Listening
Format: Timed - 50 minutes. Delivered on computer. Audio clips with pictures. Multiple choice questions.
Student should be able to control basic personal background and needs, social conversations, and somewhat more complex tasks, such as lodging, transportation, shopping, and directions. Listening tasks include not only spontaneous face-to-face conversation but also short routine telephone conversation and some deliberate speech, such as simple announcements at a train station.
Reading
Format: Timed - 55 minutes. Delivered on computer. Diverse reading material. Multiple choice questions.
Student should be able to understand the main idea and/or some facts from simple connected texts dealing with basic personal and social needs. Examples include messages with social purposes or information for the widest possible audience, such as public announcements, and very simple hand-printed messages (e.g., Asita asa ku-zi goro mata kimasu--Tanaka.). Should understand hiragana, katakana, and high-frequency kanji.
Writing
Format: Timed - 55 minutes. Written responses on paper.
Student should be able to control limited practical writing needs. Topics are simple, such as likes and dislikes (e.g., Watasi wa tenisu ga sukidesu), short descriptions (e.g., Kyoo wa atui desu), recounting of everyday events in a list-like manner (e.g., Hati-zi ni bangohan o tabemasita. Terebi de futtobooru o mimasita. Omosirokatta desu. Zyuu-iti-zi goro nemasita.).
Student should be able to write short messages (e.g., Iti-zi-han goro kaerimasu kara koko de matteite kudasai), postcards, and take down simple notes such as telephone messages. Create statements or questions. Make few or only occasional errors in the use of hiragana, katakana, and approximately 300 kanji.
Speaking
Format: 10 to 15 minute Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) with role-play. In-person interview.
Student should be able to control topics such as personal history (e.g., Oniisan ga imasu ka? ), daily schedule (e.g., Itumo aruite gakkoo e kimasu), leisure-time activities (e.g., Eiga ni yoku ikimasu ka? ), and simple transactions, such as at a department store and a stationery store.
Student should be able to ask and answer questions regarding the above topics, initiate and respond to the above topics and maintain the conversation, demonstrate grammatical accuracy in basic constructions and use of high-frequency verbs (e.g., use of non-past / past tense verb forms) and auxiliary verbs (e.g., A: Ima nani o site imasu ka? B: Terebi o mite imasu.)