Why has ACTFL created the TEP?
In response to the closure of many international testing centers due to the COVID-19 outbreak around the globe, ACTFL, in collaboration with Language Testing International (LTI), is offering educational institutions a valid and reliable, remotely proctored English proficiency test for use in college admissions.
Increased accessibility with proven results
With our trusted remote proctoring solution, the ACTFL TEP makes an official language assessment accessible to the broadest range of prospective students. The ACTFL TEP provides:
Valid and reliable language assessment from ACTFL
Enhanced security with live remote proctoring
Access from any computer with online access
Flexible test dates and times
With the ACTFL TEP, students can use any computer with a webcam in a quiet location. A live remote proctor confirms the student’s identity and monitors their test in real time. Students receive reliable test results for reading, writing, listening, and speaking proficiency to submit to the institution of their choice.
ACTFL TEP Familiarization Manual
Now you can download the ACFL TEP Familiarization Manual
and take it with you!
Remote Proctoring
Remote proctoring is a service that emulates the role of an on-site proctor – confirming the identity of the test-taker and safeguarding the integrity of the exam and of the test taker’s score – using an internet-delivered assessment monitored by our offsite proctor. Internet-based, remotely proctored tests may be taken from a quiet location on any computer with a webcam and a microphone.
To learn more about ACTFL TEP remote proctoring standards and procedures, click below:
Reliability and Validity
ACTFL assessments are recognized around the world as the gold standard and used by thousands of academic institutions, government agencies, and private corporations for purposes of academic placement, student assessment, program evaluation, professional certification, hiring, and promotional qualification. The reliability and validity of ACTFL assessments is well documented over several decades by many peer-reviewed, third-party studies, and ACTFL assessments are recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE).
ACTFL Certified raters are highly specialized language professionals who have completed a thorough training process that concludes with a rater’s demonstrated ability to consistently rate samples with a high degree of reliability. ACTFL’s standard for establishing and maintaining quality assurance for all ACTFL assessments is rigorous, ongoing, and consistently results in language assessments of the highest quality. Quality assurance measures are integrated into every step of ACTFL processes— from test development, tester and rater recruitment to test review.
For a selection of published research on ACTFL
tests, please click on the button below:
How long does the test take?
The TEP is a comprehensive assessment of proficiency which takes approximately three hours. Total test time can range from 2 to 4 hours, depending on ability, and is broken down as follows:
20-40 minutes
20-80 minutes
50-105 minutes
Score Results
Test takers receive an official ACTFL rating for each skill (speaking, writing, listening, and reading) according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. Test results and certificates are delivered in approximately 14 days.
TOEFL® Score Correspondence
In an effort to help institutions make admissions decisions based on the ACTFL Proficiency Scale, a crosswalk between TOEFL scores and ACTFL ratings is provided as a guide for all institutions who accept the ACTFL TEP. The TEP – TOEFL crosswalk is based on a study involving 234 international students at US universities who took both the TOEFL and the ACTFL TEP components, including the OPIc, WPT, and L&Rcat (Tschirner, 2019).
To request a copy of the study, please complete the form below.
Assessment of Speaking:
The ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview – Computer (OPIc)
The ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview-Computer (OPIc) assesses functional speaking ability. It was developed as a tool to deliver and score valid and reliable oral proficiency testing on a larger scale than the “live” OPI.
The OPIc uses an avatar to simulate aspects of conversation. The avatar asks questions on practical, social, and professional topics that are encountered in informal and formal contexts. The recorded spoken answers are rated by trained, certified, ACTFL raters.
Assessment of Writing:
The Writing Proficiency Test (WPT)
The ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) assesses functional writing ability. The WPT was developed as a tool to measure how well a person spontaneously writes in a language (without access to revisions and/or editing tools).
The WPT presents four prompts for written responses dealing with practical, social, and professional topics that are encountered in informal and formal contexts. The written answers are rated by trained, certified, ACTFL raters.
Assessment of Listening and Reading:
The ACTFL Listening and Reading Computerized Adaptive Test (L&Rcat)
The ACTFL Listening and Reading Computerized Adaptive Test (L&Rcat) assesses how well a person understands spoken and written discourse.
The L&Rcat requires that the candidate read and listen to a number of passages and review associated multiple choice questions, selecting the most appropriate answers. The answers are computer-rated.
About ACTFL
ACTFL is dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction. ACTFL is a non-profit, individual membership organization of more than 12,500 language educators and administrators from elementary through graduate education, as well as government and industry.
Since its founding in 1967, ACTFL has become synonymous with innovation, quality, and reliability in meeting the changing needs of language educators and their students. From the development of Proficiency Guidelines, to its leadership role in the creation of national standards, ACTFL focuses on issues that are critical to the growth of both the profession and the individual teacher.
About LTI
Language Testing International (LTI) is the exclusive partner and licensee of ACTFL. Since its inception in 1992, LTI has developed and administered millions of language assessments for academic institutions, federal, state and city agencies, major corporations and companies of all sizes.