BCCE™ Scoring & Results

BCCE™ Scoring

Candidates’ scanned responses on the Listening and GVR (Grammar, Vocabulary, and Reading) sections are forwarded to the University’s New Hampshire campus for scoring. The compositions are also forwarded to the New Hampshire campus, where they are marked by international raters. Candidates’ speaking tests are rated by local examiners and the recorded interviews sent to New Hampshire. The following sections describe how each section of the test is graded.

Listening & Grammar, Vocabulary, and Reading (GVR) sections

The Listening and the grammar, vocabulary, and reading (GVR) section of the BCCE™ are scored using the principles of Item Response Theory (IRT). IRT scores allow each administration of the examination to be equated with one another. 

Writing Section

Using scales and procedures established by Hellenic American University, the Writing section is scored by two independent raters. In the case of significant difference between the scores of the two raters, a third rater is called to determine the final score. The raters have been trained and certified according to Hellenic American University standards.

  • Scoring criteria for the BCCE Writing Section
Speaking Section

The Speaking section is scored using scales and procedures established by Hellenic American University. The oral examiners have been trained and certified according to Hellenic American University standards. All tests are recorded.

  • Scoring criteria for the BCCE Speaking Section
Assessment principles of the BCCE (in effect as of January 2014)
  • Each of the BCCE sections is marked on a scale of 0 to 1000; each section carries equal weight in determining the final grade;
  • The passing score for each section is 650 out of 1000. The scores for each section are combined and averaged to give a total possible average score of 1000 for all four sections;
  • Candidates whose average score for all four sections is equal to 650 or higher are awarded the BCCE;
  • Candidates whose average score for all four sections is below 650 are not awarded the BCCE;
  • Candidates who have been absent from one or more sections are not awarded the BCCE. Any passing score they may have received for whichever section they were not absent from does not affect the final result.
  • Hellenic American University allows candidates with disabilities to request for special examination accommodations or modifications.