Read and write in Spanish?
Earn College Credit!
New! Bilingual Seal & Proficiency Certificates
Testing days: Choose one day.
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Saturday, May 9 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway
Saturday, May 16 – 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, South High School, 3131 -19th Avenue South
*This testing is only available in Spanish at Intermediate High level.*
FAQ
1. What are Bilingual Seals and Proficiency Certificates? Bilingual Seals are a new recognition system for
language proficiency in both English and another language. Students must demonstrate the ability of
language skills other than English by taking a test. There are two levels in the seal and one level for a
certificate. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will be required to award college credit to the seals.
Please see the chart below.
Name of the recognition
Criteria
Bilingual Platinum Seal
ACTFL Advanced Low +
meeting ELA requirement for graduation
ACTFL Intermediate High +
meeting ELA requirement for graduation
ACTFL Intermediate Low
Bilingual Gold Seal
World Language Proficiency
Certificate
Who is eligible?
Graduating seniors
Graduating seniors
Students
2. Who should take the test? Seniors who can:
o Use Spanish well in real situations in the community.
o Understand radio shows, newscasts, and announcements.
o Read newspaper articles, stories, and books in the language.
o Write on a variety of topics related to school, work, and community.
3. What is the test? The test is called ELPAC (EMC Language Proficiency Assessments by CARLA)
http://store.emcp.com/elpac It is a proficiency-based assessment. See the specifications below.
Speaking portion will be administered face to face.
ELPAC Spanish Listening Intermediate High
ELPAC Spanish Reading Intermediate High
ELPAC Spanish Writing Intermediate Mid
4. What is the test like?
o The online component has three different tests – listening, reading, and writing. Students can
progress on their pace.
o Speaking is administered by face to face in an interview style.
o See more specification in the chart below.
Listening
Time
50 min.
Reading
50 min.
Writing
50 min.
Speaking
30 min.
Format
 Students listen to a short conversation and answer a
multiple choice question.
 There are 35 short conversations and 35 questions.
 There are about 12 passages which vary in length.
There are 2-3 multiple choice questions for each
passage.
 There are 5 tasks for students to respond by typing.
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Students respond to the prompts by recording.
There are seven prompts accompanied by visuals.
Passing score
20 out of 35
24 out of 35
Based on the
rating.
Based on the
rating.
5. How do I sign up? Students should fill out a registration form. Then give it to your World Language
teacher, ESL teacher, or a counselor. They, they will sign them up in:
Bilingual Seal Testing Registration: CORRECT link
https://docs.google.com/a/mpls.k12.mn.us/forms/d/1iZKpYTTfmBwSKLksD2L3yWlm2JlvGuZ7jsZm_GAGFk/viewform?usp=send_form
6. How would I be notified about the result? - Students will receive a letter from the district.
7. How many college credits would I get? – Since this is new to Minnesota, Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities will be publishing the exact information later this summer. We will have to wait to find out.
8. What colleges award credit to the seals? – Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are required to
award the credit.
MNScu schools:
Alexandria Technical & Community College,
Alexandria, MN
Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Cambridge,
Coon Rapids
Anoka Technical College. Anoka
Bemidji State University, Bemidji
Central Lakes College, Brainerd
Century College, White Bear Lake
Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount
Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College , Cloquet
Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park
Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights
Lake Superior College, Duluth
Metropolitan State University, St. Paul
Minneapolis Community & Technical College, Minneapolis
Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical , Red Wing,
Winona
Minnesota State Community & Technical College,
Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead, Wadena
Fergus Falls
Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato
Northeast Higher Education District
- Hibbing Community College, Hibbing
- Itasca Community College, Grand Rapids
- Mesabi Range College, Virginia
- Rainy River Community College, International Falls
- Vermilion Community College, Ely
Northland Community & Technical College,
East Grand Forks, Thief River Falls, Thief River Falls
Northwest Technical College, Bemidji
Pine Technical & Community College, Pine City
Ridgewater College -Hutchinson, Willmar, Willmar
Riverland Community College , Austin
Rochester Community and Technical College,
Rochester
St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud
St. Cloud Technical & Community College, St. Cloud
Saint Paul College, St. Paul
South Central College-Faribault, North MankatoNorth Mankato
Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall
Winona State University, Winona
Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead
Minnesota West Community & Technical College
Canby, Granite Falls, Jackson, Pipestone, Worthington
Pipestone
Normandale Community College, Bloomington
North Hennepin Community College, Brooklyn Park
9. How would I receive college credit? - When a student enrolls into a MNScu system, he or she will need to ask an
admission counselor for the process of receiving college credit for the seal.
10. Can I receive college credit from other colleges? – Since this is new in Minnesota, we don’t know which colleges
award credit. Students should inquire about it upon the enrollment.