Triton's Seal of Biliteracy Hub
Welcome! This site is your one-stop resource for understanding and preparing for the Seal of Biliteracy test. Earning the Seal is a major accomplishment that shows universities and future employers that you are proficient in more than one language.
Use the drop down menus below to learn what to expect, review sample prompts, and understand exactly how your test will be scored.
The Seal of Biliteracy is an official award given to high school students who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in English and at least one other language. It is a seal that appears on your diploma or transcript and is recognized by states, universities, and employers across the country.
Stands Out on Applications: It's a clear and official way to show colleges and employers your language skills.
Earn College Credit: There are universities that offer college credit or advanced placement for students who have earned the Seal. (Rowan will giv eyou 6 credits!)
Prove Your Skills: It validates the hard work you've put into mastering another language, whether in class, at home, or in your community. It's a credential.
New Jersey requires students to reach a proficiency level of "Intermediate-Mid" on the AAPPL in order to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.
This means you need to show you can:
Create with the language.
Communicate on a variety of everyday topics.
Be understood by speakers of the language who are used to non-native speakers.
Move beyond just memorized words and phrases to create your own original sentences and strings of sentences.
The test measures your skills in four areas. You will be asked to use the language in real-world situations, not just fill in grammar bubbles.
Interpretive Listening: You will listen to audio (like a conversation, a message, or an announcement) and answer comprehension questions.
Interpretive Reading: You will read texts (like an article, an email, or a story) and answer comprehension questions.
Interpersonal Speaking (or "Simulated Conversation"): This is often the most challenging part. You will hear a recorded speaker and have to respond to them in real-time. You will have a short time to think and then must record your spoken answer.
Presentational Writing: You will be given a written prompt (like writing an email, a blog post, or a short essay) and a set amount of time to write a response.
These links provide official practice tests and demos. This is the best way to prepare! Seeing the test format will make you feel much more confident.
AAPPL Test Demos (by LTI):
Live Link: https://www.languagetesting.com/aappl2-demo
Scroll to the language you are testing in and select form B for eachof the sections to get an idea of what to expect and how they are structured. (Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing)
Here are examples of the types of tasks you'll be asked to do.
The Prompt: "You receive a voicemail from your friend. He wants to know what you did last weekend. He asks you to tell him about one good thing and one bad thing that happened. Respond to his message."
The Prompt: "You are part of a club planning a cultural fair. The club president asks for suggestions for what food your group should bring. Leave a message explaining your idea, what ingredients are needed, and why it's a good choice."
The Prompt: "You are talking to a new exchange student at your school. They ask you to describe your school. Tell them what the classes are like, what students do for fun, and give them one piece of advice."
The Prompt (Email): "Your school principal has sent an email asking for student opinions on the new cafeteria food. Write an email response. In your email, you should greet the principal, state your opinion, give at least two specific reasons for your opinion, and suggest one change."
The Prompt (Blog Post): "You are writing a post for your school's travel blog. Describe a place you have visited or would like to visit. What can a person see and do there? Why should other students visit this place?"
The Prompt (Persuasive): "Your town is considering building a new park, but some people are against it. Write a short article for the local newspaper explaining your opinion. Should the town build the park? Give at least three reasons to support your position."
Writing: "At this level, writers can create language to address the prompt. They can write a series of connected sentences with a beginning, middle, and end. They can be understood by a reader who is used to the writing of language learners. They show some control of basic grammar (like verb conjugations) but make errors when trying to use more complex structures."
Speaking: "At this level, speakers can create with the language and combine words and phrases to make their own sentences. They can talk about everyday topics. They can be understood by listeners who are used to non-native speakers, but they may need to repeat themselves. Their speech is a string of sentences, not just single words or memorized phrases."
Task Completion - Did I answer all parts of the prompt? If it asked for 3 reasons, did I give 3?
Text Type - Am I creating my own sentences? Can I connect my sentences together with simple transition words (like "and," "but," "because," "then")?
Comprehensibility - Can a native speaker who is used to learners understand me, even if I make some mistakes?
Language Control - Do I have enough vocabulary to talk about the topic? Am I mostly accurate with basic grammar (like present tense)? It's OK to make errors, especially with complex tenses!
The three links below lead to tables that contain the full range of scores for each section of the AAPPL. These comprehensive sets of score descriptions and strategies may be helpful in setting your own curriculum goals and strategies.
While many students take the AAPPL, you may have to take the OPI and WPT depending on what language you speak. They are often used for less-common languages. (Albanian, Amharic, Bangla, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Croatian, Dari, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Malayalam, Pashto, Polish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Yoruba)
OPI = Oral Proficiency Interview (for Speaking)
WPT = Writing Proficiency Test (for Writing)
Here’s what you need to know about them.
The OPI is a live, one-on-one conversation with a certified ACTFL tester. Unlike a simulated conversation, you will be talking to a real person (usually over the phone or computer).
What the Format is Like:
A Real Conversation: The test is a 20-30 minute structured conversation.
Warm-up: It begins with simple questions to get you talking (e.g., "Tell me about yourself," "What are your hobbies?").
Adaptive: The tester's goal is to find out what you can do. They will "level-check" by asking questions that get progressively more complex. They will ask you to:
Describe: Talk about your school, family, or a recent event.
Narrate: Tell a story about something that happened in the past.
Give Opinions: Support your opinion on a topic.
Finding Your "Ceiling": The tester will keep asking more complex questions until you "top out"—meaning the language becomes too difficult. This is a normal part of the test! Don't panic when the questions get hard. The tester is just trying to find your highest level.
Tip for the OPI: Your goal is to talk as much as possible. It is a conversation, not a grammar quiz. Don't just give one-word answers. Explain your ideas, add details, and don't be afraid to ask the tester to repeat a question if you need it.
The WPT is the writing equivalent of the OPI. It is a proctored, computer-based test where you will type responses to several prompts.
What the Format is Like:
Multiple Prompts: You will be given 4-5 prompts and a set amount of time (usually 60-90 minutes).
Prompts in English: The prompts are given in English, but you must write all of your responses in the target language.
Variety of Tasks: The prompts will ask you to perform different real-world tasks, such as:
Writing an email to a friend (Interpersonal).
Describing a problem and asking for help.
Writing a short story or narrative.
Stating and defending your opinion on a school or community issue (Persuasive).
Increasing Difficulty: Like the OPI, the prompts will get more complex as you go, moving from Intermediate-level tasks to Advanced-level tasks.
Tip for the WPT: Read the prompt carefully and do everything it asks. If it asks you to write an email giving three reasons, make sure you greet the person, give three clear reasons, and sign off like an email. This shows you understand the task.
Here is so more information about these tests directly from the LTI (Language Testing International). Click here.
The district will administer the AAPPL test in the LMC in the morning (7:30 am-10:15 am) of Feb. 3-5 (the 6th if necessary).
The district pays for the tests, but you need to let us know by November 21st so we can register you in a timely fashion.
Remember you must be in grade 12 and have met or be on track to meet your Language Arts graduation requirement to be eligible.