STAMP WS Self-Evaluation Guide

The Avant STAMP WS language proficiency test is an online, semi-adaptive test. Test takers are asked to answer seven (7) self-evaluation Can Do Questions that best represent their skill/ability level in both the Reading and Listening sections. We use the self-evaluated reading score to determine the level of prompts we deliver for the writing prompts, and the self-evaluated listening score in the same way for the speaking prompts, thus making the productive sections more appropriately leveled for each test taker.

Dashboard View

Like all STAMP tests, test takers will enter a Dashboard to begin testing.

  • Self-Evaluation Reading section has seven (7) Can Do Questions that must be completed before the Writing section.
  • Self-Evaluation Listening section has seven (7) Can Do Questions that must be completed before the Speaking section.
  • The Writing and Speaking sections will have three (3) prompts each.
STAMP WS dashboard

Self-Evaluation Reading Section

  • Self-Evaluation Reading section has seven (7) Can Do Questions. Test takers should read each statement carefully and then choose the answer that best fits their ability with this skill.
  • Instructions and Can Do Questions are provided in both English and the testing language.
  • Reading section must be completed before Writing section.
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1. Instructions are written in English and in the testing language.

2. Self-Evaluation Can Do Questions The Reading section has seven (7) Can Do Questions. Test takers should read each statement carefully and then choose the answer that best describes their ability with the skill.

3. Answers Test takers should read each statement above carefully and then choose the answer that best describes their ability with this skill.

4. Test takers will have seven (7) Can Do Questions to complete. They will use the “Next” button to move to the next question. Test takers will not be able to go back to the previous question once they push the “Next” button.

  1. I can understand only a few very common words.
  2. I can understand some familiar names, words, and very simple phrases. For example, I can read and understand simple notes, memos, emails, and posters.
  3. I can read very short, simple, sentence-length texts. I can find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material, such as advertisements, menus, and schedules. I can understand some short, simple personal notes and email greetings.
  4. I can understand very basic strings of sentences with topics relating to my surroundings (e.g., home, school and friends). I can understand the main points in short, non-complicated emails, letters, advertisements, announcements and some short stories.
  5. I can understand most main points in texts regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. I can understand the main points of most daily news stories and magazine articles regarding areas/topics with which I have an interest or some experience.
  6. I can read longer texts like short stories and simple novels and understand most of the main ideas. I am able to guess the meaning of many new words from context.
  7. I can read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers state particular attitudes or viewpoints. I can understand contemporary literary prose. I can understand specialized articles and longer technical instructions.

Self-Evaluation Listening Section

  • Self-Evaluation Listening section has seven (7) Can Do Questions. Test takers should read each statement carefully and then choose the answer that best fits their ability with this skill.
  • Instructions and Can Do Questions are provided in both English and the testing language.
  • Listening section must be completed before Speaking section.
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1. Instructions are written in English and in the testing language.

2. Self-Evaluation Can Do Questions The Listening section has seven (7) Can Do Questions. Test takers should read each statement carefully and then choose the answer that best describes their ability with this skill.

3. Answers Test takers should read each statement above carefully and then choose the answer that best describes their ability with this skill.

  1. I can understand only a few clearly spoken words.
  2. I can understand familiar names, words, and very basic phrases concerning my family, my close surroundings, and myself, when people speak slowly and clearly.
  3. I can understand many phrases and commonly used vocabulary related to areas of personal interest (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local area, school, etc.). I can understand familiar short, clear, simple messages and announcements
  4. I can understand very basic sentences with topics about my close surroundings like home, school and friends, when the language is clear and slow. I can understand the main point in clear, simple messages and announcements.
  5. I can understand some main points in a conversation about familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. I can understand some main points of many radio or TV programs related to current affairs or topics of high interest, when spoken clearly and slowly.
  6. I can understand longer presentations and discussions and follow more complex lines of argument, as long as the topic is reasonably familiar. I can understand most TV news and current affairs programs. I can understand most of the language spoken in movies and films.
  7. I can understand extended speech, even when it is not clearly structured and when relationships are only implied and not stated directly. I can understand television programs and films without too much effort.
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