Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Ask specific questions about your target languages. Beginner questions welcome!
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IronMike
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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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Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby IronMike » Sat Jun 04, 2016 1:00 am

I thought maybe it would be great to have a thread listing all the tests available for various languages. I'm new to this forum (but not language learning), and I've seen many people mention they're sitting for this or that language test. When I searched for a thread where one could go to learn more about these tests (which languages, where to take it, how much, how it is formatted, etc), I couldn't find anything.

I'd ask that people here list the test they've taken, using both the acronym/abbreviation and spell it out. Let us know where you took it (city, country), when, how much it cost, how long it took, how it is structured, how long till you got results.

Separately, but equally useful and helpful: How you prepared for the test, advice to other testers, was it worth the price, would/will you test again.

It would be great if we could get replies just from people who actually took the test and not those who heard "this is how the test is," but I know that with some languages out there, not many or possibly not one forum member has taken the test yet (see my offering below). My goal for this thread is to have input from someone for every test available.

I know there is the wikipedia listing all (not all) language exams out there, and I thank @smallwhite for leading me to that site. But I need more. I think many others would like more! That's why I hope this thread serves as a one-stop shop for those interested in testing their language proficiency.
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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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Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby IronMike » Sat Jun 04, 2016 1:14 am

I'll start:

Esperanto: Universala Esperanto-Asocio Komuna Eŭropa Referenckadro (UEA-KER) exams.

These exams are given several times per year at various locations around the world. With KER exams you can test at B1, B2 and C1 levels. There is a speaking and a writing section. The speaking section will measure your speaking and listening, while the writing section will test your writing and reading.

The KER exam duration varies depending upon which level you're attempting, from 2:40 (speaking/listening 40 min; reading/writing 2 hours) for the B1 to 5:00 (speaking/listing 1 hour; reading/writing 4 hours) for the C1. Price varies depending upon where you live.

I've never taken this exam, so I cannot speak from experience. But I intend on taking it next year. I'll report back.
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You're not a C1 (or B1 or whatever) if you haven't tested.
CEFR --> ILR/DLPT equivalencies
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Hank
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Location: Missouri, USA
Languages: English (N), Spanish (intermediate), Welsh (studying)
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Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby Hank » Sat Jun 04, 2016 1:38 am

Probably not really what you're looking for, but this is the only test I have taken. http://ave.cervantes.es/prueba_nivel/default.htm. It's all multiple choice or true/false questions. It's only Spanish. The first section is grammar, the second section is reading comprehension, and the third section is listening comprehension. It took me less than 30 minutes to complete the test. I seriously doubt that it's as accurate as a "real" test, but it's free and quick.
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mercutio
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Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby mercutio » Sun Jun 05, 2016 9:50 am

Would be Good to get a list of online free tests also as progress checkers
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www.thelanguagequest.com

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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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Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby IronMike » Mon Jun 06, 2016 10:28 am

Someone in the forums mentioned Dialang:

DIALANG is a language diagnosis system developed by many European higher education institutions. It reports your level of skill against the Common European Framework (CEF) for language learning. DIALANG is not an exam. DIALANG does not issue certificates.


@mercutio also mentioned free testing, so I think DIALANG fits!

Looking at their website, it looks like they have tests in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Icelandic, Irish-gaelic, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. They test in the following proficiency areas: reading, writing, listening, grammar and vocabulary

Let's hear from more of you who have taken or scheduled yourselves to take some of the language tests available out there!
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You're not a C1 (or B1 or whatever) if you haven't tested.
CEFR --> ILR/DLPT equivalencies
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reineke
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Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby reineke » Mon Jun 06, 2016 12:44 pm

I'd really like to read here how people got drilled on their DELE, DELF, DALF, TORL, CPE etc. exams. Dialang, which I linked to earlier is a great resource to find out if you're ready for an actual exam. The Instituto Cervantes placement test was fun. It suggested I could take a C1 course - it did not evaluate me as being proficient at that level. At the actual DELE exam a nice Spanish-speaking person would have raised his magic staff and shouted: "You shall not pass!"

Proficiency, placement and practice tests
https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 19&t=2897/

FREE tests in 25 languages and many language combinations - Multilingual vocabulary exercises and language tests
https://www.50languages.com/tests/
Last edited by reineke on Sun Nov 26, 2017 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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rdearman
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Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby rdearman » Mon Jun 06, 2016 12:57 pm

reineke wrote:I'd really like to read here how people got drilled on their DELE, DELF, DALF, TORL, CPE etc. exams. Dialang, which I linked to earlier is a great resource to find out if you're ready for an actual exam. The Instituto Cervantes placement test was fun. It suggested I could take a C1 course - it did not evaluate me as being proficient at that level. At the actual DELE exam a nice Spanish-speaking person would have raised his magic staff and shouted: "You shall not pass!"


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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 » Sat May 06, 2017 5:39 am

sstrout77 just brought up proficiency tests in this thread, so I thought I'd revive this one.

And an update on my offering above: I'll be taking the KER exam (for Esperanto) on 10 June. I will most assuredly come back here and my llog to write about the experience.
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You're not a C1 (or B1 or whatever) if you haven't tested.
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Re: Language Tests: List, Advice, Feedback

Postby rdearman » Sat May 06, 2017 12:05 pm

http://oda.dliflc.edu/
Online Diagnostic Assessment is a tool developed by the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) to help you, the foreign language learner, evaluate and manage your learning.

ODA identifies your strengths and needs in a foreign language, and provides you with individualized, relevant feedback. This feedback is based on a sampling of your abilities across a variety of levels, topics, tasks, and specific linguistic features.

All Assessment texts are selected or adapted from authentic sources in accordance with Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) level descriptions.
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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 » Sun Nov 26, 2017 6:27 am

Practice CEFR exams.

Thanks @Chung!
2 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.


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