World Language Proficiency Assessment Options

How to Calculate Credits

Use the lowest score of the four skills to calculate credits since this represents the most consistent skill level.

For instance, if a student scores on the AAPPL:

• Reading: N4
• Speaking: I3
• Writing: I2
• Listening: I4

Use the AAPPL score of N4 to calculate credits.

This student has earned 2 credits.

• Web-based proficiency and performance assessment of K-12 standards-based language learning.
• Interpretive Reading & Listening: immediate results
• Interpersonal & Presentational: results in 2 weeks
• For languages not offered here, check OPI for SOBL.

• Administered in May
• Scores released in July
• Graduated Seniors' scores must be recorded by August 31st 

Note: Only Language and Culture exams are approved for the Seal of Biliteracy. Latin is exempt and approved in its current format.

AP exams do not count toward Competency-based Credits. Students must have the class on their transcript. However, students may still earn the Seal of Biliteracy and/or college credit with  AP. This is dependent upon performance and university requirements. Seniors looking to earn the Seal through AP exams must have their transcripts updated before September 1st of the year in which they graduated.

How to Calculate Credits

Use the score to calculate credits since this represents the most consistent skill level.

For instance, if a student scores on the ALIRA:

Reading: N4

Use the ALIRA score of N4 to calculate credits.

This student has earned 2 credits.

• Four-option, multiple choice, computer-adaptive assessment that can be delivered in a single class period.
• Computer-based
• 50 minutes
• On-demand with school-based proctor

*ALTA does not currently align to ACTFL levels so before testing, let your ALTA representative know that you'll need to differentiate between Low and Mid scores. 

How to Calculate Credits

Use the lowest score of the two skills to calculate credits since this represents the most consistent skill level.
For instance, if a student scores on the ALTA:

• Speaking: ILR 1+
• Writing: ILR 1

Use the ILR rating of 1 to calculate credits.
This student earned either 3 or 4 credits.

• On-demand
• Results within 24 hours

Note: As it currently stands, ALTA's scale does NOT align with ACTFL's proficiency scale.

Districts are encouraged to contact ALTA and ask for an alignment due to Seal of Biliteracy rules.

ALTA is generally used most often for languages that other providers do not offer as their options exceed 100+ options. However, ALTA does not align well with Washington's credit alignment goals because its scoring system is based on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR), the scale used by the military and federal government. Educational systems around the country use ACTFL's Proficiency Guidelines.

CI exams do not count toward Competency-based Credits. Students must already have the class on their transcript. However, students may still earn the Seal of Biliteracy and/or college credit with CI. This is dependent upon performance and university requirements. Seniors looking to earn the Seal through CI exams must have their transcripts updated before September 1st of the year in which they graduated. 

Note: Students need either A or AS Levels, not both. A Level exams include all parts of the AS Level but also have an added literature component which leads to the higher cost but also higher credit earned possibilities. Students do not need both.

See District CAIE Coordinator

• Administered in Spring (May/June) or Autumn (October/November)
• Scores back by middle of August (Spring) or January (Autumn)
• Graduated Seniors' scores must be recorded by August 31st

• See District IB Coordinator
• Graduated Seniors' scores must be recorded by August 31

IB exams do not count toward Competency-based Credits. Students must already have the class on their transcript. However, students may still earn the Seal of Biliteracy and/or college credit with IB. This is dependent upon performance and university requirements. Seniors looking to earn the Seal through IB exams must have their transcripts updated before September 1 of the year in which they graduated.

• Administered in late April
• Scores available in August

NEWL exams do not count toward Competency-based Credits. However, students may still earn the Seal of Biliteracy and/or college credit with NEWL. This is dependent upon performance and university requirements. Seniors looking to earn the Seal through NEWL exams must have their transcripts updated before September 1st of the year in which they graduated.               

How to Calculate Credits 

Use the lowest score of the two skills to calculate credits since this represents the most consistent skill level. For instance, if a student scores:

• Speaking: Advanced Low
• Writing: Intermediate High

Use the proficiency level to calculate credits.
This student has earned 4 credits.

• The Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) measures your ability to speak in a particular language. It is an unscripted, approximately 30-minute conversation on the phone with a Certified ACTFL Tester. 
• The Oral Proficiency Interview - Computer (OPIc)  is an on-demand, internet, or phone-delivered proficiency test. In the computer version, an avatar provides a customized series of prompts based on the interests and experience of the test-taker, which are gathered during the survey phase at the beginning of the test. 
• The Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) is delivered via the internet. It consists of several prompts customized to reflect the test-taker's interests and experience, which are gathered through survey questions at the beginning of the assessment.  
• The OPI for the Seal of Biliteracy® is a 20 to 25-minute one-on-one interview between a certified ACTFL tester and an examinee. It is interactive, continuously adapting to each test-taker and their speaking abilities.  
• The WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy® consists of a series of writing tasks that address the presentational and interpersonal modes of communication. It measures how well a person spontaneously writes in a language   

The OPI/OPIC & WPT are geared more toward postsecondary language proficiency assessment. These are the current exams required for Washington state Teaching Licensure as well as National Board Certification. However, if the student is interested in possibly becoming a World Language or Dual-Language educator, it might be in their best interest to take the OPI/OPIc in order to become familiarized with the test and its process before needing to assess for licensure credentials.

How to Calculate Credits

Use the lowest score of all tested skills to calculate credits, as this represents the most consistent skill level.

For instance, if a student scores:

• Reading 4
• Speaking 6
• Writing 5
• Listening 5

Use the proficiency level to calculate credits.

This student has earned 3 credits.

• Immediate results: listening and reading;
• Results in 3-7 days: speaking and writing
• All assessments meet Washington State Seal of Biliteracy standards
• Monolingual assessments have directions and questions all in the target language.
• Other assessments have the target language and English for directions and questions

Skills Assessed:

• 3S is 3 Skills (Reading, Writing & Speaking)
• 4S and Monolingual are 4 Skills (Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening)
• WS is 2 Skills (Writing & Speaking)
• ASL is 2 Skills (Receptive & Expressive)
• Latin is 1 Skill (Reading)

Language dependent

All Tribal Languages are eligible for Competency-based Credits and the Seal of Biliteracy. The Tribes determine the type of assessment and proficiency level for the student and language. No "one size fits all" options exist for all Tribes. If a student wishes to assess in a language that falls outside of Washington's 29 Federally Recognized Tribes, it is important to contact World Languages and the Office of Native Ed so that OSPI can reach out to those Tribes or Bands. 

• Tribe determines the student’s proficiency level in the Tribal language and recommends the competency-based credits, e.g., 1-4 years of high school World Language credit. 
• Tribal Language proficiency is solely determined by the Tribe and is not dependent upon ACTFL proficiency levels. 
• Four credits of Competency-based Credit are required to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.
• Tribe sends a letter of the student’s language proficiency and recommended Competency-based Credits to the high school registrar. 
• For languages of Washington's 29 Federally-Recognized Tribes, educators must be First Peoples'  Language, Culture and Oral Traditions certified. 
• For languages from Tribes or Bands within Washington state and outside Washington state, please contact Office of Native Education for assistance. 

Skills Assessed: Language Dependent

Dual Credit Available? Contact Office of Native Education