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)
Here’s what you need to know about them.
🗣️ The OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview)
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 (Writing Proficiency Test)
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.