This series of three benchmark tests provides valuable insight and information about the language proficiency and progress of your students at any point during the school year. Use the tests independently or as a complement to other English proficiency assessments used for summative federal requirements.
Subject Area and Grades
- English Language Proficiency (Grades K–12)
- Hand scoring
- Local scanning
- Paper and pencil
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LAS Links® Benchmark Assessments consists of a series of three language proficiency assessments designed to help teachers track the progress of English language learners throughout the school year.
LAS Links Benchmark Assessments is part of our comprehensive model for helping language learners at every stage of the learning process:
The LAS Links Continuum of Effective Measurement
Monitor progress of speaking, listening, reading, writing, & comprehension skills throughout year
The LAS Links Benchmark Assessments are powerful tools that help teachers track the progress of their English Language Learner students throughout the school year. The three separate assessments follow the same structure as LAS Links Forms A and B, and measure each student's progress toward meeting language proficiency standards.
The flexibility of the Benchmark Assessments allows teachers to measure student progress in a specific area of concern, or in all four domains. Teachers then use the results of the Benchmark Assessments to target remediation and to tailor instructional plans to meet student needs.
Given periodically throughout the year, these tests give you a better understanding of your students’ progress. They also provide insight to help you develop targeted strategies for continued learning.
Quickly gauge skill development
Simple and fast, each benchmark test takes about 30 minutes. You’ll have the results soon after so you can measure student progress in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, and adjust instruction for a student as needed.
Choose the scoring option that works best for you
You can hand-score benchmark tests and use our Student Profile Sheets to keep an accurate record of each student’s progress. To save time, use TestMate Clarity software-based scoring and reporting system; scan answer sheets and the system generates a variety of score reports for individuals and groups.
Measures changing needs
Understand your students' path to proficiency on state standards. Know where to focus instructional strategies to meet their changing needs. The benchmark test content measures growth in the four NCLB learning domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.
Complements other assessments
These versatile tests complement any language proficiency assessment you use to provide valuable benchmark information about student learning.
Uses time effectively
Each benchmark test takes approximately 20-30 minutes to administer and consists of one short-answer writing item, one short reading passage, four reading, four writing, six listening, and four to six speaking items.
Monitors individual growth
Measuring individual growth is essential, not only to fulfill state Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO) requirements, but also to provide tailored instruction. These benchmark tests provide valuable information to differentiate instructional strategies.
|Skill Area||Estimated Time||Administration Mode|
|Speaking||5 Minutes — All Grades||Individual|
|Listening||10 Minutes — All Grades||Group or Individual|
|Reading||15 Minutes — All Grades||Group or Individual|
|Writing||10 Minutes — All Grades||Group or Individual|
LAS Links Benchmark Assessments Resources
Sweetwater Union High School District implements LAS Links® in its English Language Development (ELD) courses to measure English learners' (EL's) progress and inform instructional decisions. Using the integrated suite of English language proficiency assessments from CTB/McGraw-Hill, the district reports improved student performance across all language domains and ELD levels. In addition, in 2010, the EL subgroup at every middle and high school achieved at least double its Academic Performance Index (API) target, surpassing state averages and the performance of comparable school districts in San Diego County.
LAS Links can be used for English language development and progress monitoring by using a combination of the LAS Links assessments. Depending on program need and intent, LAS Links provides schools and districts with the option of measuring student progress up to five times per year.
LAS Links Product Overview
Video providing an overview of the LAS Links suite of language proficiency assessment products. Read Transcript