On Wednesday and Thursday mornings I took the listening and reading DLPTs. Last year while deployed to Africa I managed my first ever 3/3 (since taking this annual test since 1987). Thought that might have been a fluke so was quite happy to get a 3/3 again this year!
For my non-ILR knowledgable friends out there, here's what a 3 in listening and reading mean:
Reading 3 (General Professional Proficiency) Able to read within a normal range of speed and with almost complete comprehension a variety of authentic prose material on unfamiliar subjects. Reading ability is not dependent on subject matter knowledge, although it is not expected that the individual can comprehend thoroughly subject matter which is highly dependent on cultural knowledge or which is outside his/her general experience and not accompanied by explanation. Text-types include news stories similar to wire service reports or international news items in major periodicals, routine correspondence, general reports, and technical material in his/her professional field; all of these may include hypothesis, argumentation and supported opinions. Misreading rare. Almost always able to interpret material correctly, relate ideas and "read between the lines," (that is, understand the writers' implicit intents in text of the above types). Can get the gist of more sophisticated texts, but may be unable to detect or understand subtlety and nuance. Rarely has to pause over or reread general vocabulary. However, may experience some difficulty with unusually complex structure and low frequency idioms.
Listening 3 (General Professional Proficiency) Able to understand the essentials of all speech in a standard dialect including technical discussions within a special field. Has effective understanding of face-to-face speech, delivered with normal clarity and speed in a standard dialect on general topics and areas of special interest; understands hypothesizing and supported opinions. Has broad enough vocabulary that rarely has to ask for paraphrasing or explanation. Can follow accurately the essentials of conversations between educated native speakers, reasonably clear telephone calls, radio broadcasts, news stories similar to wire service reports, oral reports, some oral technical reports and public addresses on non-technical subjects; can understand without difficulty all forms of standard speech concerning a special professional field. Does not understand native speakers if they speak very quickly or use some slang or dialect. Can often detect emotional overtones. Can understand implications.
So what does IronMike do after "recertifying" his 3/3? Take the upper range DLPT in reading of course! And the very next day (today) because, why not? The upper range tests you to the 3-4 range. You have to get a 3 in the lower range before they'll allow you to take the upper range. You could miss every single question and get a 3 on the upper range. Which is pretty much what I did today.
The lower range reading had somewhere around 38 passages and 60-ish questions and you had 3 hours to complete it. The upper range had 13 passages and 38 questions and Yes, you still had 3 hours. It took me an hour to do the first 4 passages! Terribly difficult. I can't get into specifics, but if I take it again next year, I'm going to up the difficulty of my reading in preparation! Let's just say: I got a 3 at the end of the 165 minutes of headache-inducing reading. ))
Another year, another 3/3. Will report back when my OPI score comes back. Knock on wood!
