LTI and ACTFL work actively every year to maintain and improve all ACTFL assessments, including the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) and the ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment (ALIRA). We are excited to announce some great AAPPL resources and enhancements. You might have already seen some of our blog posts with tips to prepare for the AAPPL, understanding ratings, and more. Here are a few updates and improvements you can look forward to in the AAPPL this year:
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) compliance
Children’s safety and privacy is of the utmost importance to ACTFL and LTI. Therefore, the AAPPL and ALIRA test portals and websites have been awarded PRIVO’s COPPA Safe Harbor Seal for meeting the highest standards for protecting children’s privacy.
Improved process for accommodations requests
The AAPPL test meets WCAG. 2.1 AA compliance, ensuring accessibility for all users. An updated tile on AAPPL Central shares relevant information for accessibility. Our new online form streamlines and standardizes accommodations requests. Learn more here.
Launch of machine scoring for Spanish Presentational Writing (PW)
The AAPPL PW measures how well learners in grades 5-12 spontaneously write without access to revisions and/or editing tools. The PW is a measurement of written language ability to guide goal setting, curriculum development, and instruction.
After nearly a decade of research and development work, the automated scoring system, or machine scoring, is being released for Spanish PW. Machine scoring will be used, along with human raters, to provide a minimum of two ratings on 100% of Spanish AAPPL PW tests starting September 2023.
Additionally, using machine scoring will provide more data to facilitate the continuous improvement of our quality assurance processes.
Read the full press release here.
AAPPL rating reasons codes
When an AAPPL component is rated as either Unratable (UR) or Not Ratable (NR), you will see an information icon within the AAPPL Test Status menu on the Client Site showing you the reason that the rater(s) selected. Likewise, if the ACTFL-certified rater reviewing the ILS and PW responses indicates there were extraneous factors that impacted a learner’s rating, you will see an information icon with the reason the rater selected. This is intended to provide you with greater insight into your learners’ scores and assist you in supporting learners as they navigate the testing experience.
For more information, log into your Client Site admin page.
Bilingual Customer Support
LTI is pleased to announce we now offer bilingual customer support (Spanish, English) for customers. Our standard customer support hours and means of contacting us remain the same: aapplhelp@languagetesting.com or 914.963.7110, option 1. Live support is available Monday-Friday 8am-7pm Eastern Time (excluding weekends and US holidays).
You’ll also find some new and improved resources focused on assessments on ACTFL’s website:
- ACTFL FAQ Page with added information around the use of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines – 2024 and the issuing of official ACTFL ratings.
- Updated page on ACTFL assessments, including K-12 assessments and Postsecondary Assessments, with easy-to-find resources, organized information, and helpful links.
ACTFL and LTI are dedicated to maintaining the quality and relevance of ACTFL assessments and look forward to opportunities to work with you in the academic year ahead!
Watch: What Is the AAPPL
