David Coniam is Chair Professor of Curriculum and Assessment and Head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the Education University of Hong Kong. He is a teacher educator, working with teachers in Hong Kong’s primary and secondary schools. His main research interests are in language assessment, language teaching methodology and computer-assisted language learning.Peter Falvey is a teacher educator. A former Head of Department at the University of Hong Kong, he currently holds an honorary professorial role with the Education University of Hong Kong. His main research interests are in language assessment, first and second language writing methodology, and text linguistics.

• Section I Background to Higher-Stakes Assessment.- 1 Introduction and Background to High-Stakes Assessment.- 2 Research Literature.- 3 Issues in High-Stakes Assessment.- 4 Background to the Hong Kong Education System.- 5 The Initial 1996 Consultancy Study.- 6 The English Language Benchmark Subject Committee.- 7 The Pilot Benchmark Assessment (English).- 8 Determining Benchmarks after the PBAE.- Section II The LPATE Enhancement Courses in Hong Kong: The Case of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.- 9 The LPATE Training Courses: An Initiative to improve Teacher Language Proficiency.- 10 The CUHK LPATE Training COurses: Reading and Listening.- 11 The CUHK LPATE Training Courses: Writing, Speaking and Classroom Language.- Section III The LPATE: A High-Stakes Assessment in Operation (2001-2007).- 12 The Operation of the LPATE (2001-2005).- 13 The Revision of the LPATE.- 14 Maintaining Standards in the Indirectly-Assessed Components of the LPATE.- 15 Misconceptions of the LPATE in the Media: Perspectives on Educational Change.- 16 A Quantitative Investigation of Stakeholder Perceptions.- 17 A Qualitative Interpretation of the Impact of the LPATE on Key Stakeholders.- Section V Conclusion.- 18 Concluding Comments on the Benchmarking (LPATE) Project: Strengths, Weaknesses and Constraints.

David Coniam is Chair Professor of Curriculum and Assessment and Head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the Education University of Hong Kong. He is a teacher educator, working with teachers in Hong Kong’s primary and secondary schools. His main research interests are in language assessment, language teaching methodology and computer-assisted language learning.Peter Falvey is a teacher educator. A former Head of Department at the University of Hong Kong, he currently holds an honorary professorial role with the Education University of Hong Kong. His main research interests are in language assessment, first and second language writing methodology, and text linguistics.

• Section I Background to Higher-Stakes Assessment.- 1 Introduction and Background to High-Stakes Assessment.- 2 Research Literature.- 3 Issues in High-Stakes Assessment.- 4 Background to the Hong Kong Education System.- 5 The Initial 1996 Consultancy Study.- 6 The English Language Benchmark Subject Committee.- 7 The Pilot Benchmark Assessment (English).- 8 Determining Benchmarks after the PBAE.- Section II The LPATE Enhancement Courses in Hong Kong: The Case of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.- 9 The LPATE Training Courses: An Initiative to improve Teacher Language Proficiency.- 10 The CUHK LPATE Training COurses: Reading and Listening.- 11 The CUHK LPATE Training Courses: Writing, Speaking and Classroom Language.- Section III The LPATE: A High-Stakes Assessment in Operation (2001-2007).- 12 The Operation of the LPATE (2001-2005).- 13 The Revision of the LPATE.- 14 Maintaining Standards in the Indirectly-Assessed Components of the LPATE.- 15 Misconceptions of the LPATE in the Media: Perspectives on Educational Change.- 16 A Quantitative Investigation of Stakeholder Perceptions.- 17 A Qualitative Interpretation of the Impact of the LPATE on Key Stakeholders.- Section V Conclusion.- 18 Concluding Comments on the Benchmarking (LPATE) Project: Strengths, Weaknesses and Constraints.

David Coniam is Chair Professor of Curriculum and Assessment and Head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the Education University of Hong Kong. He is a teacher educator, working with teachers in Hong Kong’s primary and secondary schools. His main research interests are in language assessment, language teaching methodology and computer-assisted language learning.Peter Falvey is a teacher educator. A former Head of Department at the University of Hong Kong, he currently holds an honorary professorial role with the Education University of Hong Kong. His main research interests are in language assessment, first and second language writing methodology, and text linguistics.

• Section I Background to Higher-Stakes Assessment.- 1 Introduction and Background to High-Stakes Assessment.- 2 Research Literature.- 3 Issues in High-Stakes Assessment.- 4 Background to the Hong Kong Education System.- 5 The Initial 1996 Consultancy Study.- 6 The English Language Benchmark Subject Committee.- 7 The Pilot Benchmark Assessment (English).- 8 Determining Benchmarks after the PBAE.- Section II The LPATE Enhancement Courses in Hong Kong: The Case of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.- 9 The LPATE Training Courses: An Initiative to improve Teacher Language Proficiency.- 10 The CUHK LPATE Training COurses: Reading and Listening.- 11 The CUHK LPATE Training Courses: Writing, Speaking and Classroom Language.- Section III The LPATE: A High-Stakes Assessment in Operation (2001-2007).- 12 The Operation of the LPATE (2001-2005).- 13 The Revision of the LPATE.- 14 Maintaining Standards in the Indirectly-Assessed Components of the LPATE.- 15 Misconceptions of the LPATE in the Media: Perspectives on Educational Change.- 16 A Quantitative Investigation of Stakeholder Perceptions.- 17 A Qualitative Interpretation of the Impact of the LPATE on Key Stakeholders.- Section V Conclusion.- 18 Concluding Comments on the Benchmarking (LPATE) Project: Strengths, Weaknesses and Constraints.