The Remote Language Proficiency Exam (LPE) Launches

Until this semester, the listening, reading and writing components of the Language Proficiency Exam (LPE) were administered solely in the Language Center computer classrooms. Life at the University of Minnesota has changed in many ways this spring, but this essential exam remains available for students, who can use it towards completion of the second language requirement, certification of proficiency and as part of the fourth-semester curriculum.

The Language Testing Program and the Language Center Tech Team have developed a remote delivery system using Canvas, Proctorio, and live proctoring through Zoom meetings. Alternate versions of some tests have been developed, but this is the basic LPE, now administered using different technology and practices. One major change is the proctor ratio. In the computer classrooms, one proctor can observe up to 30 students simultaneously. For the remote LPE, one proctor is generally monitoring no more than three students.

Last week, the Writing LPE was administered to almost 500 students as part of their fourth-semester course, and most students had access to the technology they needed to successfully complete the test. Students completed a system check in advance of their testing date to ensure their computers were ready. Testing staff were on hand throughout the testing period to respond to students’ technical problems. They will be following up with alternate technical solutions for the small number of students who were unable to complete the exam this week.

Registration for students to take the LPE outside of a fourth-semester course is now open. You can keep up with the current state of Language Testing on the Testing Updates page.

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