English Language

English Language Assessment Websites

"I don't know my English language level."

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Your ability to listen, speak, read and write English is probably the most important factor in gaining employment in BC. Skilled immigrants have told us their fluency in spoken English was critical to their success in finding a job in their occupation.

The following self-assessment is based on Canadian Language Benchmarks Levels (CLB) of English skill. This assessment is used in Canada, to test the English skills of new immigrants so they can be referred into the correct level of English classes. This is not a test for your occupation. If you want to check the English required for your occupation, click on "Credential Recognition", find your occupation and call your association.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE SELF-ASSESSMENT

To determine your English level, read each of the statements below and choose which Level High, Moderate, Basic best describes how you communicate in English now. Then click on the web links at the bottom to practice and improve your English.

HIGH: You can communicate effectively in most social and work situations.	MODERATE: You can use English with people you know, people you don't know, and at work.	BASIC: You know some English.
	LISTEN
When you are listening to another person, can you understand their main points, details and their attitude? Can you follow most formal and informal conversations? Can you follow a conversation about abstract and complex ideas on a familiar topic? When someone is speaking, can you tell what his or her mood, attitudes and feelings are? Do you find it difficult sometimes to follow fast conversations between English speaking people? http://www.esl-lab.com/gard en/gardrd1.htm http://www.esl-lab.com/learn /learnrd1.htm	Can you follow the main idea when you are listening to a person or a radio? Can you understand and follow some instructions or directions? Do you often need someone to say things more than once to help you understand? Can you follow simple short phone calls? http://www.esl-lab.com/office/ offrd1.htm	When people speak slowly, can you understand people when they are talking about things you know about? Can you answer some simple questions about yourself? Do you understand many English words and phrases? Do you ask people to say things again to help you understand? http://www.esl-lab.com/roots/rootsrd1.htm
(Top of page)	SPEAK
Can you confidently have conversations in social situations and at work? Can you have conversations with others about ideas or concepts? Can you describe and explain things and share your opinions? Do others usually understand you? Do you speak English fairly easily? http://www.collegeem.qc.ca/ cemdept/anglais/diagnose.ht m	Can you talk about yourself and your needs? Can you ask and understand questions about yourself? Can you describe a situation or tell a simple story? Do you know enough English to greet you through the day? Do you need help with English sometimes? Can you use the phone in English? http://www.collegeem.qc.ca/ce mdept/anglais/trouble3.htm	Can you have short conversations in English about yourself? Can you tell others about yourself and what you need? Can you ask and answer simple questions? Can you use short sentences to talk about something or to tell a simple story? Can you talk about something that happened yesterday or in the past? Is it hard for others to understand you sometimes? Do you need a little help when you are speaking sometimes? Do you use a phone? http://collegeem.qc.ca/cemde pt/anglais/stativef.htm
(Top of page)	READ
Can you follow main ideas, key words and important details in a two to three-page text on a familiar topic? Do you read newspaper and magazine articles, easy fiction stories or academic and business materials? Can you find the information you are looking for in items such as recipes, maps or on forms? Can you find facts, attitudes and opinions in items that you are reading? Do you read in English for information, to learn the language and to develop reading skills? Do you use an English dictionary to learn new words with? www.english-online.org.uk/pr of/reading/profread1_d.htm	Can you read and understand the words and follow the main ideas and details in plain English? Can you read printed or handwritten notes, memos, letters or schedules? Can you learn new facts by reading in English? Do you use a simple English dictionary? www.english-online.org.uk/toefl/ toefl_read5.htm	Can you read some things in English, for example a newspaper, a sales flyer, coupon or some things in a newspaper? Do you use an English dictionary often? Do you practice English by reading it? Can you understand some English when you read it silently and slowly? www.english-online.org.uk/ket /reading/ketp1_1.htm
(Top of page)	WRITE
Can you write three or four sentences to form a paragraph? Can you write business letters (for example: cover letters for applications) Could you write directions or instructions if someone clearly spoke them to you? Can you fill out complicated forms? Can read a page of information, and then write a paragraph to describe the main points? Do you know how to construct a sentence and spell the words you wish to use? http://www.englishjet.com/e nglish_courses_files/test_cam bridge_first_certificate.asp	Can you write some things in English? Can you write one- or two-paragraph letters or stories? Can you fill out job application forms? Can you look at something that is written, and write it down yourself (copy it)? Can you listen to someone and take some simple notes? Can you write some simple notes from something you read? Can you read something and tell someone else about what you have read? Can you write down a phone message? Can you write sentences easily? http://www.englishjet.com/engli sh_courses_files/test_pre-inter mediate.asp	Can you write some sentences about yourself? Can you write a simple story about yourself, your family or other topics, or things you know about? Can you write short messages, postcards, notes, directions, and letters? Can you fill out simple application forms? Can you look at something that is written, and write it down yourself (copy it)? Can you write something down that someone is telling you if they speak slowly and repeat words for you? http://englishjet.com/english_c ourse_files/test_beginners.asp

"I know my Canadian Language Benchmarks English level, now I need to practice my English."

