Factorial Invariance of the Advanced Placement International English Language Exam (APIEL[R]) across Chinese and German Samples.

This study used confirmatory factor analytic methods to investigate whether the subscales of the Advanced Placement International English Language examination (APIEL[R]) measuring Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Reading were invariant across 2 groups, 197 Chinese students and 434 German students. Since categorical responses were observed on APIEL[R] indicators, models were fit to the polychoric correlation matrix and the matrix of asymptotic variances and covariances. PRELIS 2 was used to estimate the correlation matrix and the asymptotic variances and covariances of the examined indicators; LISREL 8 was used to perform confirmatory factor analysis (K. Joreskog and D. Sorbom, 1996). Results indicate that while the factors comprising the APIEL[R] are valid across groups, examinees did not interpret the content of indicators equivalently across groups. The paper discusses limitations of this research and next steps to take. (Contains 2 figures, 4 tables, and 19 references.) (Author/SLD)