Languages
Official ACTFL Listening Proficiency Tests are currently available in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese [Mandarin], English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
Format
The LPT is developed in partnership with the Institute for Test Research and Test Development [ITT]. The test presents between 10 to 25 listening passages spoken in the target language being assessed. Listening passages vary in genre, content, length, and complexity depending on the level being targeted. Each passage is followed by three multiple choice questions, written in the target language. A demo test is available online.
Sample listening passages with rationales for their proficiency levels are available in the LPT Familiarization Guide, sample audio clips are available in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012- Listening for the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
Proficiency Ranges
The ACTFL LPT assesses Interpretive Listening in the target language across the full range of ACTFL Proficiency levels, from Novice to Superior on eight different test forms. A description of the different test forms and their administration time is below.
Two-level Forms: The average administration time for two-level forms is approximately 50 minutes.
- Form A can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Novice Low to Intermediate Mid [NL IM].
- Form B can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Novice High to Advanced Low [NH AL].
- Form C can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Intermediate Mid to Advanced Mid [IM AM].
- Form D can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Intermediate High to Superior [IH S].
Three-level Forms: The average administration time for three-level forms is approximately 75 minutes.
- Form E can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Novice Low to Advanced Low [NL AL].
- Form F can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Intermediate Mid to Superior [IM S].
Full range Forms:
- Form G [computer adaptive] can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Novice Low to Superior [NL S]. This test is designed to offer tasks at higher or lower levels depending on the candidates responses. The average administration time is 50-75 minutes.
- Form H can provide a rating within the full-range of the proficiency scale, Novice Low to Superior [NL S]. The average administration time is 125 minutes.
Refer to the LPT Familiarization Guide for detailed information about proficiency levels assessed in each form.
Other Rating Scales
In addition to the ACTFL Proficiency Rating Scale, rating can also take place using the Interagency Language Roundtable [ILR], and the Common European Framework of Reference [CEFR].
Assessment Criteria
Interpretive Listening is based largely on the amount of information listeners can retrieve as well as the inferences and connections they can make from listening to spoken language produced by one or multiple speakers under a variety of circumstances. The ACTFL LPT assesses how well listeners comprehend spoken passages and the listening tasks associated with the different types of passages in a variety of contexts, regardless of where, when, or how the language was acquired.
In assessing listening comprehension, the following criteria are considered:
- the functions and purposes of the spoken language the listener comprehends,
- the content areas and contexts in which the passages are spoken,
- the text type that the listener can understand in the language,
- the range of vocabulary and grammatical structures the listener can understand, and
- the cultural references the listener can understand in the language.
Refer to the LPT Familiarization Guide for detailed information about proficiency levels assessed in each form.
Reasons to Use the LPT
Official ACTFL LPT ratings can be used for a variety of purposes in the academic, commercial, and government communities. In academia, listening proficiency ratings can be used for admissions, placement into language programs, general assessments, or for exit/ graduation requirements. In business and government communities, LPT ratings can be used for certification, hiring, and promotion in multi-lingual positions.
Familiarization
Prior to taking ACTFLs Listening Proficiency Test [LPT], we suggest the following:
Reliability and Validity
The ACTFL LPT has been extensively validated using content-related, criterion-related, and construct-related evidence. Validity and reliability reports can be found as part of ACTFLs ACE CREDIT review process. A bibliography of ACTFLs ACE Review studies can be found here.
Test Administration & Delivery