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World Language Proficiency Assessment
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Earn Up to Four Credits for Languages You Know
Students in grades 9-12?who can read, write, speak, and understand the world languages at the Novice Mid-Level or above can earn high school credit when they complete world language proficiency assessments.?
Based on the proficiency level demonstrated, students can earn 1-4 high school credits for world language. The credits will help students meet high school graduation and college admissions requirements.
This assessment allows students to be recognized for their diverse language competencies and value they bring to the Kent School District. For more information on the statewide initiative, please refer to .
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Video Available in More Languages
- Amharic:
- Arabic:
- Cambodian:
- Chinese:
- Korean:
- Punjabi:
- Russian:
- Samoan:
- Spanish:
- Somali:
- Tagalog:
- Tigrinya:
- Vietnamese:
2023-2024 Assessment Process
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Students that are interested in the World Language Proficiency Assessment will need to attend an information session at their high school.?During this session, they will find out more about what?is involved in testing, requirements to receive credit,?and complete a writing prompt sample.
Once their writing prompt is evaluated, students will be contacted?via email with?next steps for registering if demonstrate linguistic proficiency preparedness or recommendations to practice for increasing proficiency?prior to testing.??
This year,?high schools will have the option to offer two testing opportunities if they choose. One?in the fall for students in grades 11 and 12 with a possible second opportunity in winter open for grades 9-12. Students will?complete the testing during the school day.
Attend Your School’s Information Session
For more?information,?please speak with your high school counselor to sign up to attend your high school’s information session and keep an eye out for flyers around your school.?
Assessments
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STAMP Assessments
Standards-Based Measurement of Proficiency (STAMP) is an online assessment system that tests reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in a variety of languages.
Tests are not timed but typically take about 2-3 hours. Test instructions are in English, students responses must be in the testing language.
Students can prepare for this assessment by reading the . If unsure about English reading skills, students can take the for practice.
Available Languages
- Arabic
- French
- German
- Hebrew
- Hindi
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Mandarin (Simplified and Traditional)
- Polish
- Russian
- Spanish
- Armenian
- Filipino (Tagalog
- Haitian-Creole
- Ilocano
- Samoan
- Somali Maay
- Somali Maxaa
- Tamil
- Urdu
- Vietnamese
- Yup'ik
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ALTA Writing & Listening Assessments
Writing Assessment
The ALTA Writing Assessment is a hand-written test with several “prompts” (or questions) for?students to write about in connected paragraphs. Grammar mistakes?are ok. The?ALTA?writing test is completed in 1 hour. Information about the writing assessment. Students can prepare for this assessment by in response to some of these prompts.
Listening Assessment
The ALTA Listening Assessment is an interview by telephone with a native speaker, which will be scheduled at your school after we receive writing scores.?The listening test is scheduled for 30 minutes during the school day.? and what to expect may help students be more comfortable speaking to the rater.
Available Languages
- Albanian
- Amharic
- Azerbaijani
- Baluchi (Western)
- Bambara
- Bengali
- Bosnian
- Bulgarian
- Burmese
- Cambodian
- Cantonese (Traditional)
- Chuukese
- Croatian
- Czech Danish
- Dari Farsi
- Dutch
- Estonian
- Ewe
- Fante (Akan)
- Finnish
- Fulfulde (Fulani)
- Ga
- Greek (Modern)
- Gujarati
- Hausa
- Hmong-Mong
- Hungarian
- Ibo
- Indonesian
- Italian
- Jamaican Patois
- Kazakh
- Kurdish (Kurmandji)
- Kurdish (Sorani)
- Laotian
- Latvian
- Lithuanian
- Macedonian
- Malayalam
- Nepali
- Norwegian
- Oromo
- Pashto
- Persian Farsi
- Portuguese (Brazil)
- Portuguese (Portugal)
- Punjabi (Eastern)
- Punjabi (Western)
- Romanian
- Serbian
- Serbo-Croatian
- Sinhala
- Slovak
- Swahili
- Swedish
- Taiwanese (Traditional)
- Tajik
- Telegu
- Thai
- Tibetan
- Tigrinya
- Turkish
- Turkmen
- Twi (Akan)
- Ukrainian
- Urdu
- Uzbek
- Wolof
- Yoruba
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Other Assessments
Languages not tested by Avant STAMP or ALTA assessments may be tested using custom tests through Extempore or American Sign Language (ASL) through ASLPI.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who can earn World Language Credit by Proficiency?
Any student in grades 9-12 with strong skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in a language other than English can earn credit. Students using American Sign Language (ASL) may also earn credit. Students need to complete an orientation and self-assessment of their skills before testing.?
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How many credits can I earn??
You can earn 1-4 credits.?
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Can I take the test if I¡¯m not a native speaker?
Yes.?
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Can I take the test if I am a multilingual student?
Yes. Multilingual students are encouraged to take the test. However, we strongly recommend you take the test when you are at an intermediate or advanced level of English language skill - this is because the test instructions will be in English, making the test challenging for a beginning multilingual student.
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How much does testing cost??
The first language test is free. If you choose to retest, there will be a fee based on the cost of the assessment. Retake fees range from $39-$132.?
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What happens if I don¡¯t do well on the test??
There is no negative posting on transcripts or other records.?
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Can I test more than once?
Yes. You can opt to retest, at your own cost.?
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How do I register for the test??
To register, you will attend an information orientation, complete a self-assessment,?and take a practice test. This will happen across the high school?campuses during the school day and?be advertised at the school.?
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How do I decide if I should take the test?
During or after the orientation, you will complete a self-assessment that will help you identify your proficiency level. If your level is high enough, and you want to earn the credit, you are encouraged to take the test.
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What is the test like?
The test varies depending on language. Some tests are completed on the computer, some are paper/pencil, and some are a combination of both. All the tests also include a speaking and/or listening component, as well as reading and writing assessments. Practice assessments are available online: , , , , , , and . For other languages, you will learn about the assessment during the information orientation.?
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Where does testing happen??
In most cases, testing will happen at your home high school.?
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How are credits awarded from the test?
Credit will be granted based on the lowest domain score (listening, reading, speaking or writing). The following levels of proficiency across the language skills tested for each language are:
Proficiency Level
Credit(s) Earned
Seat Time Equal
Novice Mid
1
1 year
Novice High
2
2 years
Intermediate Low
3
3 years
Intermediate Mid and above
4
4 years
All domains of the test must be completed to be eligible for credits. Credits are not awarded for each domain.
Contact Us
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Assessment
12033 SE 256th Street #D-2100
Kent, WA 98030(253) 373-7080
Charity Jensen
Director of Assessment
Jennifer Antrobus
Assistant Director of Assessment