Items to review before testing
ITEMS TO REVIEW BEFORE TESTING FOR SEAL OF BILITERACY
To certify our students in a Language Other Than English (LOTE), we will most often use the Avant 4S Assessment. This is an online assessment that covers reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
To be ready for your assessment, please review and complete these items:
1. Request the language assessment for the Language Other Than English that you want to verify for the Seal of Biliteracy by completing this Google Form.
2. Familiarize yourself with the procedures for Avant Assessments. Watch this video to learn about the test and the resources that will help you during your assessment.
3. Take the sample test. Be sure to select the language that you will test. This sample test provides questions that will help you practice with the website so that you know where to click to play audio files, record your response, write your response and submit your answers.
4. For some languages, you will need to use a virtual keyboard when completing your written response.
If you are testing one of the following languages, you will need to use the virtual keyboard. On campus, we will be testing with Chromebooks, so please review the Chromebook Virtual Keyboard procedures.
Before you begin your assessment, you will need to agree to these statements:
This STAMP test utilizes spontaneous, unrehearsed situations to measure real-world language proficiency scoring at levels Novice through Advanced. The purpose of this assessment is to measure what you are able to do with the language without support of any translators, reference material (including taking notes during the speaking section) or assistance of any kind. Therefore, in order to continue with the test, please agree to the following guidelines and policies:
This STAMP test utilizes spontaneous, unrehearsed situations to measure real-world language proficiency scoring at levels Novice through Advanced. The purpose of this assessment is to measure what you are able to do with the language without support of any translators, reference material (including taking notes during the speaking section) or assistance of any kind. Therefore, in order to continue with the test, please agree to the following guidelines and policies:
- I understand that clicking outside of the test page or attempting to open other windows is not allowed and will be tracked. Multiple attempts will log me out of the test.
- I understand that the use of dictionaries, textbooks, cell phones, paper, pens, or other support materials (paper-based or electronic) are not allowed, unless I am completing a handwritten response.
- I will not use Google Translate or any other translation aid.
- I will not write down a speaking/expressive response and read/use it as my recorded response. - I understand and accept that this will lower my score for that response, and it may be scored as a ZERO because it involves the use of paper or reference material.
- I will not communicate with anyone other than the proctor during the test or receive any advice or help from anyone during the test.
- I will not use copy-paste, printing, screen capture apps/tools, or messaging tools.- I will not take or use notes of any kind for any portion of the test, including the speaking/expressive section.
- I will not share information about questions or prompts on the test with anyone.
- I will not use violent, profane or inappropriate language in my responses.
- I understand that violating any of these rules may result in invalidating my test results and agree to these stated guidelines and other guidelines included in the Test Taker Guide.
How will testing take place?
Once you have requested your test, you will see the Avant Application in your Schoology account. You will receive a notice alerting you to your testing appointment. Students currently taking Arabic 4, French 4, Italian 4, Japanese 4, Mandarin 4, or Spanish 4 who are seniors will test during their regularly scheduled class time between March 11 and March 22nd.
Students who are testing for a heritage language will be offered to test on a Saturday to avoid missing your scheduled classes, but if a student does not want to test on a Saturday, they will be scheduled for a two hour block of time to complete their test.
Students will need to bring their Chromebook to test, but we will have some Chromebooks on hand in case of technical difficulties. Scores for the listening, and reading sections will be available on the same day. Scores for written and oral responses will take two to three weeks.
Students will be notified of their scores as soon as possible.
Students will be notified of their scores as soon as possible.