skip to content

Independent Language Audit

A language audit is a procedure under which the tested students are classified into specified groups of language users according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It is therefore not assessed whether a language user has become properly familiar with specific parts of a particular language course, but rather to what extent he is able to use his current knowledge to communicate and whether and if so to what extent he is able to use the language. It is assessed whether the student understands written language, whether he can apply the rules of grammar and whether he can use appropriate vocabulary.

There is a test for all language levels, i.e. from A1 to C2.

With this method, we can test English, German, French, Spanish, Russian and Czech.

written part of the language audit

The written test takes 30 or 60 minutes, respectively (according to the type of the test being used). Students record their answers directly in the test booklet or in a special record sheet. The goal of the test is to measure the knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and the understanding of written language. Depending on the number of achieved points, the students are then classified into individual language levels according to the CEFR.

oral part of the language audit

The oral test is based on a handbook issued with respect to the oral part of the audit. The handbook contains questions that are structured by difficulty. The test takes 15 to 20 minutes, and is conducted in the form of an interview where a professionally trained representative of our school asks students questions about various issues. If a student successfully answers the first question, a second question of the same level follows. If the second answer is satisfactory as well, the next question is of a higher language level, and the process then repeats. If an answer is not satisfactory, the teacher will return to the previous level.

The primary concern of this test is not 100% grammatical correctness, but rather the communication value of the language being used. Of course, the correct use of grammar greatly contributes to that value, but it is not the only criterion.

In the oral part of the language audit, a special form is used to evaluate the extent, correctness, fluency, interaction and coherence; for each part of the evaluation, students may be classified into A1 to C2 levels according to the CEFR.

evaluation of the language audit

On the basis of the results of the written and oral parts, we will classify the tested participants into relevant language levels according to the CEFR. We will then determine the overall level by calculating the average of both parts; in doing so, we will also take the comments and recommendations of oral examiners into account.

tests used

One of the tests we use to determine the English language level was created with the cooperation of the Oxford University Press and the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate.

The other tests were created and customised for our company by testing specialists and they went through a trial stage and were subject to corrective actions.

when should a language audit be used?

  • when you plan to start language courses in your company and you need to determine the entry level of the students
  • when you need to classify the students into groups according to the level of their knowledge, since this leads to much more efficient teaching and prevents unnecessary demotivation of students
  • when you want to compare the knowledge of the employees of different international branches of the company
  • when you want to consider what language examination to prepare your employees for
  • when you want to verify whether the students have taken their knowledge to the next level
  • when you need to do an independent evaluation of the work of your provider of language courses
  • when your employees are trained at several different locations and you want to make sure that you are not paying for the training to no avail
  • when you want to motivate your employees

the benefits and advantages of an independent language audit

Objectivity – the examining teachers do not know the identity of the examinees and therefore cannot show favour or disfavour to them. The level of all students is assessed according to the same criteria, i.e. absolutely objectively.

Independence – the language school with which you cooperate on a regular basis could have already divided the students into groups and may proceed to follow a pre-defined course plan without any regular tests of the students. However, every student improves his level at a different pace. The independent audit verifies the actual level of the student, without taking previous study results or course plans into account.