Test Content
Writing test (55 minutes)
For the writing test, you will write responses to 5 tasks. You will write your responses on paper.
Speaking test (approximately 20 minutes)
The speaking test is a Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview (SOPI). You will not be speaking with a person. Instead, you will be speaking into a microphone and recording responses to 5 tasks. For the SOPI, you will be seated at a computer with headphones. After reading each task, you will speak your response into the microphone, and your response will be recorded. For each task, you will be given a little time to think and prepare yourself before recording your response.
Test Results
Your adviser will contact you with your results. The Language Testing Program does not provide results for the ILA. If you have not received results from your adviser by six weeks after your ILA, please contact your adviser.
Your responses to each task will be evaluated according to the following checklist:
• Effectiveness: How effective were you at accomplishing the task as described?
• Comprehensibility: Did you get your point across in a way that your reader/listener could comprehend easily?
• Effort: Did you make an effort to communicate, rather than just answer briefly? (Did you write/speak in complete sentences? Did your response consist of multiple sentences?)
• Task fulfillment: Meets task requirements as indicated, i.e., it is on topic and is of the specified length.
• Varied vocabulary: Shows a broad and non-repetitive vocabulary.
• Accuracy: Shows ability to produce sentence-level discourse in present and past time with some variety of sentence patterns.
Be sure to respond to the question or task as described. For example, in one task, you will be prompted to ask questions. Be sure to ask questions in your response to that task.
When taking the SOPI, read the situation and task carefully and address all the specific tasks in each prompt. Give as much detail as possible. This is a proficiency test, so we are not measuring the accuracy of your responses, but rather how well you communicate.
You have 55 minutes for the writing test, so be sure to budget your time so you can respond completely to all 5 tasks. It is difficult to pass if you do not respond to all 5 tasks.
You should respond to every question on the SOPI. Give the most complete answer you can. Continue speaking even if you rephrase, re-word, or correct something you’ve already said. Try to use all the time allotted! For example, in one task, you will be prompted to talk about a picture that you will see. Please say as much as you can about the picture using all of the time allotted.
In the SOPI, if you are asked a question about something that is unfamiliar, you could state that you don’t know much about this topic, and perhaps say why. You could also talk about something similar to the topic targeted. Again, this is a proficiency test... we are measuring your ability to communicate in the target language, rather than your command of very specific vocabulary or grammar. The focus is on the message that you wish to communicate.
Note: The content of your actual responses or opinions will not in any way affect your rating. Only your ability to express yourself in the language is being evaluated. You need not respond truthfully to the tasks. Feel free to use your imagination to show what you can do with the language.