K-12 Testing

ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test® (WPT)

Take the WPT Demo Version

To take a Demo version of the WPT, click here. You can use the demo test to become familiar with the format of the WPT and practice typing in the test language. Please note that while the demo mentions Spanish and the on-screen special character palette includes characters from several different languages, it is useful for test familiarization purposes no matter what language you will be taking the WPT in. Please see the WPT Examinee Handbook and Familiarization Guide above for detailed information about keyboard configuration and other language-specific considerations.

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What is the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT)?

The ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) is a standardized test for the global assessment of functional writing ability in a language. The ACTFL WPT measures how well a person spontaneously writes in a language (without access to revision or editing tools) by comparing his/her ability to address specific writing tasks against the criteria stated in one of the rating proficiency guidelines below, depending on the type of certification required:

ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2024 – Writing
Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) Skill Level Descriptors – Writing
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

The ACTFL WPT is a carefully constructed assessment with four to five requests for written responses dealing with practical, social, and/or professional topics that are encountered in informal and formal contexts. The tasks and contexts presented represent the range of proficiency levels on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2024 - Writing. The tasks and prompts are written in English, but the responses are written in the tested language.

The ACTFL WPT is appropriate for a variety of purposes: It is typically used for: language fluency certification, employment selection, program entrance and exit exams, course placement and college credits, program evaluation and performance, Linguist or Teacher Credentialing, and bilingual incentive pay. The ACTFL WPT has been favorably reviewed for college credit by the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT®). ACTFL provides these college credit recommendations to institutions of higher education for their consideration in awarding college credit for demonstrated written proficiency in world languages. For more information on college credit recommendations, click here.

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What is the format of the WPT?

The ACTFL WPT is a proctored, 20–80 minute test, depending on the range being assessed. All directions and prompts are written in English, but all responses are open-ended and are written in the tested language. The WPT can be taken on a computer accessing the internet or hand-written using paper and pencil.

Introduction and Warm-up: This section contains directions, information on test-taking strategies, and a warm-up activity at the Novice level. Directions are also made available in advance of the scheduled testing time. Special accommodations may be requested when directions and prompts need to be provided in a language other than English. Please visit our accommodations page for more details.
Writing Prompt: There are four to five separate prompts, each of which encompasses multiple writing tasks, (i.e. descriptive, informative, narrative, and persuasive writing). Each prompt describes the audience, context, and purpose of the writing task. The prompts are designed to elicit writing at the Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and/or Superior levels, across a variety of contexts and content areas. Each prompt also provides a suggested response length (i.e., several sentences, multiple paragraphs, etc.) and suggests a time allotment (e.g., 10 minutes, 20 minutes, etc.) for completing the response to that specific request. The total time to read the directions and complete all the writing tasks is 20–80 minutes depending on the targeted proficiency level of the test.
For some versions of the WPT, the candidate will be asked to complete a Background Survey and Self-Assessment. The responses to these two sections ensure that each test taker receives a customized and unique test.

Taking the WPT

Before beginning the WPT, test takers complete a Background Survey and a Self-Assessment. They also receive a full overview and explanation of WPT procedures, including a sample test question. These instructions are delivered in English.

Background Survey: Selecting Topics for the Assessment
The Background Survey is a questionnaire, which gathers information about the test taker's work, school, home, personal activities, and interests. The test taker completes the survey and the answers determine the pool of topics from which the computer will randomly select questions. The variety of topics, the types of questions, and the range of possible combinations the computer can generate allow for individually designed interviews. Even if two test takers selected the same combination of Background Survey responses, the resulting test would not be the same.

Self-Assessment: Determining the Level of the WPT
Six different descriptions of how well a person can write in a language are presented and the test taker selects the description they feel most accurately describes their writing ability. This determines which one of three WPT test forms is generated for the individual. IMPORTANT: TEST-TAKERS WHO NEED A RATING of ADVANCED HIGH or SUPERIOR MUST CHOOSE STATEMENT (5) or (6). FOR THOSE WHO NEED INTERMEDIATE HIGH to ADVANCED MID, THEY MUST CHOOSE STATEMENT (3) or (4).

