STATE CERTIFICATE OF LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

ABOUT THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT
The information contained in this pamphlet concerns the examination and certification system implemented on the basis of a 1999 law, by the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs of the Greek state, who is the legal copyright owner of all documents containing information about the assessment system leading to the State Certificate of Language Proficiency, known as K.P.G.

The system is designed and developed by a central committee of specialists, appointed by the Ministry of Education. This committee has the obligation to inform the public and disseminate information regarding the system as a whole and the examinations in particular languages. In this capacity, members of the committee produce information documents in Greek and in the other languages in which exams are carried out. As such, the members listed below have collaborative responsibility for the texts produced and share ownership rights with the Ministry.

English texts: Bessie Dendrinos, President of the KPG Committee and Exam Board Professor of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
French texts: Vasso Tokatlidou, Member of the KPG Committee and Exam Board Emeritus Professor of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki
German texts: Frideriki Batsalia, Member of the KPG Committee and Exam Board Professor of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Italian texts: Antonios Tsopanoglou, Vice-President of the KPG Committee and Exam Board Professor of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki

1. WHAT IS "KPG"?
• An acronym for 'Kratiko Pistopiitiko Glossomathias' [State Certificate of Language Proficiency]
• An examination system aimed at measuring levels of proficiency in a European language.
• The certificate is awarded to those who pass both the written and the oral part of the examinations.

2. WHAT ARE KPG EXAMS DESIGNED TO MEASURE?
• Exams for different levels of proficiency aim to test candidates' ability to make socially purposeful use of the target language at home and abroad.
• The exams measure candidates' competences to comprehend and produce oral and written discourse, as well as their ability to act as mediators across language and their awareness of how the target language works to produce socially purposeful meanings.
• Each exam consists of four modules:
   > The first module is designed to test reading comprehension and language awareness.
   > The second module is designed to test free writing production and mediation skills.
   > The third is designed to test listening comprehension
   > The fourth is designed to test free speaking production and mediation skills.

3. IN WHICH LANGUAGES CAN INTERESTED PARTIES TAKE KPG EXAMS?
• Presently, candidates can take exams in:
   > English
   > French
   > German
   > Italian
• In the immediate future, one will be able to take other level exams in these languages, as well as in:
   > Spanish
• On the basis of research results investigating social needs, exams will be designed for:
   > other European languages.

4. WHAT LEVELS ARE KPG EXAMS DESIGNED FOR?
2005 KPG exams are designed for Level B2 and C1 levels on the scale of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Teaching, Learning and Assessment, developed by the Council of Europe, described as follows:
Level A: Basic User
        A1 Beginner
        A2 Elementary
Level B: Independent User
        B1 Intermediate
        B2 Upper Intermediate
Level C: Proficient User
        C1 Advanced
        C2 Full mastery
In 2006 the C2 level exam in the 4 languages will be launched, while the B1 level exam will be launched in 2007.

5. FOR WHOM ARE THE EXAMS DESIGNED and WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THEM?
• Eligible to take the KPG exams are E.U. citizens and others who are living, studying and/or working in Greece.
• The exams are addressed to a population of language users, regardless of whether their knowledge of the target language was acquired as L1/L2, or was learnt in a formal educational setting.
• They are designed for candidates aged 15+.

6. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF GREEK IN THE KPG EXAMS?
• K.P.G. exams are designed for languages other than Greek as a second or foreign language. However, the state has authorized the Centre for the Greek Language to carry out language exams, on the basis of which levels of proficiency in Greek is certified.
• Listening and reading comprehension skills in Greek are required by those taking the exam in any language.
• As Greek is considered to be the common language of the candidates, they are required to:
   > understand instructions and test rubrics in Greek,
   > function in the role of mediator transferring information from Greek into the target language.

7. WHAT IS THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE KPG EXAMS?
• The development of a unified examination system in European languages viewed as equal in social value.
• The recognition of proficiency in any European language as a work qualification.
• The promotion of:
   > social multilingualism and individual pluriligualism in Greece.
   > foreign language learning in Greece, viewed as an asset for educational and professional mobility within and outside the E.U.

8. WHAT IS THE THEORETICAL BASIS OF THE KPG?
• Given that KPG is a 'proficiency assessment' (rather than diagnostic or competences measurement) examination system,
   > it sets out to evaluate socially purposeful language knowledge and literacy.
   > it adheres to a functional approach to language use.
• Its global scale descriptors and its specific language use descriptors are related to those of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Teaching, Learning and Assessment.
• The methodology used for KPG test construction and item design is conducive to:
   > standardised testing procedures,
   > the design of a reliable and valid measurement tool.

9. WHO ARE THE BODIES INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM?

10. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE KPG AND OTHER LANGUAGE CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS?
• It resembles other national/state language systems for the certification of language proficiency (e.g. the Finnish National Language Exam System), but it has its own characteristics.
• As this is a national exam system, with validity in the Greek and the European social context, it differs markedly from large-scale international examination systems (such as the Michigan Language Exam).
• It does not have commercial interests and it is subsidized by the state.
• There is no interest in the material and symbolic profit often connected with international exams concerned with assessing and certifying proficiency in one of the 'strong' European languages.

11. IS THE KPG A NATIONALLY / INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND ACCREDITED EXAMINATION SYSTEM / LANGUAGE CERTIFICATE?
• As the KPG follows the levels of proficiency specified by the Council of Europe and takes into consideration the global-scale and language use descriptors in the Common European Framework, it lends itself to European benchmarking procedures.
• As the system is being developed, it publishes detailed descriptions of all relevant procedures and strategies, making the system transparent on both national and international levels.
• It is presently recognized by the Greek state, along with other language certification systems, with which it does not wish to have a competitive relationship.
• The KPG has recently been credited by the Greek state and it is recognized as a work qualification.
• In connection with the development of the KPG exams, the Greek Ministry of National Education has become a member of ICC-Europe.
• As the system develops, it is building into it mechanisms for internal and external evaluation, so that when it is fully developed it can be fully recognized internationally and the language certificates have international accreditation.

12. WHAT INFORMATION AND MATERIALS ARE PRESENTLY AVAILABLE ON-LINE?
Interested parties may find on-line (at http://www.ypepth.gr/kpg), presently only in Greek, but soon in other languages as well, the documents listed below:
• Information about the KPG system and its implementation
• Bodies and institutions involved in policy and system design
• Names and titles of the language specialists involved in the design of the system and the examination
• Rules and regulations regarding the examination system
• The Common KPG Framework for all languages
• Specifications for the B2 and C1 level exams in English, French, German and Italian.
• Sample exams and past papers in the four languages.

13. WHAT PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR LANGUAGE TEACHERS PREPARING CANDIDATES AND FOR CANDIDATES THEMSELVES?
• Most of the information and materials on-line have also appeared in booklets published by the Ministry.
• Video recordings have been made for the preparation of orals examiners
• Commercial local and international publishers have produced books for the preparation of KPG exam candidates.
• KPG teams are preparing to produce the following publications:
   > Teacher-Training Manual for language teachers and KPG exam tutors
   > Textbooks for the preparation of candidates
   > Self-diagnostic e-tests for candidates.