Global Seal of Biliteracy
The Global Seal of Biliteracy™ provides access to language certification to anyone that can demonstrate their bilingualism via testing. The certification enables recipients to showcase their language skills to schools, employers, and across state lines and national borders. It is a serial-numbered bilingual credential you can add to your resume, CV, or LinkedIn profile which can help you stand out from others in the job market and is internationally recognized.
About the Avant STAMP 4S Proficiency Test
The Avant STAMP (Standards-Based Measurement of Proficiency) 4S Proficiency Test is an internationally recognized computer-based test of language proficiency. UWSP offers tests in the following languages: Russian, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish. The STAMP 4S will test you in four skills areas: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. There are 30 listening and reading comprehension questions and three prompts each for writing and speaking areas. Test questions are based on real-world, everyday situations and measure your language ability.
Upon completion, you will be given a score of Novice, Intermediate, or Advanced which each have sub levels of Low, Mid, or High. Each are based on national standards set by the American Council for Teaching Foreign Language standards (ACTFL).
Frequently Asked Questions
- UW-Stevens Point students majoring or minoring in a world language are required to take the test as part of their major or minor curriculum requirements. There is no minimum proficiency level required for either the major or the minor. Students will work with their advisor, a language instructor, or the World Languages and Literatures Department to ensure the test is taken and the requirement is satisfied.
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- Minors normally take the test in their fourth semester language class.
- Majors normally take the test prior to graduation.
- International Studies majors or people who plan to work internationally.
- Any person interested in testing in more than one language.
- Any person interested in retesting. You may re-test as frequently as you like.
- Any person with a language background who may not have had professional schooling. The Global Seal of Proficiency can be used as an alternative credential.
UWSP offers two online and proctored Avant Assessment tests. The STAMP 4S Proficiency Test is available to test in the following languages: Chinese (Mandarin Simplified) or Chinese (Mandarin Traditional), English, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic, and the STAMP WS Proficiency Test is available to test in Hmong. Since the online test is proctored, a proctor is scheduled at the same time as your test.
You may take the test anywhere you like since it is online, but if you would like to have a private testing location set up on your behalf, one can be arranged for you. Please contact Samantha Pech, Administrative Assistant in the School of Humanities and Global Studies, at spech@uwsp.edu or call 715-346-2334.
Testing is available year-round.
A company named Avant administers our tests and supports our test takers.
Prior to registering to test, please read through the AvantProctor Test Takers Guide for general information on the testing process, the proctoring software, and for sample tests.
Avant highly recommends that you schedule your test during their Technical Support hours 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Friday EST. This ensures that Avant Technical Support will be able to assist you if any problems arise.
The test will not automatically start upon registration. Instead, you will receive an email within 1-2 business days describing the next steps. Correspondence from Avant will arrive in a few emails and will include a payment confirmation, information on scheduling your test and a proctor, and information for your computer setup.
REGISTER HERE (Please read the above directions thoroughly before registering.)
You have three hours to complete the test and most students report finishing within two hours. The remote proctoring will limit the testing time to three hours.
Results will be available within 7-9 business days after your test is complete. Let Samantha Pech, Administrative Assistant in the World Languages and Literatures Department know when you finish the test. Please contact Samantha Pech, Administrative Assistant in the School of Humanities and Global Studies, at spech@uwsp.edu or call 715-346-2334.
You are not able to access your results. After nine days, Samantha will look up your scores and send an email to you with your results. She will also apply for the Global Seal of Biliteracy on your behalf and have your certificate mailed to the World Languages and Literatures Department. We will contact you when it arrives.
Our address is:
World Languages and Literatures Department
Collins Classroom Center, room 488
UW-Stevens Point
1801 Fourth Ave.
Stevens Point, WI 54481
To understand what your Individual report will look like, visit the STAMP 4S Test Taker/Parent Guide web page on the Avant Assessment website.
For technical assistance during your test set up or while testing contact:
Avant Support:
Email : support@avantassessment.com or call: 888-713-7887
Support hours: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. M-F Eastern Time
For general information about language testing available at UWSP contact:
Samantha Pech, Administrative Assistant in the School of Humanities and Global Studies, at spech@uwsp.edu or call 715-346-2334.
The detailed report of your test results includes tips on how to level up, areas to improve on, and other useful information. You can also schedule an appointment with someone in the World Languages and Literatures Department to discuss your scores in more detail.
Contact the department at wlang@uwsp.edu or call the School of Humanities and Global Studies office at 715-346-2334.
School of Humanities and Global Studies