What is the Avant Exam?
Avant is a credit by exam assessment, which awards LOTE credit to native/heritage speakers of languages other than English, or to students who have traveled, or studied in a foreign country.
Avant should be given to newcomers/SIFE/SLIFE/refugees, so they can earn their LOTE credits.
Requesting an Avant Exam
Student or family requests AVANT exam through counselor.
Counselor contacts Veronica Law at veronica.law@risd.org, or 469-593-7452.
Veronica contacts campus proctor, counselor and student to schedule test.
Campus proctor determines date and time for testing.
Students should be excused from class to take assessment.
Results will be sent to campus after report is received from AVANT (can take up to 3 weeks).
Veronica will enter assessment report in FOCUS.
Veronica notifies counselor and parent of posted report.
Counselor awards credits earned.
For more information about Avant, click HERE.
Taking the Avant in Richardson ISD
Q1 Window - First 2 weeks of school
Q2 Window - October 16 - October 27
Q3 Window - January 22 - February 2
Q4 Window - April 8 - April 26
Summer Windows - June 17-18th and July 22-23rd
Avant STAMP 4S
Avant’s STAndards-based Measurement of Proficiency, or STAMP, is a secure, web-based and computer-adaptive language proficiency assessment that determines language proficiency for individuals grade seven through adult. Students may earn up to four LOTE credits based on the proficiency benchmark level reported. Avant STAMP 4S assesses Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking proficiency in the following languages:
- Arabic
- French
- German
- Hebrew
- Hindi
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Mandarin (Simplified & Traditional)
- Polish
- Portuguese (Brazilian)
- Russian
- Spanish
- Spanish Monolingual
- Yoruba
Avant STAMP WS
Avant created the STAMP WS language proficiency test for individuals grade seven through adult to meet the growing need for heritage language communities to have rigorous, and professionally scored assessments. Students may earn up to four LOTE credits based on the proficiency benchmark level reported. Avant WS assesses speaking and writing in the following languages:
- Amharic
- Swahili*
- Urdu
- Vietnamese
If you are interested in a language not listed, please contact Veronica Law at veronica.law@risd.org or 469-593-7452.
Avant STAMP for ASL
Avant STAMP for ASL is a first-of-its-kind American Sign Language test. ASL learners may be evaluated on the Receptive skill (the ability to comprehend signed ASL) as well as the Expressive skill (the ability to create signed ASL). This computer-adaptive Sign Language test is conducted entirely online. Avant STAMP for ASL was developed to align with the same proficiency scale and rigor as all other Avant STAMP tests.
Avant Assessment developed this American Sign Language assessment in collaboration with Bridges Oregon. Bridges Oregon is one of only two organizations that delivers the National Sign Language Assessment (NSLA) which uses the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) to assess ASL interpreters.
Avant STAMP for Latin
Avant STAMP for Latin is a proficiency test evaluating the Reading skill. This computer-adaptive reading assessment uses Classical Latin texts which would have been (or were) used for communication in the Ancient World.
The results will report on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines from Novice-Low through Advanced-High and will follow the formatting and structure of all STAMP Reading tests. It is designed in partnership with Latin language teachers and education experts.
Preparing for the Exam
The Avant exam typically takes 2-4 hours to complete. It is aligned to the ACTFL proficiency guidelines, which also align to the LOTE course expectations in the TEKS. Students may prepare by reviewing any resources aligned to the standards for interpretive communication and presentational communication. TEKS for LOTE for Level I through Level IV.
Students may also take the sample test to experience how the assessment flows and the types of questions for all levels of difficulty. Students will not receive a score at the end and will not experience the computer-adaptive technology as in the actual test. Students must complete the Reading section before the Writing section. The Listening section must be completed before the Speaking section. Sample Tests
