Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Ask specific questions about your target languages. Beginner questions welcome!
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IronMike
Black Belt - 2nd Dan
Posts: 2554
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Location: Northern Virginia
Languages: Studying: Esperanto
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Tested:
BCS, 1+L/1+R (DLPT5, 2022)
Russian, 3/3 (DLPT5, 2022) 2+ (OPI, 2022)
German, 2L/1+R (DLPT5, 2021)
Italian, 1L/2R (DLPT IV, 2019)
Esperanto, C1 (KER skriba ekzameno, 2017)
Slovene, 2+L/3R (DLPT II in, yes, 1999)
Language Log: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5189
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Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby IronMike » Tue Jan 01, 2019 10:41 pm

Reviving this thread as I might take an Italian proficiency test sometime in the future. Now to go research about the CILS exam!
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You're not a C1 (or B1 or whatever) if you haven't tested.
CEFR --> ILR/DLPT equivalencies
My swimming life.
My reading life.

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SGP
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Languages: DE (native), EN (C2), ES (B2), FR (B2); some more at various levels
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Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby SGP » Tue Jan 01, 2019 10:46 pm

A little reminder (even if you may be looking for something else):
There also are several (different) ways of self-testing by utilizing one's already existing learning notes. Many different possibilities.
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Previously known as SGP. But my mental username now is langmon.

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StringerBell
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Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby StringerBell » Wed Jan 02, 2019 4:39 am

On the ECL exam site (European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages) there are practice tests for levels A2, B1, B2, C1 in Reading, Speaking, and Listening for 15 languages.
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zenmonkey
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Location: California, Germany and France
Languages: Spanish, English, French trilingual - German (B2/C1) on/off study: Persian, Hebrew, Tibetan, Setswana.
Some knowledge of Italian, Portuguese, Ladino, Yiddish ...
Want to tackle Tzotzil, Nahuatl
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Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby zenmonkey » Wed Jan 02, 2019 6:26 am

Telc tests for German are explained here : https://www.telc.net/en/candidates/lang ... tions.html

There are obviously other tests for German - Goethe, etc. People have posted about them...
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IronMike
Black Belt - 2nd Dan
Posts: 2554
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 6:13 am
Location: Northern Virginia
Languages: Studying: Esperanto
Maintaining: nada
Tested:
BCS, 1+L/1+R (DLPT5, 2022)
Russian, 3/3 (DLPT5, 2022) 2+ (OPI, 2022)
German, 2L/1+R (DLPT5, 2021)
Italian, 1L/2R (DLPT IV, 2019)
Esperanto, C1 (KER skriba ekzameno, 2017)
Slovene, 2+L/3R (DLPT II in, yes, 1999)
Language Log: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5189
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Contact:

Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby IronMike » Fri Jan 04, 2019 1:14 pm

For those studying Cornish, here's information on examinations:

Apposyansow
An Gesva a rester apposyansow pub blydhen, mis-Me (der anow) ha mis-Metheven (skrifys). Yma peswar nivel. Dhe bub gradh onan bys dhe dri yma diw rann - apposyans der anow hag apposyans skrifys. Yma dhe'n peswora gradh teyr rann - der anow, yeth ha lyenn/istori.

(Examinations
The Language Board organises examinations each year, in May (oral) and June (written). There are four levels. For each of the grades one to three there are two parts - an oral examination and a written examination. For grade four there are three parts - oral, language and literature/history.)

Looks like the written test is on 15 June in three locations in the UK, and the examination board says "Arrangements will be made for overseas candidates." (Grade 4 paper II will be on 22 June at Lys Kernow, Truro.)

Oral exams will be on various dates in May. Unsure about overseas candidates for orals.

More info on the Kesva examinations site.
1 x
You're not a C1 (or B1 or whatever) if you haven't tested.
CEFR --> ILR/DLPT equivalencies
My swimming life.
My reading life.

