Adult Basic Learning Examination
(ABLE, 1967-86)

Purpose: To measure several basic education skills of adults.

Source: The Psychological Corporation, Order Service Center, P.O. Box 839954, San Antonio TX 78283-3954; (800) 228-0752.

Costs: Learner test booklets cost $1.44; answer sheets cost $.50.

Description: There are sections on vocabulary, reading comprehension, spelling, language, number operations, and quantitative problem solving. There are three levels of the test, corresponding to skills commonly taught in grades 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12. There are two equivalent forms at each level for pre-and post-testing. A brief locator test is available to match the learners' skill levels to the appropriate level of test.

Reliability, Validity, and Scores: Test-retest reliability is not reported. Internal reliability has been high. Validity analyses show moderate correlations with the Stanford Achievement Test. Scores can be reported as scale scores, percentiles, stanines, and grade equivalents. Item response data are also reported. The norm data are based on 4,000 adults in 41 states and are reported separately for ABE/GED students, prisoners, vocational/technical students (only at Level 3), and a combination of all.

Comments: This is a 1986 revision of a test that has been widely used to evaluate the outcomes of adult basic education. The revision appears to be very responsive to several criticisms of prior tests used in adult basic education programs. The content and tone are adult. The reading passages are mostly about common everyday matters, and the questions tap not only literal comprehension, but also higher forms of comprehension. The mathematics word problems are representative of those many people encounter in daily life.

Ten of the items in the reading comprehension section of Level 1 (Form E) cannot be answered correctly without background knowledge that a moderate portion of adult learners will not possess or they require predicting what an imaginary person did in a given situation, and there is no way to know for sure. The "correct answer" presumes the imaginary person will act in the rational, safe, or common manner, but people do not always do so.

The Level 3 math section includes only a few very simple algebra and geometry problems. Some learners who score high may find themselves required to take remedial math when enrolling in technical schools and colleges.

This reviewer has extensive substantial experience in administering the reading comprehension and problem solving sections to adult literacy students. The students do not appear offended or antagonized by the test, they apply themselves and try to do well, and often perform somewhat better than their instructors had expected.