kids taking test

AAPPL Demo

The following demos will give you a sense of the AAPPL experience and help you prepare for taking the test.

How are these demos like the real, operational test and how are they different?

  • These demonstration versions contain fewer tasks than the real test, but they do give a good, overall feel for the test-taking experience.
  • Your responses will not be stored, recorded, or rated in these demo versions of the test.
  • The AAPPL test security features are enabled only on the Presentational Writing (PW) components of the demos for Forms A and B.
    • By having the test security features enabled for PW, completing the PW demo will allow students and teachers to confirm that their keyboard input is compatible with the AAPPL test.
    • See below for keyboard setting requirements.
  • The security features are enabled for the Form E demos so that younger learners can practice navigating the test without clicking outside of the test window, which would cause them to be logged out of the live test.
  • If you quit and restart, you will return to the beginning of the demo, unlike the live assessment where you'll be taken back to the task where you left off.

What do I need to do before I try out a demo?

  • Know the AAPPL System Requirements.
  • Computer Tablet Network Peripherals
    • Operating System: Windows 8.1, 10, or 11, Mac OS
    • Browser: We recommend running the latest supported browser on your platform. Please see the minimum browser requirements below.
      • Windows: Microsoft Edge (version 80 and above), Chrome (version 50 and above), and Firefox (version 60 and above)
      • iOS/MacOS: Chrome (version 50 and above), Firefox (version 60 and above), and Safari (version 10.1 and above)
      • Chrome OS: Chrome (version 50 and above)
    • Audio: During the AAPPL test, a series of audio/video prompts will play. Your computer must be able to play audio/video files.
    • Resolution: 1024×768 or higher
    • Operating System: Tablets capable of running Chrome v65, Chrome Dev v65 or iPads running iOS 17 are sufficient.
    • Browser: We recommend running the latest supported browser on your platform.
      • Android: Chrome
      • iOS: Safari
    • An internet connection is required. We strongly recommend a wired internet connection instead of wireless for desktop or laptop computers. Technically, we require:
      • 768 kbps minimum port speed
      • Approx. 200 kbps sustainable free bandwidth required per test candidate
      • Minimum bandwidth should be more than 1,000 kbps.
      • Any reasonably fast connection will work.
    • Video:
      • You must be able to view videos to complete the assessment.

    Headset or Speaker:

    • The ability to play audio and respond via a microphone is required.
    • A good quality digital USB headset with microphone is recommended.
    • Units with noise cancellation are suggested for noisy environments.

  • Before experiencing these demos, run the AAPPL System Check on your computer.
    • Due to a recent update to the Chrome browser, it is now necessary for all test candidates who wish to use Chrome to complete a System Check immediately before taking their test in order to confirm that Live Captions are not enabled.

      If enabled, the Live Caption feature in Chrome interferes with the test-taking experience whenever audio and/or video is played. Therefore, it must be confirmed to be disabled before the candidate accesses the test or their test score could be affected. Please guide your test-takers to use another browser (Edge, Firefox, or Safari) if possible. If Chrome must be used, and you have test-takers that report that Live Caption is enabled in their browser, please refer to the instructions found on the landing page of your LTI Client Site.
    • For the PW component, you may need to adjust your keyboard settings.
      • AAPPL will use any language keyboard input your school uses for instruction, except pop-up, on-screen keyboards.
      • For English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, on-screen special character support is provided wherever text is entered. No additional set-up is required. Students taking the PW component on a Windows-based computer may also use ALT codes, as described here, if that's preferable.
      • For Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean, and Russian, language-specific keyboard layouts must be set up. (Similarly, they may be used, as well, for French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, if desired.) Visit the System Check page and select the operating system for the device being used. Then follow the directions provided to complete keyboard set-up.
      • NOTE: Transliteration keyboards of any kind are not acceptable forms of input on ACTFL assessments.

    How can I ensure that our keyboard set-up is compatible with the AAPPL test?

    • Before test day, complete a Presentational Writing (PW) demo to ensure the keyboard set-up is compatible with the AAPPL test. This will ensure a smooth testing experience on test day.
      • Test-takers are not allowed to use "transliteration" fonts to complete the AAPPL. Tests completed with such fonts will be scored as Unratable (UR).

    What should I do after trying out a demo?

    Form E – AAPPL Elementary Interpersonal Listening & Speaking for Grades 3-4

    Language Required Demo Test
    Chinese (Mandarin) headset requiredmicrophone required
    English headset requiredmicrophone required
    French headset requiredmicrophone required
    Spanish headset requiredmicrophone required


    AAPPL Forms A and B

    Language Component Required Form A
    (Novice- & Intermediate-level tasks)
    Form B
    (Intermediate- & Advanced-level tasks)
    Arabic Interpretive Listening headset required
    Interpretive Reading headset required
    Interpersonal Listening and Speaking headset requiredmicrophone required
    Presentational Writing headset requiredkeyboard required
    Chinese (Mandarin) Interpretive Listening headset required
    Interpretive Reading headset required
    Interpersonal Listening and Speaking headset requiredmicrophone required
    Presentational Writing headset requiredkeyboard required
    English Interpretive Listening headset required
    Interpretive Reading headset required
    Interpersonal Listening and Speaking headset requiredmicrophone required
    Presentational Writing headset requiredkeyboard required
    French Interpretive Listening headset required
    Interpretive Reading headset required
    Interpersonal Listening and Speaking headset requiredmicrophone required
    Presentational Writing headset requiredkeyboard required
    German Interpretive Listening headset required
    Interpretive Reading headset required
    Interpersonal Listening and Speaking headset requiredmicrophone required
    Presentational Writing headset requiredkeyboard required
    Italian Interpretive Listening headset required
    Interpretive Reading headset required
    Interpersonal Listening and Speaking headset requiredmicrophone required
    Presentational Writing headset requiredkeyboard required
    Japanese Interpretive Listening headset required
    Interpretive Reading headset required
    Interpersonal Listening and Speaking headset requiredmicrophone required
    Presentational Writing headset requiredkeyboard required
    Korean Interpretive Listening headset required
    Interpretive Reading headset required
    Interpersonal Listening and Speaking headset requiredmicrophone required
    Presentational Writing headset requiredkeyboard required
    Portuguese Interpretive Listening headset required
    Interpretive Reading headset required
    Interpersonal Listening and Speaking headset requiredmicrophone required
    Presentational Writing headset requiredkeyboard required
    Russian Interpretive Listening headset required
    Interpretive Reading headset required
    Interpersonal Listening and Speaking headset requiredmicrophone required
    Presentational Writing headset requiredkeyboard required
    Spanish Interpretive Listening headset required
    Interpretive Reading headset required
    Interpersonal Listening and Speaking headset requiredmicrophone required
    Presentational Writing headset requiredkeyboard required
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