World Languages / Credit by Exam F.A.Q.
If students wish to graduate with an Advanced Studies Diploma (ASD), they will need to earn three world language credits. These are earned by taking three years of one language (3 x 1) or two years each of two different languages (2 x 2). The successful participation in the exam will allow students to earn credits that they can use towards the ASD.
How many world language credits can be earned through the exam?
Students can earn between one and four high school foreign language credits, depending on their performance on the exam. Currently, students testing in Tigrinya and Sanskrit can earn only two credits, due to testing limitations. Results are final and cannot be appealed.
How will my score on this assessment help me obtain a Seal of Biliteracy?
New in 2015-16, the Board of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduating high school student in one or more languages in addition to English. The Seal of Biliteracy will be awarded to students who pass all required End-of-Course Assessments in English at the proficient or higher level (11th grade SOL) and who score an intermediate-mid level or higher in another language on a nationally-normed exam.
Who is eligible to take the exam?Students in grades 7-12 who have had substantial experience outside of school listening, speaking, reading and writing in their native language are able to take the exam. Students who have earned credit(s) already in the language of the exam can also take the exam and qualify for additional credits, based on their performance on the exam. Additionally, if a student was placed into level 3, for example, because of a high level of proficiency and did not earn credit for earlier levels, s/he may take the exam for retroactive credit.
Students interested in receiving credit by taking a language proficiency test should at least be at the Novice Mid level and be able to:
· Ask and answer simple questions.
· Make simple statements in a conversation.
· Communicate basic information about oneself, people they know, and daily activities.
· Express likes and dislikes in writing and speaking.
· Fill out a form with basic information.
· Read and write a list of daily activities.
A good self assessment is the LinguaFolio Self Assessment Grid:
Who is not eligible to take the exam?
Students who have already taken a class and did not pass are not able to take the test in order to try to improve their grade in the course.
If my child is not a native speaker of the language but has a high level of proficiency, can my child participate?
Yes, but the student must be able to read and write in the exam language. The exam proctors won’t be proficient in the exam language. The students must be able to complete all work independently. Please see the LinguaFolio Self-Assessment Grid.
Will my child receive a grade for passing the exam?
If successful, your child will receive a “passing” grade for the course which will appear as a “P” on his/her transcript and signify that the corresponding levels as demonstrated by performance on the exam have been successfully completed. S/He will not receive any letter grade that will impact the grade point average (GPA). If your child does not pass, nothing to this effect will appear on the transcript.
What are the languages offered?
Most languages are available for credit-by-exam. Arlington Public schools is committed to finding tests for any language other than English, including American Sign Language.
How many exams are given each school year? Can my child take it more than once?
The exam will be offered only twice each school year, on two separate dates. If your child does not pass on the first attempt, s/he may take it only one more time in the following school year. There is no cost to Arlington Public School students for the first time. Re-tests are at the expense of the student and the cost per test varies.
When will the exam occur?
Tests will be offered on December 4th at Kenmore Middle School in the afternoon and February 1st at Wakefield High School in the morning. February 12th at Wakefield will be a back up date in case of snow closures. The FCPS exam for Tigrinya and Sanskrit will be held November 12th in the afternoon.
How is the exam scored?
The exam is scored by either a computer or an assessor who is proficient in the language of the exam. Results are final and cannot be appealed. Credits will be awarded based on the following:
| ACTFL Proficiency Level | Credits Awarded |
| Novice Mid | 1.0 |
| Novice High | 2.0 |
| Intermediate Low | 3.0 |
| Intermediate Mid | 4.0 |
The registration period for the exams begins in October 2015. A confirmation of the registration will be sent to the student's home and also to the student's school counselor. Parents will be notified of results by March 2016 at the latest. Results will be sent to the student's home and also to the student's school counselor.
Registration is completed through an online form. Registration is closed for SY2015-16.
You can see our informational brochure, call the World Languages Office at 703.228.6097 or speak with your child’s school counselor. Informational brochures in other languages:
