Language Tests
During the language test
During the Speaking Test, the Tester will interact with you only in the language being tested. All interaction between you and the testing team during the Reading Test will be in English. Because the testing team is only interested in your language proficiency, you need not divulge personal information, and you may answer questions any way you like. Please answer all questions regardless of your point of view. Points of view and opinions that you express during the test will not affect your rating.
What is the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)?
The ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview, or OPI, is a live, 15–30 minute telephone conversation between a certified ACTFL tester and the candidate. It is a valid and reliable test that measures how well a person speaks a language. The procedure is standardized in order to assess global speaking ability, measuring language production holistically by determining patterns of strengths and weaknesses. Through a series of personalized questions a sample of speech is elicited and rated against the proficiency levels described in the Interagency Language Roundtable Language Skill Level Descriptors.
The primary goal of the OPI is the efficient elicitation of a ratable sample. To be ratable, a speech sample must clearly demonstrate the highest sustained level of performance of the speaker (known as the “floor”) and the level at which the speaker can no longer sustain the performance (known as the “ceiling”), over a variety of topics. The OPI resembles a conversation, but in fact, the tester follows a strictly controlled structure and protocol.
What is the format of the OPI?
The four mandatory phases of the OPI are the:
- Warm-up
- Level checks
- Probes
- Wind-down
How is the OPI rated?
An OPI is requested on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale ILR. OPI will rate between ILR 0 (No Proficiency) and ILR 5 (Functionally Native).
The OPI assesses language proficiency in terms of the ability of the candidate to use the language effectively and appropriately in real-life situations. It does not address when, where, why, or the way in which a speaker has acquired his/her language. The OPI is not an achievement test assessing a speaker’s acquisition of specific aspects of course and curriculum content, nor is it tied to any specific method of instruction. The OPI does not compare one individual’s performance to others, but each individual performance to the assessment criteria.
In an Official/Certified OPI, the recorded interview is blindly rated by two ACTFL-Certified OPI Testers whose independent ratings must agree before an official rating is released.
| Scores Required on the Language Comprehension Tests* | ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Speaking | Reading |
| Arabic | 2 | 1 |
| Chinese-Mandarin | 2 | 1 |
| Portuguese | 3 | 3 |
| Spanish | 2 | 2 |
| *View the language proficiency definitions | ||
The Reading Test is Administered Separately from the Speaking Test.
The Reading Test will be proctored by webcam – before you start the test, you’ll download a small application onto your computer and a live proctor will contact you via a video call to check your ID, make sure you have everything you need to start the test, and ensure that the test is delivered securely.
The test consists of a number of reading passages at different levels of difficulty, covering a range of topics – each passage has three questions, and each question has four multiple-choice answers – you must select the one which is correct.
You can learn more about the assessment here: http://www.languagetesting.com/reading-proficiency-test.
If it would help, you can take a demo version of the test in English here: http://actfllrdemo.actfltesting.org/, so you know how it works.
For a description of the language skill levels please visit: http://www.govtilr.org/