Qualifying Tests & Requirements
To award the Global Seal of Biliteracy, representative schools or organizations must submit their candidates qualifying seal of biliteracy test scores as evidence of their candidates’ language skills in two or more languages. The following chart depicts which tests and what scores have been approved to credential candidates for the Global Seal. Qualifying test scores must be submitted within 12 months of the test date. Click on tests below for more information.
The Global Seal of Biliteracy offers three awards levels:
Functional Fluency: This level credentials language learners at the Intermediate-Mid level.
Working Fluency: This level credentials language learners at the Advanced-Low level.
Professional Fluency: This level credentials language learners at the Advanced-High level.
| WORLD LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT Can be candidate’s first/heritage or second language | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| APPROVED TESTS & ASSESSMENTS | FUNCTIONAL FLUENCY AWARD | WORKING FLUENCY AWARD | PROFESSIONAL FLUENCY AWARD |
| Avant STAMP 4S | 5 or higher on all 4 parts (Intermediate-Mid) |
7 or higher on all 4 parts (Advanced-Low) |
Does not qualify |
| Avant WorldSpeak | 5 or higher on both parts (Intermediate-Mid) |
7 or higher on both parts (Advanced-Low) |
Does not qualify |
| Avant Arabic Proficiency Test (APT) | 5 or higher on all 4 parts (Intermediate - Mid) |
7 or higher on all 4 parts (Advanced - Low) |
9 or higher on all 4 parts (Advanced - High) |
| College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Exam | 3 | 5 | Does not qualify |
| International Baccalaureate (Higher Level) | 4 | 6 | Does not qualify |
| AAPPL Form B by Language Testing International | I4 or higher on all 4 parts (Intermediate - Mid) |
A-1 or higher on all 4 parts (Advanced - Low) |
Does not qualify |
| Language Testing International ALIRA (Latin) | I4 or higher (Intermediate - Mid) |
A-1 or higher (Advanced - Low) |
Does not qualify |
| Language Testing International OPI or OPIc and WPT | I4 or higher on both tests (Intermediate - Mid) |
A-1 or higher on both tests (Advanced - Low) |
A-H or higher on both tests (Advanced - High) |
| ALTA Speaking/Listening and Writing Assessment | ILR Score of 1+ or higher | ILR Score of 2 or higher | ILR Score of 2+ or higher |
| ENGLISH REQUIREMENT Global Seal candidates in the U.S. must MEET both World Language and English qualifying criteria |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| APPROVED TESTS & ASSESSMENTS | FUNCTIONAL FLUENCY AWARD | WORKING FLUENCY AWARD | PROFESSIONAL FLUENCY AWARD |
| Avant STAMP 4S in English | 5 or higher on all 4 parts (Intermediate-Mid) |
7 or higher on all 4 parts (Advanced-Low) |
Does not qualify |
| ACT Exam | 18 | 21 | Does not qualify |
| College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Exam | 3 | 5 | Does not qualify |
| SAT Exam | 480 | 540 | Does not qualify |
| WIDA - ACCESS 2.0 | 4.5 | 5.8 | Does not qualify |
| AAPPL Form B in English administered by Language Testing International | I4 or higher on all 4 parts (Intermediate - Mid) |
A-1 or higher on all 4 parts (Advanced - Low) |
Does not qualify |
| Met English requirements for graduation | Has met all 8th Grade English Requirements, candidate may be asked to submit a transcript | Has met all 11th Grade English Requirements, candidate may be asked to submit a transcript | Has College or University Diploma, candidate may be asked to submit a transcript |
| Language Testing International OPI or OPIc and WPT | I4 or higher on both tests (Intermediate - Mid) |
A-1 or higher on both tests (Advanced - Low) |
A-H or higher on both tests (Advanced - High) |
ALTA Speaking/Listening and Writing Assessment | ILR Score of 1+ or higher | ILR Score of 2 or higher | ILR Score of 2+ or higher |
how these tests were approved
The Global Seal of Biliteracy’s Board of Advisors is responsible for approving tests to be used to determine a candidate’s level of language proficiency. Guiding Principles were created with expanding access to credentialing as a primary goal. The evaluation of available tests is ongoing with the first group of tests representing those most widely accepted by state Seal programs. To qualify as an accepted language assessment, the assessment must conform to the following Guiding Principles*
1. Externally validated (not developed or scored at the local/state level)
2. Assesses all 4 basic skills -- Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing*
3. Results aligned with or correlated to the ACTFL Proficiency Scale.
*Exceptions made for languages such as Latin where a component may not be assessed or for Less Commonly Taught Languages where tests in all 4 skills may not be available or are cost prohibitive.