Placement Tests

New Students

New students take a placement test. Students of any age with no prior knowledge of English who are not familiar with the Roman alphabet may be placed directly into an introductory level without taking a test. Please ask at reception.

Placement tests take approximately 45 minutes. See placement-test dates and registration information.

Test Format and Process: Adults, Juniors and Young Adults

Tests are based on the Oxford University English Placement Test, with additional material to assess writing and speaking. The test is aligned with the Common European Framework Reference (CEFR).

Part 1:
- 40 multiple choice questions testing vocabulary, grammar and reading
- 2 short writing questions
Part 2:
- 20 multiple choice questions testing vocabulary, grammar and reading
- 2 short writing questions
The test is scored after Part 1. Only adult students scoring 36 or higher and juniors scoring 31 or higher take Part 2 of the test.
After the test, students sit for a short, informal chat with a test proctor. This helps the proctor to align test scores to speaking fluency.
The proctor assigns a level of study based on scores from the multiple choice questions, the speaking, and the writing.
The student may then register for any available class in the designated level. Test scores are valid for one year.

Test Format and Process: Children

Children are tested using a placement test designed by ALC.
There are six sections to the test, representing the six levels of study in the children’s program.
A proctor will examine and score the child’s test after each level, until an appropriate level of study is identified.
After the test, the child may sit for a short, informal chat with a test proctor. This helps the proctor to align test scores to speaking fluency.
The proctor assigns a level of study based on scores from the test and the speaking.
Parents may then register their child for any available class in the designated level. Test scores are valid for one year.