ALTA Language Services provides language proficiency testing to High School students in more than 90 languages, including low-density languages that are often unavailable from other providers. This testing is done in conjunction with school districts throughout the United States to recognize the achievements of students who are fluent in more than one language. The Seal of Biliteracy is a credential awarded to students who demonstrate, through a variety of requirements, including language testing, proficiency in two or more languages by the time of high school graduation. The Seal of Biliteracy may help students obtain college credit in the tested language and may also be used as evidence of a language skill for potential employers after graduation. The credential typically appears as a seal on the diploma or transcript of the graduating student.
Please use the form on the right to set up an account for Seal of Biliteracy testing. The information below should answer any questions you may have about these tests. For additional information, feel free to contact us today by calling 1-888-624-6165 or emailing: [email protected].
Results for these tests are provided on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) Scale. ALTA provides two types of tests:
This test is conducted over the phone between the student and an evaluator. The evaluator asks a variety of open-ended questions designed to prompt the student to use the language in ways that showcase their listening and speaking skills. The test lasts about 15 – 25 minutes. Practice questions are available to familiarize students with the test format.
This test prompts the student to demonstrate the necessary reading and writing skills to process and respond to written questions. Students must answer five questions with answers of at least 100 words each. The test takes up to one hour to complete. This is a paper test, and is typically administered directly by the school. Practice questions are available to familiarize students with the test format.
Yes, when you set up your account, you can add contact information for additional staff members who will have portal access to manage accounts and handle student testing.
You can add up to five languages during the initial account setup. Once you add the second language, additional fields will appear. If you need more than five languages, you can list them in the additional languages section or contact our testing team directly after your account is set up.
Once your information is submitted, the testing team will contact you in up to two business days to provide your credentials to the testing portal. Once you have access to the portal, you can start assigning tests immediately. IVR tests are available 24/7, and live tests can be pre-scheduled through the portal.
We invoice monthly on the first business day of each month for all tests completed in the previous month. You can pay by credit card or purchase order.
Pricing appears on the final page of the account setup form after you select your desired language(s).
Yes, we accept purchase orders for payment.
For IVR pre-recorded tests, writing tests, and reading tests, you’re only charged for completed exams. For live tests, you must cancel before 6 PM EST the business day before the test to avoid charges. Same-day live tests cannot be canceled and will be charged as scheduled.
No, we require direct payment from the school or institution. We do not accept third-party billing from individuals.
Students need a score of Intermediate-High or 1+ on the ILR scale (ALTA 6 or higher) to qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy.
For Seal of Biliteracy candidates, we typically don’t require a separate reading assessment, as students who understand the writing assessment questions are considered at level 1+ in reading. However, if your district requires it, an additional reading assessment is available. We recommend checking your local Seal of Biliteracy requirements to confirm which components are needed.
No, students cannot retake portions of individual tests. However, if a student doesn’t pass one of the tests (listening and speaking OR writing), they can retake just that specific test rather than retaking both tests.
For Seal of Biliteracy candidates, students who understand the writing assessment questions are considered at level 1+ in reading. However, some states or districts may require a separate assessment. We recommend checking your local Seal of Biliteracy requirements to confirm which components are needed.
State Seals are generally available to students graduating from a public school in a state and individual district or school that has adopted the program. The Global Seal of Biliteracy credentials all qualifying language learners, including those who have already graduated from high school, but would like to certify their language skills for academic or work purposes. The Global Seal offers three levels of certification: Functional Fluency, Working Fluency, and Professional Fluency, and can be issued to anyone anywhere in the world. The Global Seal is often used in partnership with state Seals to provide earlier benchmark awards or an alternative award to language learners above or below state Seal criteria.
The Seal of Biliteracy certificate process varies depending on your location and program type. For state seals, certificates are typically provided by the state department of education to participating school districts, who then distribute them to eligible students. Districts are responsible for ordering and managing the distribution of Seal of Biliteracy awards to their graduating students. Please note that the Seal of Biliteracy must be set up through a participating school district – the certificate is provided by the state or the Global Seal of Biliteracy organization, not by ALTA. ALTA provides the language proficiency testing that demonstrates students meet the requirements, but the actual certificate and seal recognition comes from your state’s department of education or the Global Seal organization.
Yes, you can proctor exams internally at your convenience. We also offer virtual proctoring services ($16 for listening and speaking, $25 for writing) if preferred.
Live tests can be assigned on the portal by selecting an available date and time. Test administrators can also assign the test and allow candidates to self-schedule. Pre-recorded IVR options are available for many languages but not all.
Test results typically appear in your portal within two business days of completion. Results are also emailed to the result recipients listed on the account.
We provide preparation information and sample materials on our website to help students understand what to expect on the exam.
Students can contact our testing support team at [email protected] or 404-920-3817 for immediate assistance.
After your account is set up, our testing team will provide detailed instructions on scheduling tests, billing procedures, and payment options.
If you don’t receive a confirmation email, please contact our testing team at [email protected]. They can verify your registration and help set up your account.
For additional questions or support, contact our testing team at [email protected] or 404-920-3817.
View our test prep materials or FAQ’s for common questions about taking a test.