Example of a Spanish WPT SELF-ASSESSMENT:
WPT Self Assessment

How is the WPT rated?

The levels of writing proficiency vary by the requested rating scale. A WPT rating can be requested on the ACTFL scale, Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale, or The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). An ACTFL WPT provides a rating from Novice to Superior on the ACTFL scale. An ILR WPT will rate between ILR 0 (No Communicative Ability) and ILR 5 (Mastery). A CEFR WPT reports a rating between A1 and C2.

The WPT assesses language proficiency in terms of the candidate’s ability to use the language effectively and appropriately in real-life situations. It does not address when, where, why, or the how a writer has acquired his/her language ability. The WPT is not an achievement test assessing a writer's acquisition of specific aspects of course and curriculum content, nor is it tied to any specific method of instruction. The WPT does not compare an individual's writing ability to that of others; rather, it assesses the demonstrated individual writing ability against the specified rating framework.

Commercial WPTs are single rated. An ACTFL-Certified WPT rater reads and rates the sample by identifying the writing proficiency level criteria met by the candidate's demonstrated writing ability based on the selected rating framework. In an Official/Certified WPT, the WPT is autonomously and independently rated by at least two ACTFL-Certified WPT raters whose ratings must agree before an Official rating is released.

In an Official/Certified WPT, the WPT is blindly rated by two ACTFL Certified WPT raters whose independent ratings must agree before an official rating is released.

Who rates the WPT?

ACTFL-Certified WPT raters are highly-specialized language professionals who have completed a rigorous training process that concludes with a rater's demonstrated ability to consistently rate samples with a high degree of reliability.

WPT raters adhere to WPT rating protocols, procedures, and guidelines. They comply regularly with ongoing renorming and quality assurance practices. Confidentiality and exclusivity are important practices for all WPT raters. All work with the WPT rating process is completed exclusively through Language Testing International, the exclusive licensee of ACTFL.

How reliable is the WPT?

The reliability of ACTFL assessments is well documented by third-party studies. The rigor of ACTFL's selection, training and certification process for raters, along with ongoing monitoring, norming and re-certification, are second to none.

How do I request the WPT?

Commercial & Government

For organizations wishing to schedule a WPT to test the writing ability of their candidates, you must first set up a free account with Language Testing International. We collect some basic administrative information and then provide access to a secure web-based scheduling utility. Using this utility, the organization can request assessments, track those requests, confirm appointments, and see test results. As the WPT is internet-based, organizations can arrange for candidates to take the assessment in a proctored setting at any time. All that is needed is a computer meeting the minimum specifications, detailed here, in an appropriate test environment. Remotely proctored tests must be completed on a computer with a webcam and microphone. Test results are also posted and stored on the client utility website, allowing organizations to track their testing activity easily in a single location.

Individuals

Individuals wishing to test and certify their writing ability in a language can order and take the assessment by selecting the appropriate Language Proficiency Certification based on their specific needs. To view individual language proficiency certification options, click here. The actual test is taken via a computer with an internet connection and is proctored via LTI's remote proctoring services (webcam, headset with earphones, and microphone are needed to interact with online proctor).

How is the WPT proctored?

Organizations can arrange to proctor WPTs on location. The tests must be proctored by an authorized, responsible individual, ideally a member of the HR department or faculty of the organization requesting the assessment. This individual, nominated by the organizing agency, will sign a form and provide it to LTI in advance of the assessment, undertaking to guarantee the identity of the candidate and the conditions under which the test is taken.

Individuals can arrange to take the test via LTI's remote proctoring program, by signing up for one of the Language Proficiency Certification options offered to individuals by LTI. To view individual language proficiency options, click here.

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What is the cost of the WPT?

Organizations, please fill out a Contact Us form to learn more.

Individuals can get pricing information by viewing individual language proficiency certifications by clicking here.

Schedule a WPT

Get started with scheduling your WPT scheduling your WPT today!

In what languages is the WPT available?

Available on-demand: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese-Cantonese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish

Available in limited quantities: Albanian, Dutch, Greek (Modern), Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Persian, Persian Farsi, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese

For more information about limited quantity languages, please contact LTI at support@languagetesting.com. To request testing in a language not listed, please fill out a language request form.