ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT)

A web-based, proctored, standardized test of the global assessment of functional writing ability in a language.

WPT logo header

The WPT measures how well a person spontaneously writes in a language (without access to revisions and/or editing tools). Rating occurs by comparing the writer's performance of specific writing tasks to the criteria stated by a proficiency rating scale such as the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines for Writing.

Proficiency-Oriented, Criterion-Referenced Approach

ACTFL writing tests assess writing proficiency in terms of the ability to write effectively and appropriately for real-life writing purposes. The WPT does not address when, where, why, or how an individual learned to write. The ACTFL WPT is not an achievement test assessing a writer’s acquisition of specific aspects of course and/or curriculum content, nor is it tied to any specific method of instruction. The ACTFL WPT does not compare one individual’s writing to another individual’s writing; rather, it compares each individual’s writing to the descriptors for writing as stated in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, for example.

Reasons to Use the WPT

Reasons to Use the WPT

Proficiency-Oriented, Criterion-Referenced Approach

ACTFL writing tests assess writing proficiency in terms of the ability to write effectively and appropriately for real-life writing purposes. The WPT does not address when, where, why, or how an individual learned to write. The ACTFL WPT is not an achievement test assessing a writer’s acquisition of specific aspects of course and/or curriculum content, nor is it tied to any specific method of instruction. The ACTFL WPT does not compare one individual’s writing to another individual’s writing; rather, it compares each individual’s writing to the descriptors for writing as stated in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, for example.

Official ACTFL WPT ratings can be used for a variety of purposes in academic, commercial, and government communities. In academia, writing proficiency ratings can be used for admissions, placement into language programs, general assessments, or for exit/ graduation requirements. In business and government communities, WPT ratings can be used for certification, hiring, and promotion in multilingual positions. Upon completion of an official ACTFL WPT, digital badges, indicating proficiency range achieved, are available through Credly.

Languages

Official ACTFL WPTs are currently available in the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali/ Bangla, Bosnian/ Croatian, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Czech, Danish, Dari, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek (Modern), Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam, Mandarin, Pashto, Persian Farsi, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo/Croatian, Spanish, Swedish, Swahili, Tamil, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese, and Yoruba.

Seal of Biliteracy

The WPT is available for the Seal of Biliteracy for high school students, grades 11 – 12. Visit the Seal of Biliteracy Assessment page for more information.

Order Assessments

Language Testing International (LTI) is the exclusive licensee of ACTFL assessments. LTI schedules, conducts, and reports over 700,000 official ACTFL assessments each year.

Schedule Assessment

Format

Customized

The choices made by the test taker in response to the Background Survey and the Self-Assessment ensure that each test taker receives a customized and unique test.

Proficiency Ranges

The WPT assesses the full range of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines—from Novice to Superior on 3 different test forms. The results of the Self-Assessment identify the appropriate form.

  • Form 1 can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Novice Low to Intermediate Mid (NL – IM). The average administration time is 40 minutes.
  • Form 2 can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Novice Low to Advanced Mid (NL – AM). The average administration time is 60 minutes.
  • Form 3 can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Novice Low to Superior (NL – S). The average administration time is 80 minutes.

Assessment Criteria

The WPT is rated exclusively by ACTFL-certified raters. For details on WPT rater certification, visit here. Responses on the Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) are assessed from a global perspective. In evaluating writing, the following criteria are considered:

  • Functions or global tasks the writer performs
  • Content areas and contexts within which the writer performs the tasks
  • Accuracy of the writing
  • Length and organization of the text the writer produces

Note that discrete linguistic components are viewed from a communicative perspective and are thus considered in terms of how they contribute to the message communicated by the overall written sample.

Tests are double-rated and an official ACTFL WPT certificate is issued to the candidate. The certificate includes the rating and the description of the rating.

Familiarization

Prior to taking ACTFL’s Writing Proficiency Test (WPT), we suggest the following:

Reliability and Validity

The ACTFL WPT is a valid and reliable assessment of writing proficiency (e.g. Surface & Dierdorff, 2004; Tschirner & Barenfenger, 2011). ACTFL assessments also undergo regular external reviews as part of the ACE CREDIT review process. A bibliography of ACTFL’s ACE Review studies can be found here.

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