ACTFL? CERTIFIED PROFICIENCY TESTING PROGRAM:
ORAL AND WRITING PROFICIENCY TESTING
FOR QUEENS COLLEGE
THE ACTFL ORAL PROFICIENCY INTERVIEW (OPI)?
The ACTFL OPI is a live, 15- to 30-minute telephone conversation between a certified ACTFL Tester and the candidate. The OPI assessment is a valid and reliable test that measures how well a person speaks a language. The procedure is standardized 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 ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2024 - Speaking.
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.
For more information about the OPI click here: https://www.languagetesting.com/oral-proficiency-interview-opi
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 writing proficiency test measures how well a person spontaneously writes in a language (without access to revisions and/or editing tools) by comparing his/her performance of specific writing tasks with the criteria stated in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
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 - Writing. The tasks and prompts are written in English with the expectation that the responses be written in the target language.
The ACTFL WPT assesses writing proficiency in terms of the ability of the candidate to write effectively and appropriately for real-life writing purposes. They do not address when, where, why, or the way in which an individual learned to write. The ACTFL 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 ACTFL WPT does not compare one individual's writing to that of another, but rather evaluates each individual's writing according to the assessment criteria of the rating framework.
For more information on the WPT click here: https://www.languagetesting.com/writing-proficiency-test
RESCHEDULED OR MISSED APPOINTMENTS
In the event that an appointment needs to be rescheduled, contact the LTI customer support department. There is no charge for appointments that are rescheduled prior to one business day before the scheduled appointment.
For missed OPI appointments or for appointments that a notice for rescheduling is not delivered to LTI with at least 24 business hours advance notice, there is a $60.00 rescheduling fee. In the event you miss your scheduled OPI appointment, please contact us to reschedule your appointment.
CANCELED TESTS
For a test that is canceled and not rescheduled, there is a $60.00 cancelation fee that will be deducted from your refund.
NOTIFICATION OF TEST RESULTS
Test ratings are provided within 2-4 weeks of the test administration date. Once the rating of your test is completed, you will receive an e-mail notification that your results are now available through your account on the Individual Site. Through this site you will be able to view the test result and print your certificate. Queens College will receive your test results automatically via an electronic report.
ACE COLLEGE CREDIT RECOMMENDATION FOR ACTFL ASSESSMENTS
The American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) has evaluated and recommended college credit for ACTFL OPI?, OPIc?, and WPT?. The American Council on Education, the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions, seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and to influence public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives. For more than 30 years, colleges and universities have trusted ACE CREDIT to provide reliable course equivalency information to facilitate their decisions to award academic credit.
For more information, visit the https://www.languagetesting.com/lti-information/actfl-digital-badges-powered-by-credly
PREPARING FOR A TEST
To prepare for an OPI, practice speaking in the target language, making sure to tell stories (in as much detail as possible) about personal and professional experiences that have happened, are happening and will happen.
To prepare for a WPT, write essays about personal and professional experiences that have happened, are happening and will happen, making sure to give background information as well as details of the experience.
TEST TAKING TIPS
When taking the OPI, listen carefully to the questions asked by the interviewer before answering. When answering, give as detailed a response as possible. Saying little to avoid making mistakes will not improve your rating. If you do not know a specific term in the test language, describe it in the test language and do not resort to your native language or to making up words. If you do use an Anglicism or slang term do not be surprised if the interviewer asks you to describe what this word means. Demonstrating how well you can explain terms that you do not know in the test language is a communication task looked for at the Intermediate High level and above.
When taking the WPT, read the directions for each of the four prompts carefully. Make sure that your written response addresses the tasks and specifications outlined in the prompt. For example, if the prompt asks you to describe a specific work experience you have had, be sure to recount specific details and avoid vague, general descriptions. It is also very important that you adhere to the time allocated for each prompt. If a prompt asks you to give a brief description of a paragraph in length that should not take more than ten minutes to write, do not respond to this prompt by writing a five paragraph response and taking twenty-five minutes. If you do this, you will not have enough time to fully address later prompts.