SLEP^® Overview

What Is The Secondary Level English Proficiency (SLEP) Test?

The Secondary Level English Proficiency (SLEP^®) test measures nonnative speakers' listening and reading comprehension abilities.

Who Should Take The SLEP Test?

Nonnative applicants and students attending American schools take the test as a measure of their skill level in understanding English communication.

Who Uses This Test?

The SLEP test is used primarily in secondary schools as well as by institutions and other organizations worldwide. School staff can purchase tests, administer them to their applicants and students, score tests locally, and have the results immediately.

Test results help users make decisions related to:

• Assignment to ESL classes
• Placement in a regular English-medium program
• Exiting an ESL program.

SLEP Description

SLEP is a standardized, norm-referenced test that contains multiple-choice questions of eight different types. The test is divided into two sections.

• Section 1 measures the ability to understand spoken English. The questions are based on samples of spoken North American English and test listening comprehension. They do not rely heavily on written material.
• Section 2 measures the ability to understand written English. Questions cover grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.

The SLEP test can be administered in a single session or in two separate sessions to either individuals or groups. The time required for the entire test is approximately 90 minutes. In this format, the administering institution scores the tests and retains the test materials; ETS does not provide a scoring service.

A new version of the SLEP test, created in 2003, contains test questions that reflect the most current ESL teaching methodology. All of the questions were field tested in public schools prior to being included in the test forms.