Standard Tests

SLEP Tests-- Secondary Level English Proficiency Test

Introduction
SLEP is the abbreviation of Secondary Level English Proficiency Test, it is designed to check the listening and
reading capability of non-native speakers. Test papers will be provided by Educational Testing Service(ETS),
Princeton, New Jersey. The SLEP test was set in 1980, which has witnessed more than twenty-year
development. SLEP is an important base for English teachers to judge the English levels of international
students. SLEP has been adopted as reference for class arrangement and enrollment of international students
in more than five hundred middle schools and community colleges. Generally the students who provide SLEP
results need not to provide TOEFL results.
SLEP Test
SLEP is a norm-referenced test, which consists of eight different multiple choice questions. There are three
kinds of questions (question 4, question 5 and question 6), all questions have been tested actually in American
high schools. Test time shall be 85 minutes, including two parts:
Part I: Listening test (74 questions, 40 minutes): the questions are designed according to frequent oral English
in American high schools.
Part II: Reading skills (71 questions, 45 minutes): the questions are related to grammar, vocabulary and
reading comprehension

SLEP Scores
SLEP scores shall be 20-67, so parents shall not worry about the scores, for the average score of international
students in American high school is 43 only.
Conversion between SLEP and TOEFL
Grade
TOEFL

TOEFL(New)

SLEP

English Level

7/8 (grade 1)*

350-399

20-31

37-41

Primary

9 (Grade 2)*

400-449

32-44

42-46

Medium level

10 (Grade 3)

450-499

45-60

47-52

Medium and Advanced

11 (Grade 1)**

500-549

61-79

53-57

Advanced

12 (Grade 3)**

550-677

80-120

58-67

Excellent

* Junior Middle School

** Senior High School