The Avant SHL test is a web-based assessment that provides schools with the data to place students into appropriate classes. With results that accurately represent your abilities you will have a better chance of being placed in a class level where you will be successful.
The Avant SHL test identifies less proficient students quickly and allows them to exit the test early, while more proficient students take the entire test to gather the data necessary to accurately place them. See SHL Test Design and SHL Test Section Descriptions for more information.
Getting Ready for the Assessment
To prepare for the test, do the following:
- Take a Sample Test to experience the assessment flow and ensure your equipment works correctly. Refer to the Technology Guide to troubleshoot any issues.
- Review all Rules for Taking an Avant Test.
Beginning the Assessment
- Your teacher or proctor will help you to log in.
- After logging in, you will complete a test taker profile.
3. To start testing, you will have to review the Test Rules (learn more about Rules for Taking an Avant Test):
Self-Evaluation Section
The test starts with a self-evaluation section where a test taker answers a series of questions indicating what they believe they can do in the language across five modes of communication:
- Interpersonal (Person-to-Person)
- Presentational Speaking (Spoken Production)
- Presentational Writing (Written Production)
- Interpretive Listening
- Interpretive Reading
The self-assessment results are presented in the report to provide additional insights into the individual student’s language profile, but are not included in the scoring.
Lexical (Vocabulary) Section
Test takers are presented with 100 words and asked if they know the meaning of each word. If they check a real word they get a point credit. If they check a pseudo word they lose a point. They are not penalized if they say they do not know a word.
The test will end at this point for test takers who have not scored high enough.
Dictation (Vocabulary) Section
In this section, students fill in the blanks in a single sentence as they listen to the sentence being read.
Translation Section
In this section, students select the best option from a list of three Spanish translations of an English sentence that would be clearly understood by a Spanish speaker who does not speak English.
Sentence Completion Section
In this multiple-choice section, students choose the Spanish phrase out of three options that best completes a Spanish sentence.
Verb Conjugation Section
In this two-part section, students type in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb in parenthesis to complete the stories presented:
- The first Verb section focuses on the simple tenses, including present, preterit, imperfect, conditional, and simple future in both subjunctive and indicative moods. This section also includes regular and irregular verbs (stem change and spelling change).
- The second Verb section includes the past perfect, pluperfect subjunctive, and conditional perfect tenses.
The test will end at this point for test takers who have not scored high enough.
Speaking Section
Students who have reached this level have demonstrated a high level of proficiency. They will listen to a passage about a current news topic at the Advanced level. They will record a spoken response to an Advanced level prompt about the passage. Test takers will have three (3) minutes of recording time for the Speaking response. Students can add to their response ONLY ONE time, if needed. And, they have ONLY ONE chance to re-record the response, if needed.
Their response will be rated by Avant Certified Raters. The rubric used will be a proficiency-based rubric that incorporates elements that are specific to heritage Spanish speakers in order to differentiate between the top two levels of students.
Writing Section
After the Speaking section students will read a passage about a current news topic at the Advanced level and write their response to an Advanced level prompt using the keyboard. Test takers will have up to 2500 characters (400-600 words) for the Writing response. Their response will be rated by Avant Certified Raters. The rubric used will be a proficiency-based rubric that incorporates elements that are specific to heritage Spanish speakers in order to differentiate between the top two levels of students.
Resuming the Assessment
If you get logged out, log back in with the same Test Code, Password, and Login Name. The test will take you to the section where you left off. Contact your proctor or teacher for help:
- Click Continue Test after entering the Test Code and Password.
- Re-enter your Login Name exactly as you did the first time.
Finish all sections of the test until the test is completed (unless otherwise directed).
Completing the Assessment
When you have completed the test, you will see the “Congratulations! You have completed the test!” message. You must finish the test within 90 days of starting it.
Getting Assessment Results
Test results are delivered to the testing administrator after test completion. Test takers should contact their testing administrator to receive test results.
Check out the Spanish Heritage Language (SHL) Test Scoring Rubric Guide to know what is required to achieve a specific test level.