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CASAS Skill Level Descriptors

The CASAS Skill Level Descriptors show a continuum of skills from beginning through advanced adult secondary. They provide descriptions of adults' general job-related ability in reading, mathematics, oral communication, and writing. The Skill Level Descriptors explain in general terms what most learners can accomplish at the CASAS scale score level in a specific skill area.

Results from most CASAS tests are reported on a common numerical scale. This scale has been verified and validated on more than three million adult and youth learners. The CASAS scale is divided into five levels: A (Beginning Literacy) to E (Advanced Secondary), each encompassing a range of scores. Each level is defined by a CASAS scale score range with corresponding competency descriptors of performance in employment and adult life skills contexts.

The Skill Level Descriptors provide general information on how an adult learner’s numerical scale score on a CASAS test in a specific skill area corresponds to the job-related and life skill tasks this person generally can accomplish.

Student Performance Level (SPL) designations are provided for the ELL levels. The SPLs were developed through the Center for Applied Linguistics for the National Mainstream English Language Training (MELT) Project. They provide general descriptions of adult ESL learners’ ability in two areas of language proficiency: language/oral communication and reading/writing at a range of levels.

ABE / ASE

FileTypeSizeDownload
Reading Skill Level Descriptors for ABE / ASE – GOALS / GOALS 2PDF83.12 KB Download
NRS New ABE ASE Reading EFL descriptorsPDF123.19 KB Download
NRS New ABE ASE Mathematics EFL descriptorsPDF88.37 KB Download
CASAS ABE Level DescriptorsPDF131.92 KB Download

ESL

FileTypeSizeDownload
Reading and Listening Skill Level Descriptors for ESL – STEPSPDF99.92 KB Download
NRS New ESL EFL descriptorsPDF51.08 KB Download
CASAS ELL Level DescriptorsPDF141.97 KB Download

 

Other

FileTypeSizeDownload
CASAS Speaking Level DescriptorsPDF79.64 KB Download
CASAS Writing DescriptorsPDF35.24 KB Download
CASAS Intellectual Disabilities Skill Level DescriptorsPDF50.28 KB Download
CASAS Descriptors Separated for ReadingPDF136.69 KB Download
CASAS Descriptors Separated for MathPDF132.19 KB Download

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