Class Structure
A. Target proficiency levels and OPIc scoring criteria
Novice: At the Novice level in the OPIc proficiency scale, language learners demonstrate basic speaking skills. They can communicate simple ideas and use memorized phrases to engage in everyday conversations. Novice speakers rely on a limited vocabulary and often require support to express themselves effectively.
Intermediate: Intermediate speakers in the OPIc possess a more developed language proficiency. They can sustain conversations on familiar topics and express opinions with increased accuracy and fluency. While they may encounter some challenges in handling complex language structures, they are capable of communicating in various social and practical situations.
Advanced: Advanced speakers exhibit a high level of fluency and accuracy in their target language. They can engage in in-depth discussions, present complex ideas, and express themselves effectively in both casual and formal settings. Advanced speakers demonstrate a broader vocabulary and a strong grasp of grammar, allowing them to communicate with ease and precision.
Superior: The Superior level reflects an exceptional command of the target language. Superior speakers can effortlessly handle intricate and abstract concepts, making them proficient in professional and academic discussions. They exhibit cultural awareness and adapt their language use to different audiences with remarkable accuracy and sophistication.
Distinguished: At the Distinguished level, language learners achieve the highest level of proficiency in the OPIc scale. They display a near-native command of the target language, possessing fluency, accuracy, and cultural competence comparable to that of a highly educated native speaker. Distinguished speakers can effectively convey complex ideas, demonstrate subtle nuances, and engage in sophisticated interactions across a wide range of topics and settings.
Assessment Factors
OPIc raters are certified via a rigorous certification process and are required to participate in quality assurance activities such as annual calibration events, virtual office hours, benchmarking activities, and other focused rater readiness activities.
Certified raters holistically consider assessment factors including function, accuracy,
content/context, and text type in order to award an integrative proficiency rating.
- Function: OPIc raters consider the test taker’s ability to successfully fulfill the assigned tasks by using the functions outlined in the Guidelines. Are test takers able to engage in global tasks like asking questions, narrating, describing, persuading or supporting opinions, for example?
- Accuracy: Accuracy should be understood as how well a speaker is understood. OPIc raters consider how features such as vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, fluency, pragmatic competence, and sociolinguistic competence affect the overall comprehensibility of the message.
- Content & Context: An OPIc rater considers the appropriateness of a test taker’s response. Is the response on topic? Is it appropriate for the context of the prompt?
- Text Type: OPIc raters consider how much language a test taker can produce and how well it is organized.
These assessment factors are not evaluated in isolation; a test taker’s language ability is holistically evaluated based on the overall performance. A proficiency rating is awarded based on how all the factors contribute to the description of a speaker’s global proficiency.
Note. By ACTFL (n.d.), image, located at https://www.actfl.org/assessments/postsecondary-assessments/oral-proficiency-interview-computer-opic