ACTFL Written Proficiency Test
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Written Proficiency Test (WPT) is a highly specialized method of testing to ascertain the Spanish proficiency level of candidates’ ability to write effectively and appropriately for real-life writing purposes.
ACTFL WPT ratings are recognized by many Fortune 500 companies, U.S. government agencies and by the American Council on Education (ACE) for the awarding of college credit.
Receiving an intermediate high or higher on the ACTFL OPIc and WPT fulfill two of the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Spanish Language teaching licensure requirements.
Register online. Once registered, you will be contacted by the UWM School of Continuing Education Language Department (language@uwm.edu or 414-227-3118) to set up your WPT time and date.
You may schedule an ACTFL OPI or a WPT with Continuing Education anytime, regardless of your participation in the Spanish Language Certificate program.
Course Outline/Topics
Format
- Introduction and Warm-Up: This section contains directions, information on test-taking strategies and a warm-up activity at the Novice level.
- Background Survey: The Background Survey is a questionnaire that elicits information about the test taker’s work, school, home, personal activities and interests. The survey answers determine the pool of prompts from which the computer will randomly select topics for the writing tasks.
- Self-Assessment: Test takers select the description that they feel most accurately describes their writing ability in the target language. This determines which one of three WPT test forms is generated for the specific individual.
- Prompts: The ACTFL WPT includes four to five prompts for written responses dealing with practical, social and professional topics that are encountered in informal and formal contexts. Each prompt contains 2 to 3
The choices made by the test taker in response to the Background Survey and the Self-Assessment ensure that each test taker receives a customized and unique test.
- Tasks and Contexts: The writer is presented with tasks and contexts that represent the range of proficiency levels from Novice to Superior on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 – Writing. The tasks and prompts are written in English; the responses are written in the target language.
- Time: The average time examinees typically take to complete all WPT prompts ranges from 40 to 80 minutes, depending on the proficiency level of the test-taker.
Date: Open enrollment – Register anytime
Delivery Method: On-Demand Online
Platform: Zoom
Instructor: TBA
Fee: $149
Discounts Available
| Discount Code | Description |
|---|---|
| CERT50 | Language Certificate participants receive $50 discount on ACTFL OPI |
Early registration discounts will subtract automatically from the fee if the registration is submitted prior to the deadline. All other discounts require the code in the left column to be entered on the registration form. Only one discount code can be entered on a registration form.
Program Number: 7781-14858
Note: Dates on your registration invoice will reflect FY 2023. However, you will be contacted by the languages department within 1-3 business days to arrange your ACTFL OPIc date.
