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Virtual Information Session about the Test of Oral Proficiency in the Second Official Language
Video Segment 3 of 3
Slide 18:
In order to rate a linguistic performance, the Assessor consults the global criteria after the test has been completed. These criteria describe the language tasks that a candidate can accomplish at each language level, meaning at levels A, B, C, as well as at X and Exemption..
In order to accomplish these communicative tasks, candidates must use language components, such as vocabulary and grammatical structures, with a certain level of ease. The five components in the analytical criteria are: fluency and extent, vocabulary range and precision, grammatical range and control, phonological control, and comprehension.
The analytical criteria describe each of the linguistic components for each of the language levels; that is for A, B, C, as well as for X and Exemption.The analytical criteria represent a more detailed level of analysis than the global rating scale. This is useful for ensuring consistent rating of borderline cases (in other words, when a performance fluctuates between two levels).
It also allows for uniformity in the rating of each linguistic component, which leads to the global rating. The level that a candidate achieves corresponds to the candidate’s ability to communicate in the second official language.
Slide 19:A candidate can achieve a level A (beginner), a level B (intermediate), or a level C (advanced). Candidates will be assigned an X if their linguistic performance did not satisfy the requirements for level A.
Candidates will be assigned an E, or Exemption, if their linguistic performance is at a solid C level and future tests are therefore not required. An Exemption is an administrative privilege rather than a level. When a candidate demonstrates a solid C level performance, it is believed that the candidate will not lose this level of linguistic proficiency, even if the second language is not used frequently.
Therefore the candidate is exempted from taking the test again.
Slide 20:Candidates who take the Test of Oral Proficiency will be provided with written feedback on their test performance. We are currently in the process of finalizing this feedback. The feedback consists of a general description of the communicative tasks that a candidate can accomplish in the second official language.
It is not a diagnostic tool to be used to develop a learning plan or to measure a candidate’s language learning. The feedback describes, in a general way, what the candidate can do with the second official language, as demonstrated during the test.
The written feedback is a protected document provided solely to the candidate who has taken a test. The candidate must grant permission in order for another individual to access the information.
We’ll now present some of the guidelines related to the administration of the test: The recourse mechanisms available to candidates are: rescore requests, and retest requests. If candidates believe that the language level that was assigned does not reflect their linguistic proficiency, they may ask the person who arranged the test to request a rescore. Another Assessor will listen to the test and rate the candidate’s performance.
If the level is different from the original level assigned, a Quality Control Consultant will listen to the test and make the final rating decision. Rescore results can be higher, lower, or the same as the original test result. If a candidate believes that the administrative conditions were not appropriate for their test (for example, the test room was too noisy), the candidate may ask the person who arranged the test to request a retest.
The validity period for test results remains 5 years or indefinitely as long as the candidate remains in the same position, and the linguistic requirements of the position are not raised above the candidate’s linguistic proficiency level. Therefore, if a candidate applies for another bilingual position five years after having taken the test,
the candidate will need to take the test again. However, if a candidate remains in the same position and the linguistic requirements of the position haven’t changed, the candidate does not need to retake the test. The only guideline that has changed is the introduction of a retest period.
As of June 16, 2008, candidates who take the Test of Oral Proficiency must wait 30 calendar days before taking it again. Should a candidate take the test before the end of the 30-day period, the test result will not be valid and the retest period will start again from that test date.
Slide 22:Before concluding, we’d like to share some practical hints for candidates. Prior to taking the test, candidates should try to communicate in their second official language as much as possible.
We recommend that candidates arrive at their designated time, as they will need this time to read and sign paperwork before the test begins. We recommend that candidates start speaking in their second official language as soon as they meet the Assessor. This will help them to adjust more quickly to the testing environment, which will take place entirely in their second official language.
Candidates should choose a comfortable rate of speaking. Some candidates think that they need to speak either quickly or slowly, in order to avoid making mistakes. Candidates should speak at their natural rate. Assessors understand that everyone has a different rate of speaking and they are able to discern between someone who naturally speaks at a slow rate, and someone who frequently hesitates because he or she is having difficulty with elements of the second official language.
Candidates shouldn’t be overly worried about making mistakes. However, frequent self-corrections may disrupt the flow of the conversation. Candidates should keep in mind that their linguistic performance is assessed globally and that the Assessor doesn’t count the number of mistakes they may make.
Slide 23:Candidates shouldn’t worry if they lose their train of thought. The Assessor will help them get back on track. In order for the Assessors to be able to rate a linguistic performance, candidates need to listen carefully, and follow the Assessor’s instructions. If needed, the Assessor will repeat the instructions, and this will not have an impact on the test result.
If any of the questions asked during the test are sensitive for personal or security reasons, the candidate must tell the Assessor. This will allow the Assessor to move on to another topic. This will have no effect on the test result. We’d like to remind ccandidates that all information on the recording of the test is confidential, and is protected under the Privacy Act.
Slide 24 :For more information about the Test if Oral Proficiency, please visit the Public Service Commission’s Web site.
Here’s the address: www.psc-cfp.gc.ca
Then click on: Personnel Psychology Centre,
then: Second Language Evaluation,
and then: Information for Candidates.
We invite you to visit the site often, as it is currently being updated with more information.
