Modern Language Association Proficiency Exam

 

The Modern Languages Association's Proficiency Exam is offered to individuals seeking certified endorsement from the Virginia Department of Education for teaching a foreign language in Virginia's public schools. The test is offered in French, German, and Spanish.

 

WHEN IS THE NEXT EXAM and HOW CAN I REGISTER?

The exams for the spring 2008 semester took place on April 25, 2008. An exact date for the next examination has not yet been determined. To be added to the email distribution list that will automatically update you when examination dates become available, please send an email to mlaexam@gmu.edu.
Electronic registration is not available at this time, since there are no future
scheduled examination dates. The next examination will most probably take place during the summer/fall semester of 2008.

WHAT IS THE TEST LIKE?

The exam takes about four hours and consists of five sections:

Section
Type
Focus
Reading Multiple Choice Comprehension and grammar
Listening Multiple Choice Questions about short phrases or remarks, a dialogue, a news broadcast and a conversation
Speaking Reading texts aloud and describing pictures directed speech for the purpose of determining the examinee's pronunciation, reading fluency, intonation and semi-directed, open-ended speech for the purpose of determining the candidate's overall fluency
Writing Fill-in-the-blanks and editing Grammatical and stylistic errors

Culture &

Civilization

Multiple Choice Art, geography, literature, social customs, idioms, architecture, political history and so forth

Notes: French, German and Spanish exams are computerized. No MLA practice exams exist. The total administration time is approximately four hours.

HOW CAN I PREPARE?

This exam requires that the examinee possess considerable proficiency in the language and its culture and civilization. There is no prescribed study guide for this exam. Individuals may try ideas such as:

  • recording his/her voice so that this testing method will not seem unfamiliar
  • referring to pertinent texts as possible study guides for the respective languages
  • (for the Spanish Culture and Civilization section we recommend using The Buried Mirror by Carlos Fuentes)

HOW IS THE EXAM GRADED AND HOW DO I GET MY RESULTS?

There are two requirements for passing the exam:

  1. The examinee must pass each of the five sections by achieving a converted score equal to or greater than the respective 25th Percentile Score in each section;
  2. The examinee's total score must be equal to or greater than the Minimum Composite Score. Both the 25th Percentile Score and Minimum Composite Score vary from section to section and language to language. Upon passing, a copy of the scores will be sent to you within four to six weeks. While your first copy is complimentary, subsequent copies of exam results will be issued at your request, at a cost of $10.00 per copy. Please note that examination results will be retained in our records for only two years.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T PASS?

This exam may be taken as many times as necessary for an examinee to pass. If the examinee has failed an individual section, he or she may retake that particular section and will not need to retake the entire exam. The cost of retaking a particular section(s) of the exam is $30 per section.

 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The fee for one MLA exam is $125.00 payable in cash or check (made out to George Mason University), on the day of the exam. The cost of retaking a particular section(s) of the exam is $30 per section. The cost for duplicate exam results is $10.00/copy.

WHAT DO I BRING ON THE DAY OF THE EXAM?

  • Picture ID
  • Writing Instrument
  • $125.00 in cash or check payable to George Mason University
  • Be in Thompson Hall #227 ten minutes before the scheduled start time

WHEN AND WHERE IS IT ADMINISTERED?

The exam is usually given once per semester at George Mason University, Fairfax Campus, Thompson Hall Room #227.

WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LICENSURE PROCESS?

The MLA exam authorities are not in a position to offer counseling about the licensure process in Virginia. Their sole function is to provide the facility and administration of the examination. Questions regarding the licensure process should be directed to either the Department of Education in Richmond, (804) 225 - 2022, or to the school districts with which the examinee is seeking employment.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?

You can contact the George Mason University MLA Administration.

Note: Old Dominion University testing center also offers the MLA test.