World Language Credit by Exam

What is the World Languages Credit by Exam?

The exam assesses linguistic proficiency in languages other than English. Linguistic proficiency is the ability to use language in real world situations in a spontaneous interaction, non-rehearsed context, and in a manner acceptable and appropriate to native speakers of the language.

Students who take this exam may earn up to three world languages credits for levels one, two, and three for the language of the exam. The credits may fulfill the world languages requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma. In addition to earning world languages credits, students may also meet the world languages criteria for the Virginia Department of Education's Seal of Biliteracy.

The exam is offered one time per school year. A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 through 12. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam.

Beginning school year 2024-2025, depending on the language, students will take the computer-based Avant STAMP or the paper-pencil test.

See the FCPS website for a list of the languages available for each test.

Why should students take the World Languages Credit by Exam?

Students can benefit from taking the World Languages Credit by Exam in the following ways:

Earn credits toward the world language requirement for the advanced diploma; three credits (levels) of one language, or two credits (levels) of two different languages.
Meet the world language criteria for the Virginia Diploma Seal of Biliteracy.
Apply credits toward the graduation requirement for sequential electives.
Earn retroactive credits to fill in gaps for an earlier level if placed into a higher level for coursework. (Example: Student is able to demonstrate adequate proficiency to start language study in level 2; earning credit for level 1 on the WLCBE would fill in the missing credit.)

How and when can students sign up for the exam?

All students must register for the exam through their school counselor. Registration opens Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 8 a.m. and closes on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 4 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted.

Students who wish to register must return the signed Notification of Registration Opportunity Letter to their school counselor to be registered for the exam.

When is the World Languages Credit by Exam test date?

The World Languages Credit by Exam will be on November 13, 2024 at Madison HS during the school day. Specifics about the test time and location will be provided to students in early November.

Who is eligible to take the exam?

Students in grades 7-12 who have proficiency in one of the languages offered for the World Languages Credit by Exam are eligible. A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 through 12. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam.

Who is not eligible to take the exam?

Students who have taken the World Languages Credit by Exam two times in a language are no longer eligible to take the assessment again in the same language.

A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 through 12. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam.

How many exams are given each school year?

Can students repeat the exam?

A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 through 12. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam.

What is the cost to take an exam?

The exam is provided free of charge to students.

How can students prepare for the exam?

Avant STAMP 2S/WS test (see languagess list for applicable languages):
Students are encouraged to visit the Avant STAMP FCPS landing page. This page includes many important resources for students and families including:

Overview information about the test
Video tutorials on how to set up your device and language keyboards for the test
Instructions on installing a language keyboard for use during the test
Test taker guide
Rules for taking the test
Writing examples
Sample tests to practice with the format of the test and available tools
Strategies to increase performance
Rubric and resources for understanding score results

It is recommended that students practice typing and speaking in the testing language on the Avant sample test prior to the test.

The students testing in the following languages must install and activate virtual international keyboards on their FCPS-issued Chromebook: Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Farsi, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Kannada, Korean, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Russian, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese. Instructions to install and activate the Google Chromebook keyboard extension can be on the Avant STAMP FCPS landing page.
All other languages that require special characters and/or diacritical marks will include a character box where the appropriate symbols and accented letters are included in the test and can be clicked.

For students testing in American Sign Language (ASL), it is recommended that students practice video recording themselves signing in ASL, paying attention to signing space. Students are also encouraged to practice watching videos in ASL and identifying the following: isolated facts, topic and related information, and main idea and key information.

For students testing in Latin, it is recommended that they practice reading Classical texts and identifying the following: isolated facts, topic and related information, and main idea and key information.

FCPS Paper-Pencil Test (see languages list for applicable languages):
Students should be able to consistently and accurately describe and narrate personal experiences in multiple-paragraph essays. Students should be able to use complete sentences and form coherent paragraphs.

Students should take time to practice writing paragraphs and stories before the exam. Students may download a list of practice topics and scoring criteria from the links below. To earn a higher score, students must elaborate on ideas and extend sentences, add details and use a variety of expressions, organize sentences into cohesive paragraphs and provide vivid descriptions, and use accurate punctuation, spelling, diacritical marks, and word choice.

A sample scoring rubric for this test is available for download below. The exam determines whether a student would be ready to take the next level of the course; if offered in FCPS. This test requires students to write two separate essays on two separate topics related to personal experiences. Each essay must consist of at least three well-developed, cohesive paragraphs. The essays need to be long enough for the assessor to determine the level of writing proficiency and must address the essay prompt.

World Languages Themes and Topics: The purpose of this document is to provide a list of the themes and topics that might be encountered by a student taking levels 1-2, or in sitting for the FCPS World Languages Credit by Exam assessment.
World Languages Credit by Exam Rubric and Passing Ranges: The purpose of this document is to provide the reader with a description of the quality of writing that must be demonstrated to earn credit on the World Languages Credit by Exam.

What should students bring to the exam?

Students taking the Avant STAMP 2S/WS test (see languages list for applicable languages) must an FCPS-issued Chromebook.

Cell phones are permitted but must be powered off while in the testing location. Students may bring backpacks and bags into the exam room. They must be left at the entrance to the exam room and retrieved by the students when exiting the exam.

What should students NOT bring to the exam?

Students may not bring any pens, pencils, paper, books, dictionaries, notes, other resources, or other materials into the exam room.

How is the exam scored and when will students receive their results for the exam?

An assessor proficient in the exam language scores the exam.
Avant STAMP 2S/WS (see languages list for applicable languages): Access the Avant STAMP FCPS landing page to view the rubric.
Paper-Pencil Test (see languages list for applicable languages): View the rubric.

Exam results will be available and reported to Student Services at your school and updated on student transcripts by or before mid-January.

Additionally, students will receive a letter mailed to their home address to confirm their results with a basic summary of their performance on the test. Due to the volume of tests, the letters will take more time to process for mailing.

How does the rating of a credit by exam assessment help students attain the Seal of Biliteracy?

All assessments offered for World Languages Credit-by-Exam by FCPS are also approved by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to meet the world language criteria toward the Virginia Diploma Seal of Biliteracy.

How many world language credits can students earn by taking the exam?

Students who take the exam may earn up to three world languages credits for levels one, two, and three for the language of the exam.

The credits may fulfill the world languages requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma. In addition to earning world languages credits, students may also meet the world languages criteria for the Virginia Department of Education's Seal of Biliteracy.

Earning one credit is the equivalent to level 1 ; earning two credits is equivalent to levels 1 and 2; earning three credits is equivalent to levels 1, 2, and 3. Repeat credits for the same level and language are not added together toward a total credit count. (Example: a student who earns one credit on the first attempt, and two credits on the second attempt of the same language has earned a total of two credits; twice for level 1 and once for level 2. The credit level 1 is a repeat credit for level 1. The credits do not add together to become three credits earned.)