How the Global Seal of Biliteracy 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 the primary goal of expanding access to credentialing. The evaluation of available tests is an ongoing process and new tests may be added. If a test changes or is modified and no longer meets our rigorous criteria, it may be removed from our cadre of qualifying tests. 

 

In 2018, the Global Seal of Biliteracy’s Board of Advisors selected the FIRST set of qualifying tests to align with these Guiding Principles:

 
 

  • Tests must be externally validated (not developed or scored at the local/district/state/provincial level)

  • When possible, tests must assess all four (4) basic skills -- Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing*   
    *Exceptions are made for languages such as Latin where a component may not be assessed or for less common languages where 4 skill tests may not be available.  To provide access to language credentials for these languages, a test that measures the two (2) productive skills of speaking and writing may be approved. 

  • Results are aligned with or correlated to the ACTFL Proficiency Scale

  • Tests must be human proctored by an impartial party, for example a school administrator, teacher, testing center or HR representative.

The first group of approved tests represents those most widely accepted by U.S. state Seal of Biliteracy programs.  Similarly, for Global Seal of Biliteracy candidates in the US, English language is required and can be met by meeting state ELA standards, through qualifying testing, or fulfilling requirements for academic degrees. For all Global Seal candidates, first or native language proficiency can be documented in a variety of ways including testing. 

 

In 2019, Additional tests are approved to expand access to less common languages

In keeping with the Global Seal of Biliteracy’s Board of Advisors’ Guiding Principles, additional tests which met the above criteria were added in 2019 to provide greater access to certification for less common languages. The Global Seal proudly offers credentialing in over 100 languages.

 

in 2021,the GLobal Seal of Biliteracy approves CEFR-based tests for certification

 
 
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After extensive study, the Global Seal of Biliteracy certification expanded to include tests that use the CEFR Proficiency Scale for 2021. This includes several selected CEFR-based certificates tests that met the following rigorous criteria: 

Beginning in 2021, Global Seal of Biliteracy certificates will indicate which test scale was used for the credential. Test review is ongoing, but all qualifying tests for the Global Seal must be (1) externally validated, (2) measure all 4 skills or minimally 2 productive skills, (3) be impartially proctored, and (4) align with either the ACTFL or CEFR Proficiency Scales. 

 
 
 
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