It was developed in 2006 in response to the increased worldwide demand for the testing of oral language proficiency. The computer delivered assessment emulates the ‘live’ OPI, but delivery of prompts is through a carefully designed computer program, and via a virtual avatar, Ava, the OPIc “Tester.” This format allows the test to be taken on demand, and at a time convenient to the candidate and proctor.

The goal of the OPIc is the same as the OPI: to obtain a ratable sample of speech which a rater can evaluate and compare to the ACTFL or ILR Proficiency Guidelines in order to assign a rating. The OPIc rates the full range of the ACTFL scale, from Novice through Superior, taking, on average, between 20 and 40 minutes to complete.

Languages

Official ACTFL OPIcs are currently available in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Persian Farsi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Visit the ACTFL OPIc Certification page to learn about becoming a certified OPIc rater.

The OPIc Format

Introduction and Warm-Up: Test takers receive a complete explanation of OPIc test procedures and instructions, including a sample test prompt. Then, all OPIc tests start with Ava stating: Let’s start the interview now. Tell me something about yourself. This serves as the warm-up.
Background Survey: The Background Survey is a questionnaire which elicits information about the test taker’s work, school, home, personal activities, and interests. The survey answers determine the pool of prompts from which the algorithm will randomly select topics for the speaking tasks.
Self-Assessment: Test takers select the description that they feel most accurately describes their speaking ability in the target language. This determines which one of five OPIc test forms is generated for the specific individual.
Forms: The OPIc assesses the full range of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines—from Novice to Superior on five 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 Low (NL – IL).
- Form 2 can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Novice Low to Intermediate High (NL – IH).
- Form 3 can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Novice Low to Advanced Low (NL – AL).
- Form 4 can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Intermediate High to Advanced High (IH – AH).
- Form 5 can provide a rating within the proficiency range of Advanced Mid to Superior (AM – S).

Get recognized for your language skill

Provide evidence for your state’s Seal of Biliteracy with ACTFL assessment results. The AAPPL, ALIRA, and the OPI and WPT for the Seal of Biliteracy are recognized in many states as an appropriate assessment to demonstrate language ability in a second language to qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy.

What is the Seal of Biliteracy?

Ad

Assessment Factors

OPIc raters are certified via a rigorous certification process and are required to participate in quality assurance activities such as annual calibration events, virtual office hours, benchmarking activities, and other focused rater readiness activities.

Certified raters holistically consider assessment factors including function, accuracy, content/context, and text type in order to award an integrative proficiency rating.

Function: OPIc raters consider the test taker’s ability to successfully fulfill the assigned tasks by using the functions outlined in the Guidelines. Are test takers able to engage in global tasks like asking questions, narrating, describing, persuading or supporting opinions, for example?
Accuracy: Accuracy should be understood as how well a speaker is understood. Testers consider how features such as vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, fluency, pragmatic competence, and sociolinguistic competence affect the overall comprehensibility of the message.
Content & Context: An OPIc rater considers the appropriateness of a test taker’s response. Is the response on topic? Is it appropriate for the context of the prompt?
Text Type: OPIc raters consider how much language a test taker can produce and how well it is organized.

These assessment factors are not evaluated in isolation; a test taker’s language ability is holistically evaluated based on the overall performance. A proficiency rating is awarded based on how all the factors contribute to the description of a speaker’s global proficiency.

Familiarization Materials

The ACTFL OPIc is designed to assess spontaneous unrehearsed language ability. ACTFL does not provide practice materials for this reason. Test takers can, however, further familiarize themselves with the test format by reviewing the ACTFL OPIc Familiarization Guide and by taking the OPIc Demo test. ACTFL also provides suggestions for test takers and for educators.

Reliability and Validity

The ACTFL OPIc is a valid and reliable assessment of speaking proficiency. externally evaluated by a number of studies since its development in 2006 (e.g. Surface, Poncheri, & Bhavsar, 2008; Surface, 2018;Thompson, Cox & Knapp, 2016). 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.

Resources by Topic

Oral Proficiency Interview - Computer (OPIc)