The ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) is a valid and reliable means of assessing how well a person speaks a language. It is a 20-30 minute one-on-one interview between a certified ACTFL tester and an examinee. The interview is interactive and continuously adapts to the interests and abilities of the speaker. The speaker’s performance is compared to the criteria outlined in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012 – Speaking or the Inter-Agency Language Roundtable Language Skill Level Descriptors – Speaking. The interview is double rated and an Official ACTFL Oral proficiency Certificate stating the candidate’s proficiency level is issued to the candidate. The OPIc is an internet delivered test which provides valid and reliable oral proficiency testing on a large scale. It was developed in response to the increased worldwide demand for the testing of oral language proficiency. The computer delivered assessment emulates the ‘live’ OPI, but delivery of questions is through a carefully designed computer program, and via a virtual avatar. Thus the test can be taken on demand, and at at a time convenient to the candidate and proctor.The goal of the instrument is the same as the OPI: to obtain a ratable sample of speech which a rater can evaluate and compare to the ACTFL or ILR Proficiency Guidelines in order to assign a rating. The current version of the OPIc rates the full range of the ACTFL scale, from Novice through Superior.

Oral Proficiency Assessments (including OPI & OPIc) | ACTFL. (2019). Retrieved 6 December 2019, from https://www.actfl.org/professional-development/assessments-the-actfl-testing-office/oral-proficiency-assessments-including-opi-opic