Second language evaluation: Test of reading comprehension (supervised and administered in person via the Candidate Assessment Tool)

Test yourself!

Take a self-assessment test to get an idea of the level you could obtain.

This test evaluates all general proficiency levels required for bilingual positions in the federal public service, based on the Treasury Board Secretariat’s Qualification Standards in Relation to Official Languages.

It assesses your ability to read and understand texts written in your second official language.

You’ll take this test using the Candidate Assessment Tool, an inclusive and accessible online testing platform. The test will be supervised and administered in person in a federal government building. Refer to the Candidate Assessment Tool for more information about the platform, including how to set up your account and how to navigate the test environment.

Format
  • You’ll have 90 minutes to complete the test
  • The test is administered online (paper version available only under exceptional circumstances), in a supervised environment, at a federal government building
  • The test is available in alternative formats if you need assessment accommodation
  • Test content can include a variety of texts:
    • emails
    • notes or memos
    • letters
    • information bulletins
    • excerpts from reports
    • research papers
  • Test format includes:
    • 60 multiple-choice questions (only 50 count towards your score)
    • 10 pilot questions
    • 2 question types:
      1. Choose the best word or group of words to insert in the blank
      2. Answer a question about the text
Pilot questions
  • The test contains 10 pilot questions
  • Pilot questions are not identified, and your answers to them do not count towards your final score
  • Pilot questions are standard practice for many internationally recognized testing organizations
    • They allow test designers to develop valid and reliable questions for future tests
    • They ensure test integrity and merit-based appointments
    • They’ve gone through a rigorous review process by a multi-disciplinary team of test developers and subject-matter experts to ensure they’re consistent with the other questions in terms of quality, difficulty and format
Levels assessed and pass marks
Level A Level B Level C
Requires comprehension of texts on topics of limited scope Requires comprehension of most descriptive or factual material on work-related topics Requires comprehension of texts dealing with a wide variety of work-related topics

A person at this level can:

  • understand simple texts with elementary information
  • grasp the main idea of texts on familiar topics

A person at this level can:

  • grasp the main idea of most work-related texts
  • identify specific details
  • distinguish between main and subsidiary ideas

A person at this level can:

  • understand most complex details, inferences and fine points of meaning
  • demonstrate good comprehension of specialized or less familiar material
Score: 18 to 27 Score: 28 to 37 Score: 38 to 44
Note: An exemption (“E”) from further second language reading comprehension testing will be granted to persons who obtain a score of 45 to 50
Note: An “X” is the result for those below level “A” who obtain a score of 0 to 17
Protecting test integrity

All test content is copyrighted material of the Public Service Commission of Canada, and is designated “Protected.” It may not be copied, reproduced, translated, or distributed, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Any unauthorized reproduction, recording or disclosure of test content violates the Policy on Government Security, and the use of such improperly obtained or transmitted information could be found to contravene the Public Service Employment Act.

Parties involved in disclosing or improperly using protected test content may be investigated under the Public Service Employment Act, where a finding of fraud may be punishable on summary conviction, or may be referred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

If you realize that you’ve seen the test questions outside of the testing session, inform the test administrator immediately.
The Public Service Commission of Canada monitors the Internet for inappropriate or fraudulent duplication, in whole or in part, of its assessment tools. Contact the Personnel Psychology Centre at cfp.cpp-ppc.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca if you think you’ve seen protected second language test questions posted or shared online (on a website or a private chat room) or shared in another manner (for example, a practice test).

To learn more about how the Public Service Commission ensures its testing is reliable, valid and fair, visit the Test integrity web page.

Scheduling a test

If you aren’t a federal public servant:

  • note that you can only take a second language evaluation test if you’re invited by a federal department or agency, following your application to a bilingual position

If you’re a federal public servant who must be assessed as part of a selection process for a bilingual position:

  • you must wait for the hiring organization to send you an invitation to book an in-person supervised test session

If you’re a federal public servant looking to be tested for reasons other than a selection process:

  • you must direct your request to your manager and human resources (HR) division
  • if your request is granted, they’ll send you an invitation to book an in-person supervised test session

Note: Candidates cannot pay to be tested.

Rescheduling or cancelling a test

If you can’t attend the testing session, you must log in to your account and modify your reservation.

Before taking the test

Review the sample questions below to help you prepare. You may also familiarize yourself with the test environment and test format by practising with a sample test on the Candidate Assessment Tool.

There are 2 types of questions in this test.

Question type 1: Choose the best word or group of words to insert in the blank

You are presented with a text containing a blank line. Choose the best word or group of words to complete the text from among the 4 response options.