User avatar
IronMike
Black Belt - 2nd Dan
Posts: 2554
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 6:13 am
Location: Northern Virginia
Languages: Studying: Esperanto
Maintaining: nada
Tested:
BCS, 1+L/1+R (DLPT5, 2022)
Russian, 3/3 (DLPT5, 2022) 2+ (OPI, 2022)
German, 2L/1+R (DLPT5, 2021)
Italian, 1L/2R (DLPT IV, 2019)
Esperanto, C1 (KER skriba ekzameno, 2017)
Slovene, 2+L/3R (DLPT II in, yes, 1999)
Language Log: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5189
x 7265
Contact:

Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby IronMike » Sat Mar 13, 2021 10:48 pm

Bump, as some have shown interest in taking official language tests. Post your experiences here!
1 x
You're not a C1 (or B1 or whatever) if you haven't tested.
CEFR --> ILR/DLPT equivalencies
My swimming life.
My reading life.

User avatar
IronMike
Black Belt - 2nd Dan
Posts: 2554
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 6:13 am
Location: Northern Virginia
Languages: Studying: Esperanto
Maintaining: nada
Tested:
BCS, 1+L/1+R (DLPT5, 2022)
Russian, 3/3 (DLPT5, 2022) 2+ (OPI, 2022)
German, 2L/1+R (DLPT5, 2021)
Italian, 1L/2R (DLPT IV, 2019)
Esperanto, C1 (KER skriba ekzameno, 2017)
Slovene, 2+L/3R (DLPT II in, yes, 1999)
Language Log: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5189
x 7265
Contact:

Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby IronMike » Wed Jan 12, 2022 12:20 am

Bump again! (Thanks reineke for the reminder.)
0 x
You're not a C1 (or B1 or whatever) if you haven't tested.
CEFR --> ILR/DLPT equivalencies
My swimming life.
My reading life.

User avatar
zenmonkey
Black Belt - 2nd Dan
Posts: 2528
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2015 7:21 pm
Location: California, Germany and France
Languages: Spanish, English, French trilingual - German (B2/C1) on/off study: Persian, Hebrew, Tibetan, Setswana.
Some knowledge of Italian, Portuguese, Ladino, Yiddish ...
Want to tackle Tzotzil, Nahuatl
Language Log: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=859
x 7030
Contact:

telc B1 & B2 German Tests

Postby zenmonkey » Wed Jan 12, 2022 12:52 am

IronMike wrote:As some have shown interest in taking official language tests. Post your experiences here!


I took the telc B1 and B2 exams for German a few years back. I passed! (Although the B2 test, just barely.)
This is a German government-recognized certificate and included both a written and oral part.
Since it is a major language, the exam is readily available and the prep material is also easy to find.

It is a written and oral exam with Reading Comprehension, Language Elements (vocabulary and grammar), Listening Comprehension, and Writing section. The oral exam is usually in groups of 2-3 people (but for the B2, my conversation was with an examiner). You have 20 min prep time for the oral

B1/B2 - Written Exam 150-160 min Oral Examination - 15 min

There are various posts on the web that explain this test, read those. There are a few sample tests, do those.

The test prep book to use (my recommendation) is Mit erfolg zu telc deutsch B1 (or B2) from Klett. No nonsense path to success. Just do the work, and you will pass.

For the oral part, you will have 20 minutes to prepare yourself. Read the text and take notes (what is the main idea, what are the pros and cons) and make sure that you mention your own experience and depict the situation in your family, school, country, etc.

Before you even sit the exam prepare short presentations for the first part of the oral exam. It will last about a minute, while another minute will be spent on questions related to your presentation. Choose a topic that interests you, be ready to switch (just do the test prep, please). This may include hobbies, a recently seen film, a book, travel, a concert, an important experience, or a person that is important to you.

Practice.

In my session, one of the other examinees tried to take the test cold, without prep. He clearly spoke German well but bombed the oral test simply by not being ready to discuss a topic clearly for a few minutes.

The test was expensive 120 EUR for each test and 30 EUR or so of prep material + prep time. Was it worth it?
For me, yes, as it forced me to consolidate some of my knowledge and I used these tests professionally. They also have value in Germany for residency, school, etc. I was planning to take the telc Deutsch B2·C1 Medizin Fachsprachprüfung but never got around to it before moving back to the US.
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