and include it with a purchase order or check and mail them to:
Center for Applied Linguistics
P.O. Box 418564
Boston, MA 02241-8564
If you are ordering through the CAL Store, you will need your program’s customer number at checkout (example of a customer number: BPDC0001).
State-level organizations or larger programs (e.g. colleges with multiple campuses) have the option of purchasing test administrations in bulk and then allotting those administrations to smaller programs that have trained test administrators. For more information please contact CAL at 866-845-2378, option 1, or by e-mail.
Please allow one business day for processing. Signed copies of purchase orders must be received by CAL for all orders before we will ship your order.
