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THE aLTE Q-MARK AND AUDITING SYSTEM

Find out which tests have the ALTE Q-Mark

The ALTE Framework shows whether an exam of our member organisations has the Q-Mark, following a successful audit. It also allows comparison using the CEFR levels of the different tests in different languages. If you are looking for a test with ALTE recognition, please check the framework.

The ALTE Q-mark is a quality indicator which member organisations can use to show that their exams have passed a rigorous ALTE audit and meet all the core requirements of ALTE's 18 quality standards. The Q-mark demonstrates that ALTE member organisations aspire to consistent standards of quality and excellence in their exams.

Il Q-mark indica che il profilo di qualità di un esame o di una serie di esami è stato accuratamente verificato da un revisore dell'ALTE e che l'esito di questo audit è stato 'risolto'. Tale risultato mantiene la sua validità per cinque anni o fino a quando non vi sia un cambiamento significativo nella validità delle argomentazioni degli esami (o dell'esame) già sottoposti ad audit. Il Q-mark è assegnato solo all'esame (o agli esami) sottoposti ad audit, e non all'ente nel suo complesso.

Il Q-mark assicura agli utenti dell'esame che lo stesso è supportato da processi appropriati, procedure e criteri affidabili e standard coerenti.

Only the exams of ALTE members and applicant ALTE Associate Members, meeting certain criteria, can undertake an ALTE audit process.

You can also download a guide to the ALTE Q-mark for testing organisations here.

 Informationen für anerkennende Stellen in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz

 Information for recognising bodies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland


Informationen für anerkennende Stellen (Visastellen, Einwanderungsbehörden usw.) zu Sprachprüfungen mit dem Qualitätssiegel Q-Mark der Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) - März 2024. Informationen auf Deutsch und Englisch. 

Information for recognising bodies (immigration authorities, etc.) regarding language tests with the ALTE Q-Mark. March 2024. Information in German and English. 

Procedure di Auditing (PfA)

The PfA (latest version - November 2024) was produced by the Gruppo di Lavoro QMS and contains all the detailed procedures for auditors and for organisations being audited. 


Il Gruppo di Lavoro QMS dell'ALTE

The ALTE QMS WG reviews and edits the audit procedures. Members of the QMS WG meet usually three times per year, and work in close collaboration with the Standing Committee to discuss and improve current procedures. 

Ottieni più informazioni sul Comitato Permanente e sul lavoro che il Gruppo di Lavoro QMS sta attualmente svolgendo. 

Gli Standard Minimi dell'ALTE

ALTE has established a set of 18 common standards for its members’ exams, which cover all stages of the language testing process, and are used in the Q-Mark audit process. These involve: 

  • costruzione del test; 
  • gestione e logistica; 
  • correzione e valutazione; 
  • analisi del test; 
  • comunicazione con gli stakeholder.

Di conseguenza, gli utenti degli esami - siano essi soggetti singoli, datori di lavoro, istituti scolastici o enti governativi - hanno la sicurezza che gli esami di lingua ideati e forniti dai membri dell'ALTE soddisfano severi standard professionali e riflettono con precisione le capacità dei candidati.

Read the Minimum Standards (MS) in the following languages:  

Български    Català    Cymraeg    Čeština    Deutsch    Dansk    English    Español  Eesti    Euskara    Français    Gaeilge    Galego    Magyar    Italiano  Lëtzebuergesch    Lietuvių    Nederlands    Norsk (bokmål og nynorsk)    Polski    Português    Română    Русский    Slovenščina    Suomi    Svenska


Introduction of Minimum Standard 18 

Minimum Standard 18 was introduced in the ALTE Audit System from 1st July 2024. All Q-Mark audits and re-audits from this date will include this new minimum standard: You take action when test scores are interpreted and used for a purpose that violates the best interest of test-takers (c.f. the ILTA Code of Ethics and the ALTE Code of Practice).

Read the report on the creation and validation of this new Minimum Standard.


AUDITS - Formazione ed Eventi Imminenti

The next events related to auditing will be online, via the Microsoft Teams platform, in March 2025. Please see our Events page for more details and to register (please log in into your personal ALTE account to see the event). We run an Orientation session for organisations thinking about having an audit. This is a prerequisite for becoming an ALTE Full Member. Orientation sessions are also suitable for members of staff in existing Full Members who will engage in the ALTE auditing process but have not personally had relevant training before. We also run training for existing auditors to ensure ongoing professional standardisation.

 ALTE - the Association of Language Testers in Europe is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered in England, charity number 1184799.

Spanish Translation © Instituto Cervantes and University of Salamanca 2024 | French Translation © France Éducation International 2024 | Italian Translation © University for Foreigners, Perugia 2024 | Dutch Translation © CNaVT 2024 | Romanian Translation © Babeş-Bolyai University 2024 |  | Portuguese Translation © CAPLE-University of Lisbon 2023 | Swedish Translation © Stockholm University 2024 | Catalan Translation © Generalitat de Cataluyna 2024 | German Translation © Goethe Institut and ÖSD 2024

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