Proficiency Exam

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LISD World Language Website


Proficiency Exam

Students with a strong background in a foreign language have the opportunity to earn credit for these courses through the following testing routes.  


Testing Dates:


AAPPL or ALIRA

What languages are available?

Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish 


What happens if I pass the exam?

Students who take either the AAPPL or ALIRA can skip levels of a foreign language and earn high school credit for each level skipped all the way up to four levels.  For instance, if a student demonstrates a high proficiency on the Spanish exam, he/she may skip Spanish I, II, and III and move directly to Spanish IV at Vandegrift.  The student would earn credit for both Spanish I, II, and III.  

Most elementary school students will sign up for Form A and most secondary school students will sign up for Form B of the exam.  Form A is typically for students who are Novice speakers up to Intermediate speakers.  Form A allows students to earn credit for Levels 1, 2, and 3.  Form B allows students to earn credit for Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4.


What is the format of the exam and when are they administered?  

These tests are computer based and are composed of both an oral and written portion.   Students will sit in a computer lab with headphones and microphone on and will be required to interact both in writing and in speech with the computer program.  Students must be comfortable speaking loudly and confidently in the foreign language in a testing environment where other students are speaking as well.  

The exam takes up to 3 hours to complete.  The exam consists of 4 sections and students have 30 minutes for each section.  Students may work at their own pace and complete sections in whatever order they prefer.  The exam is not based on history or customs.  It is a language exam.  

The exams are offered in the fall and spring.  Students may sign up for the test via their student's counselor.  Specific questions about the exam that are not addressed on the CRMS website can be sent directly to Maria Vaso.


What does the exam test?

The AAPPL is aligned with the national standards of a foreign language as well as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.  The "TEKS" for each language and expectations can be found online at the TEA website.


What does the exam cost?  

LISD will pay for the first administration of the AAPPL. Any subsequent exams are at the family's expense.  


When will  I know my results? 

It takes approximately 6 weeks for the results to be returned to the student.  Once results are received, the student will know which high school levels of the foreign language the student has skipped and received credit.  


What is a "passing grade" and how is this determined?

The AAPPL measure is not a test a student passes or fails.  It is an exam that measures your proficiency level.  In order for a student to receive credit for level 1, the student must be at a "Novice High (N-4)".  To receive credit for level 2, the student must be at an Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid (I-1 to I-3).  To receive credit for level 3, the student will need to be at an Intermediate Mid to Intermediate High (I-4 to I-5).  For level 4, the student needs to be at Advanced Low.


How many times can a student take the exam?

It is not recommended that a student take the exam more than once per year.  The exam measures true proficiency.  It is not an exam that an individual can study for and then retake immediately as it is an exam that measures your true ability to use the language.  However, if a student does need to take the exam again, LISD will not pay for the additional administration and the costs will be at the parent's expense.  


AAPPL-Student-Info.pdf