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).