The Adult Basic Learning Exam (ABLE) is a collection of tests that are used to assess an adult's general knowledge and abilities in several core areas. The subjects covered on the Adult Basic Learning Exam are spelling, reading comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, language skills and mathematical functions. The questions on the exam are generally focused on everyday situations that an adult would
. encounter. The test was designed by Bjorn Karlsen and Eric F. Gardner in 1986 and is currently distributed for sale by Pearson Assessments. The entire assessment package is also available in Spanish for those who do not speak English as a first language.The entire Adult Basic Learning Exam takes about two and a half hours to complete, and there is no time limit placed on the test. There are three versions of the Adult Basic Learning Exam available for individuals with different educational backgrounds. The Level One exam is for those with one to four years of formal education, the Level Two exam is for those with five to eight years of formal education and Level Three is for those with more than eight years of formal education. There is a screening test available that will determine the appropriate level test for an individual. The screening test takes approximately one hour to finish.The ABLE has numerous uses, including to assess prisoners being released from incarceration, to examine strengths and weaknesses for career placement and to accurately place students in appropriate literacy levels. The exam is also used in adult education and adult literacy courses. The scores from the ABLE test taken before a course or other education can place students in the correct level class. Also, scores from the ABLE test taken after a course or other educational intervention can effectively show the progress from the course. There are many reasons for an individual to take the Adult Basic Learning Exam, making it a useful tool in many educational or career settings. More reference links: http://www.pearsonassessments.com/HAIWEB/Cultures/en-us/Productdetail.htm?Pid=015-4010-375 http://www.nchealthliteracy.org/instruments.html
