Basic principles of testing and assessing the language skills based on cefr

Listening Proficiency Test: The Listening Proficiency Test LPT is an internet-based test that measures a person's ability to spontaneously understand spoken language in one of 11 languages available. The test-taker listens to recordings and must answer multiple-choice questions about what they hear. The results report the test-taker's level of proficiency in listening.

Oral Proficiency Interview: The Oral Proficiency Interview OPI evaluates a person's speaking skill in a particular language. An ACTFL-Certified Tester speaks with the test-taker over the phone and gauges their proficiency level against the criteria outlined in one of the proficiency scales. The interview is a useful assessment tool because, though it follows a structure and protocol, it reflects a real-life conversation.

Oral Proficiency Interview-computer: The Oral Proficiency Interview-computer OPIc evaluates a person's speaking skill in a particular language. The goal of the OPIc is the same as the OPI: to obtain a ratable sample of speech which a rater can evaluate and compare to the criteria outlined in one of the proficiency scales. The internet-delivered assessment emulates the "live" OPI, but delivery of questions is through a carefully designed program and via a virtual avatar, allowing the test to be taken on demand and at a time convenient to the candidate and proctor.

Reading Proficiency Test: The Reading Proficiency Test RPT is an internet-based test during which the candidate reads passages in one of 12 languages and answers multiple-choice questions to demonstrate their reading comprehension in that language. Because of the format of the test, it is machine scored, so results are available immediately upon completion.

Writing Proficiency Test: The Writing Proficiency Test WPT is another internet-based test. Rather than answering multiple-choice questions, the test-taker responds in detail to open ended writing prompts. ACTFL-Certified raters assess the candidate's written responses as compared to the guidelines established by one of the proficiency scales. This test is available in a variety of languages.

Through each test, the candidate's results are reported according to one of the following scales to objectively measure proficiency:

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  The ACTFL scale
  
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  The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR scale
  
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  The Interagency Language Roundtable ILR scale