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English Language Testing
The American Language Program provides instruction in ten levels of English proficiency. ALP Level 1 corresponds to absolute beginner ability, whereas Level 10 signifies near-native proficiency of an educated language user.
The Oxford Online Placement Test (OOPT) is taken by students who are planning to enroll in full- or part-time study at the American Language Program.
The ALP Essay Exam is taken by students who are enrolled in or applying to a degree program at Columbia University, and who have been referred to the ALP by that degree program.
The Qualifying Exam is an end-of-term essay test given to all students currently registered in ALP courses at levels 7, 8, and 9.
Essay Descriptors for Levels 10-9-8-7
Level 10
This is a coherent and well-focused essay that demonstrates thorough understanding of the complexity of an issue by providing compelling examples and in-depth analysis. It exhibits a high degree of accuracy in complex grammatical structures, skillful use of sentence variety, and successful handling of varied and sophisticated vocabulary. This is a sophisticated essay written at a level of English proficiency very near that of an educated native speaker of the language.
Level 9
This is a coherent and somewhat focused essay that demonstrates considerable understanding of parts of a complex issue by providing some well-chosen examples and thoughtful analysis. It displays somewhat effective use of sentence variety and somewhat skillful handling of varied and sophisticated vocabulary. This is an essay that approaches one that could be written by an educated native speaker of English, exhibiting a considerable degree of accuracy in complex grammatical structures, but is marred by an accumulation of minor errors and / or a less-than fully skillful use of analysis, grammar or vocabulary.
Level 8
This is a generally coherent essay that demonstrates adequate understanding of the central point of a complex issue by providing satisfactory analysis and relevant examples. It exhibits an adequate degree of accuracy in complex grammatical structures, some use of sentence variety, and some use of varied and sophisticated vocabulary. This is a decent essay, but one which is clearly written by a non-native English speaker.
Level 7
This is an essay that demonstrates partial understanding of a complex issue by providing basic analysis and examples, but may have a problem with coherence. It exhibits an uneven degree of accuracy in complex grammatical structures, limited use of sentence variety, and little use of varied and sophisticated vocabulary. This is an essay in which there may have been an attempt to use sophisticated analysis, grammar and word choice, but more often than not, this attempt falls short, causing confusion in the mind of the reader.
For Testing Information
