An internationally focused, corporate institution MELDI is a registered trade mark owned by Mehrdad Anzani and Ali Maleki, Directors of Middle East Language Development Institute.

ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd ABN 83 138 312 919 personalising assessment and instruction An Introduction to the ISLPR International Second Language Proficiency Ratings December 2012 www.islpr.org ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings ISLPR Language Services Goals To assess and certify practical language skills and to provide individuals and language professionals in variety of situations with access to range of high quality international exams, conduct research and development in language testing which will help them their life and have a positive impact on their learning and professional development. Background to founders Prof. David Ingram and Elaine Wylie are nationally and internationally known for their work in language testing and applied linguistics. They have both been involved in the development of other international tests. David was the Australian representative on the joint Australian-British team that developed IELTS and was subsequently IELTS Chief Examiner (Australia) for ten years. Elaine assisted in the development of important aspects of IELTS and has been funded for a number of IELTS research projects. ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings What is the ISLPR®? A developmental scale with 12 levels from zero proficiency (0) to native-like (5) Nine of the 12 levels have detailed descriptions of the language behaviour observable at that level; there are 3 intermediate levels. A person’s practical language ability is rated with a separate result for each of speaking, listening, reading and writing. The ratings thus provide an immediate detailed description of what the candidate can do in the language. ISLPR is a highly adaptive scale and the assessment procedure is equally adaptive. Thus the scale is routinely used to rate language skills for general, everyday purposes or in special purpose areas such as for academic, professional or other vocational purposes. Candidates are assessed in an individual interview designed to elicit their language behaviour in speaking, listening and reading. They also do a writing test which may be delivered individually or in a group. ISLPR Language Services employs only interviewers and assessors who are thoroughly trained and re-trained and continually monitored for quality assurance. ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ISLPR The ISLPR was developed in 1978 and first released for use in January 1979. The authors, David Ingram and Elaine Wylie, have continually researched and developed it since then, elaborating the scale and refining the associated assessment procedures. The name was changed by developers David Ingram and Elaine Wylie from ASLPR (Australian Second Language Proficiency Ratings) in 1997 to reflect the increasing international use of the scale. The ISLPR is an internationally renowned scheme for the assessment of practical skills in English. The ISLPR focuses on candidates’ practical language skills and is widely known and respected around the world. All candidates will receive a certificate showing their proficiency in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. The nature of the ISLPR The ISLPR® is a scale that describes the development of second or foreign language proficiency in adolescent and adult learners. More precisely, it is a set of four subscales for the macroskills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. These subscales trace the development of the target language from 0 to 5. Currently, our principle testing activities focus on the assessment of English proficiency of international students for entry to university, school or college courses. ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings What is it used for? General English ISLPR General English for Academic Purposes ISLPR Academic English for Specific Purposes ISLPR Vocational Skilled-Based Assessment ISLPR Skills Teachers ISLPR Teachers ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings ADAVANTAGES OF THE ISLPR AND ISLPR LANGUAGE SERVICES The ISLPR focuses on practical language use or real-life ability in the language. It is specifically designed to measure the proficiency of persons who have learned the language as a second or foreign language. Research has demonstrated that it has high levels of validity and reliability. Quality assurance is thorough and conducted by the authors of the ISLPR. It is suitable for use with English or any other language learned as a second or foreign language. It is equally suitable as a test of general, academic, professional or other vocational language proficiency. Candidates or their sponsors may request oral or written feedback on their test results, their language skills, and how to improve them. The price is very competitive with other international tests. There is a very quick turn-around of results. In an emergency, candidates can receive their results within 48 hours but normally within ten working days. Tests are available with minimal delay but, in an emergency, on demand. Part-tests are also available i.e. for one or more of the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings General equivalence between different language testing systems ISLPR IELTS TOEFL 0 - 8 0+ 1 9 - 18 1- 2 19 – 29 3 30 – 40 1+ 4 41 – 52 2 – 2+ 5 53 – 64 3 – 3+ 6 65 – 78 7 79 – 95 4+ 8 96 – 110 9 111 – 120 ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings General Guild lines for Interpreting Bands . Result Linguistically demanding academic courses e.g. Medicine Linguistically less demanding academic courses e.g. Agriculture Linguistically demanding training courses e.g. Engineering Linguistically less demanding training courses e.g. Catering 4+ – 5 Acceptable 4 Probably Acceptable 3+ English study needed Probably acceptable 3 2+ ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings ISLPR Results The score report universities receive will contain: Four skill scores Reading 0 - 5 Listening 0 - 5 Speaking 0 - 5 Writing 0 – 5 ISLPR Recognition The ISLPR is recognized and respected by language testing experts around the world. Many universities, schools, TAFE Colleges and English colleges respect and recognize it. Many professional registration authorities in Australia recognize it for registration purposes. It has been used and accepted in courts of law to measure the proficiency of defendants or plaintiffs in court cases. . ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings QUALITY CONTROL AND SECURITY ISLPR Language Services insists on a high level of quality control in all its assessment and other services: All assessors are trained and re-trained at frequent intervals. All interviews are monitored for quality by senior examiners. All test results are checked by senior examiners and, if necessary, referred to one of the authors. Certificates are designed to prevent fraud. All candidates must present government-issued photo identification and, on arrival for the test, a digital photograph is taken for the certificate of results, which also carries the ILS embossed seal. The nature of the test procedure reduces the possibility of cheating. On request, ISLPR Language Services will send an original results certificate to an end-user (e.g., a university, an employer, etc). THE TEST The ISLPR is administered in a one-to-one interview for speaking, listening and reading; candidates take the writing test either in a group or individually. The test may be for general proficiency in everyday situations or may be in a specific field, e.g., in English for a particular profession or trade. ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings ISLPR Testing Test center network will expand so that candidates have increased geographic access to ISLPR Based on volume and test center capacity, most areas will have 30-40 administrations per year Write iran.islprlanguageservice@yahoo.com with questions ISLPR High Standards of Quality A phased approach is necessary to ensure ILS’ high standards of quality. Test and score integrity require a successful transition worldwide. Our entire system must work reliably in initial locations so that it can have a successful rollout elsewhere. ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.

International Second Language Proficiency Ratings We’re Here to Answer Your Questions Help Line for ISLPR Score Users: 98-21-22894888/9128169730/9126792185 iran.islprlanguageservice@yahoo.com www.islpr.org ISLPR® is a registered trade mark owned by D.E. Ingram and Elaine Wylie, Directors of ISLPR Language Services Pty Ltd.