Step 1: BEST Plus starts with training

In order to maintain the integrity of BEST Plus, it is important to score the assessment accurately and reliably. Thus, all potential test administrators are required to attend a 6-hour training workshop conducted by a certified BEST Plus trainer before they may begin testing. This workshop prepares test administrators to use and score BEST Plus.

To better meet the ever-increasing need for BEST Plus training, The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) has several training options available:

1. Contract with CAL directly to host a training workshop at your location
2. Attend a training workshop hosted by your state’s department of education
3. Attend a regional workshop

The first option is to contract with CAL for a CAL-sponsored training.

Our experience has shown that some programs encounter financial hurdles they must overcome in order to attend a BEST Plus training workshop. Please contact us with any questions you may have about contracting with CAL. We will make every effort to accommodate your program’s individual needs.

Individuals interested in contracting with CAL for BEST Plus training are encouraged to coordinate with neighboring programs and other service agencies to increase the number of participants, thus decreasing the cost per participant.

The second option is to attend a training workshop conducted by a certified BEST Plus trainer who works on behalf of your state’s department of education.

For more information about upcoming training opportunities in your state, contact BEST Plus user support toll-free at 1-866-845-BEST (2378) option 1, or via email at best-plus@cal.org.

As a third option, CAL hosts regional training workshops periodically throughout the year in states where there is not a state BEST Plus trainer.

What happens at training?

During the one day training workshop (6 contact hours), the trainer covers the purpose of BEST Plus, the developmental processes behind its creation, the mechanics of the test, how to administer the test, and most importantly, how to accurately and consistently score examinee responses.

In addition, depending on the needs of the users attending the training session, trainers may choose to focus on the print-based version of BEST Plus, including administering the print-based version, and converting raw scores into scale scores using the Score Management Software.

What does the training include?

At the workshop, each test administrator receives:

• Test Administrator Guide
• Score Management Software User Guide
• CD Quick Reference Guide
• Administrator Practice CD
• BEST Plus Test CD
• Scoring Rubric
• Language Complexity Reference Sheet
• BEST Plus Order Forms
• Ongoing user support*

*User support includes answering questions about BEST Plus and providing Purchase Codes to activate test administrations.

For more information on setting up or hosting BEST Plus training workshops, please email Michelle Ueland, Adult ESL Assessments Client Relations Manager or call 1-866-845-BEST (2378), option 3.

If you have any additional training questions, contact us by email at best-plus@cal.org or at
1-866-845-BEST (2378) option 1.

top

Step 2: Place your order for BEST Plus materials online or by fax

BEST Plus materials are available for purchase online through the CAL Store. To place your order online, you will need your program or organization's unique customer number, issued to your program after successfully completing a BEST Plus training workshop. If you do not know your customer number, please contact BEST Plus User Support at 1-866-845-BEST (2378) for assistance.

If you are unable to order online, follow the two steps outlined below to ensure your order is processed quickly and efficiently:

1. Click here to download the order form as a PDF document.

Make sure that your program has trained test administrators as only trained administrators can access the tests once they have been purchased. If you are unsure as to whether your organization has trained test administrators, please call BEST Plus user support at 1-866-845-BEST (2378), option 1, for confirmation.

2. Complete the order form and follow the directions to mail or fax the order form.

All orders are processed within one business day of receipt.

top

Current BEST Plus Pricing

Test Administrations: Computer-Adaptive Version

Computer-adaptive test administrations must be purchased in order to run the BEST Plus Test Administration Program.

If you plan on using the print-based version of BEST Plus, you do not need to buy computer test administrations as a complimentary test administration is included in the price of each print-based Examinee Test Booklet.

To activate your computer test administrations for either testing or scoring purposes, you will need a Purchase Code to unlock your administrations in the BEST Plus Test CD. Please refer to the online CD Guide for easy-to-follow instructions on how to obtain your Registration Key which will in turn activate your Purchase Code.

Test Administrations: Print-Based Version

Administering the BEST Plus print-based version requires an Examinee Test Booklet for each person tested and a minimum of one Picture Cue Booklet for each form of the test ordered.

Examinee Test Booklets (Packet of 20 Test Administrations) -- $30.00 per packet
Choose from three parallel forms: A, B or C. All three forms contain three different level tests within them. The forms differ in the content of the questions. Thus, it is possible to pre-test a student with Form B and post-test with Form C with the knowledge that they are not giving rehearsed answers and do not have the questions memorized.

Picture Cue Book—$15.00 per book
Choose from three forms: A, B or C (Picture Cue Books are resusable. We recommend purchasing one of each form for each test administrator who will be testing simultaneously.)

Other Materials

Shipping

Customers will receive BEST Plus materials within 3-7 business days of receipt of their order by CAL. All orders are shipped via UPS ground delivery unless other delivery arrangements are requested. Rush shipping is available by request, with additional delivery charges paid by the client.

top

Step 3: Unlock your purchased computer-adaptive administrations

In order to be able to use your purchased computer-adaptive test administrations (or print-based scoring administrations), you will need to obtain a Purchase Code to activate your tests on a computer you have designated for testing.

After you have the testing computer selected, insert the maroon-colored BEST Plus Test CD into the CD Drive. (Make sure you are using the maroon-colored Test CD, rather than the black BEST Plus Administrator Practice CD.) For further details on how to obtain a Registration Key, a 5-letter key which you must provide to CAL to obtain your Purchase Code, please refer to our Quick Reference Guide.

When the Registration Key is obtained, please use one of the three options below to receive your Purchase Code:

• Online Purchase Code Service - Visit the Online Activation part of our site to log in and obtain your Purchase Code 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week.

• Phone - Call toll-free 1-866-845-BEST (2378), option 2, between the hours of 9 AM and 7 PM (Eastern Time) to speak with a user support representative

• Email - Send an email to best-plus@cal.org providing the Registration Key and the number of test administrations to be activated.

The activation process must be repeated each time you run out of activated administrations on your testing computer.

The BEST Plus software cannot be installed on a computer. Both the Test Administration Program and Score Management Software run automatically from a CD drive. This means that the BEST Plus CD must be in your CD drive to run the software. The BEST Plus software will not create an icon on your Windows Start Menu or Desktop, because it must always be run from the BEST Plus CD.

Note: A network version of BEST Plus may be purchased to allow easy and fast access to the BEST Plus program from any computer on a central network. For more information on the network version, download our fact sheet.

top

home   +   introduction  +  advantages  +  FAQ  +   getting started   +  order form

guides + test transfer program + announcements + join our mailing list

order products  +  activate administrations + scoring refresher toolkit

score management software enhancement

For more information about BEST Plus or training workshops,
call 1-866-845-BEST or send an email to BEST Plus.

Shop for BEST Plus products online 24 hours a day
at the CALstore calstore.cal.org

The development of BEST Plus was funded by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), U.S. Department of Education, Contract # ED-00-CO-0130.