Example

Expéditeur : Pat Bégin
Destinataire : Liste des employées et des employés
Objet : Système informatique de gestion des congés

Bonjour,

Veuillez ______(A) que le Système informatique de gestion des congés ne sera pas disponible demain. Vous pourrez accéder de nouveau à votre compte dès mardi prochain. Vous devrez alors ______(B) vos soldes de congés pour l'année prochaine.

Pat Bégin

1. Choisissez le mot ou le groupe de mots le plus approprié à insérer dans l'espace en blanc « A ».

  1. voir
  2. marquer
  3. laisser
  4. noter

In this case, answer choice 4 best completes the text. Therefore, you would select number 4.

2. Choisissez le mot ou le groupe de mots le plus approprié à insérer dans l'espace en blanc « B ».

  1. augmenter
  2. confirmer
  3. manipuler
  4. ignorer

In this case, answer choice 2 best completes the text. Therefore, you would select number 2.

Question type 2: Answer a question about the text     

You are presented with a text followed by a question based on the text. Choose the option that best answers the question.

Example

Communiqué concernant le dépôt du Rapport annuel du ministère

Le Ministère des finances a terminé le 30 avril dernier son Rapport annuel. Ce rapport couvre toutes les activités des ministères et des agences du gouvernement fédéral en vertu de la nouvelle Loi sur les finances dans la fonction publique (LFFP). Dans ce rapport, les statistiques récentes de la dernière année fiscale sur les dépenses de la fonction publique fédérale montrent de meilleurs résultats. Plus exactement, 90 % des ministères et des agences se soumettent à leurs engagements financiers conformément à la loi, une hausse de 6 % par rapport à l'année précédente.

3. Selon le texte, que montrent les statistiques?

  1. le pourcentage de conformité à la LFFP devrait diminuer l'an prochain
  2. la majorité des ministères et des agences respectent la LFFP
  3. le pourcentage de conformité à la LFFP ne devrait pas s'accroître l'an prochain
  4. la plupart des ministères et des agences ne respectent pas la LFFP

In this case, answer choice 2 is the best answer. Therefore, you would select number 2.

4. Que dit le texte sur le respect de la LFFP en général?

  1. Il est en augmentation.
  2. Il est en réduction.
  3. Il est en stagnation.
  4. Il est en alourdissement.

In this case, answer choice 1 is the best answer. Therefore, you would select number 1.

Assessment accommodation

If you have a disability or a condition that could affect your performance on the test, you can request assessment accommodation measures directly in the Candidate Assessment Tool as soon as you receive your invitation to book an in-person supervised test session.

Test day
  • Bring 2 pieces of signature identification with photo, and your Personal Record Identifier (PRI) if you’re a federal public servant
  • Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled test time
  • Don’t be late: you won’t be allowed into the room after the test session has started
  • Budget your time during the test:
    • you have 90 minutes to complete the test (add 20 to 30 minutes for administrative procedures)
    • answer all questions but don’t spend too much time on a question you find difficult
    • choose the answer that seems the best by first eliminating the choices that seem most unlikely
    • guess when you aren’t sure: there’s no penalty for wrong answers
    • keep in mind that the questions at the beginning, middle and end of the test are of different length and complexity, with those at the beginning being the shortest and simplest
    • if you feel unwell before or during the test, tell the test administrator
      • otherwise, if you continue to the end, you must accept the test result and the retest restrictions
Retest waiting period

There is a 30-day waiting period before you can retake the test of reading comprehension, regardless of the format (online or paper) and administration method (supervised in person or unsupervised). If you retake this test before the waiting period has elapsed, your result won’t be valid, and a new 30-day waiting period will be set from your most recent test date.

Validity of test results
  • Valid for 5 years
  • Valid for an indefinite period of time, for people with valid results as of April 1, 1993, who remain in the same position, provided that the linguistic profile of the position is not raised above their skill level while they’re in the position

Note: The valid score is always the most recent score where the test conditions have been met, regardless of the format (online or paper) and administration method (supervised in person or unsupervised).

How to obtain your test results

You can access your test results through the My Tests section in the Candidate Assessment Tool, 48 hours after you complete your test.

If you need an official copy of a previous test result, fill out and submit this form.

Recourse mechanism
  • If you believe that the test was administered under unfavourable conditions, you may request a retest
  • Address your concerns to the organization that sent you an invitation to take the test
    • The situation will be assessed and, if a retest is necessary, it will be granted
  • If you have concerns about the actions the Public Service Commission has taken to protect the integrity of its testing program, consult the Test integrity web page to learn what options are available to you.
Rescore or feedback
  • Tests administered via the Candidate Assessment Tool cannot be rescored, as the platform automatically applies the appropriate scoring key for each test
  • Second language tests can only provide a score on the ability assessed in your second language; they cannot provide more detailed feedback or be used as diagnostic instruments

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