Here are some more self - assessment web sites to help you practice your English. These are not official tests, they are just for practice. Do as many as you need to, until you feel confident about your understanding of English.

1) This site is a more in-depth assessment using the Canadian Language Benchmarks method.
Scroll down to "Will you qualify as a Skilled Worker "
http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/skilled/

then click on learn "How to Assess" your language skills

2) This site will help you with your listening skills. You will need to have RealPlayer downloaded onto your computer to hear the audio clips. It can be downloaded free from this site.
click on:
http://www.englishforjapanese.com/
click on "Self-assessment Audio Test" to download the listening tests

You can also download other self-assessments from this same page
"Listening: Self-assessment Quiz" and "Self-assessment tests of English language" level

3) This site has a 68 question test to determine your level of English. It is mostly grammar practice. This site also has some audio practice exercises.
Click on:
http://www.englishjet.com/English_courses_files/tests.htm|
then click on "Level" test. When you complete the test - practice your English by working on all the levels.

When you have completed the English levels
click on "Resources" at the top of the page
click on the left side menu - "Games Online", "Songs on Line" and "Top Sites"
In "Top Sites" - try some of the free English practice sites
Some have audio practice (although the voices may have British or American accents), and many have grammar practice.

4) This site also has some audio practice exercises.
Click on:
http://eleaston.com/
Click on "Don't Forget Pronunciation" on the right hand side of the page.
You can then choose from a long list of audio practice exercises.
Try them all to really improve your pronunciation.
Once again there may be an accent.

5) This site has lots of quizzes and tests to try.
Click on:
http://www.english-forum.com/00/interactive/

When you have completed all the assessments and practice lessons, the next step is finding out what level of English you need for your occupation in BC. The tests you take to complete your immigration application may not be the same ones required to work in your occupation in BC - you must research to be sure.

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If you already live in BC the best form of English language assessment is face to face with a trained assessor. The English Language Services for Adults (ELSA) is the program in BC that can help you. To find an ELSA program in your area:

Click on:
www.elsanet.org
Click on Schools
Click on the area of the province you will be living. If your English skills are high but you need more training for employment or academic studies, go to the nearest public post secondary institution and ask for the English as a Second Language Department (ESL)

"I have contacted my professional or trade association and know the English test required for my occupation in BC."

There are many different English Language tests and each occupation or school may use a different test. When you know which test(s) you need to take for your occupation or for the academic training you need, click on the correct website below to tell you how to register for that test and if you can do it in your country. Some of these tests (assessments) cost money and can only be completed in person at certain sites in BC or in your home country.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language):
http://www.ets.org/toefl/

TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication):
http://www.toeic.ca/toeicindex.htm

IELTS (International English Language Testing System):
http://www.ielts.org

CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment
http://www.cael.ca/

CanTEST (U of Ottawa test - articulated to Canadian Language Benchmarks 6 - 10):
http://www.cantest.uottawa.ca/

ACCUPLACER (Placement test for entrance into post secondary institutions)
http://cpts.accuplacer.com/docs/StudentGuide.html

CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks)
http://www.language.ca/

When you have completed the official tests you need to take, make sure you get official documentation of your test scores and you have the original or certified copies needed. Ask your professional association what you need.

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"I passed the required English test for my profession or trade and have the official test result documents."

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Skilled immigrants have told us that practicing your spoken English is more important than getting good test scores. You need to be able to communicate clearly with British Columbians to be employed in most skilled professions.

One way to practice your English listening skills, is to tune in to CBC Radio Canada International. This is the Canadian Public Broadcasting Network and can be heard around the world on a short wave radio. You can hear many different programs about Canada as well as listen to the Language Courses, a series of 15 minute radio programs about life in Canada, and listen to Canadians speaking normally about their life and work. To find out how to tune in click on:

http://www.rcinet.ca/

Click on your language, so the instructions on the next page will be in your language
Click on Language Courses (left side)
Click on the topic you want to hear e.g. "Travels across Canada"

"I have practiced my spoken English and others can understand my English."

Go to Employment Readiness Matrix, to record your work.

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