Frequently Asked Questions about the ELP Test
- In which languages does a licence holder need to demonstrate proficiency?
Amendment 164 to Annex 1 has introduced strengthened language proficiency requirements for flight crew members and air traffic controllers. The language proficiency requirements apply to any language used for radiotelephony communications in international operations. Therefore, pilots on international flights shall demonstrate language proficiency in either English or the language used by the station on the ground. Controllers working on stations serving designated airports and routes used by international air services shall demonstrate language proficiency in English as well as in any other language(s) used by the station on the ground.
- Are all members of the flight crew required to meet the language proficiency requirements?
All pilots shall meet the language proficiency requirements when they fly internationally. The provisions contained in Annex 10, which allowed the use of interpreters, have been withdrawn.
- What happens if I am late for my test?
We will try to reach you if you are five minutes late. If we are unable to reach you, we will wait fifteen minutes after the appointed time for you to begin the test. After that time, we do not have time to complete your test, and must free our equipment for the next scheduled ELP Test. If you do not contact us by fifteen minutes after the appointed time, you will be charged the full amount for the test.
- Are there browser requirements to support online registration?
To register online for the ELP Test, we recommend using the following browser versions:
- Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
- FireFox 1.5 or higher
- Safari 2.0 or higher
- Pronunciation:
- (Assumes a dialect and/or accent intelligible to the aeronautical community.) Pronunciation, stress, rhythm, and intonation are influenced by the first language or regional variation but only sometimes interfere with ease of understanding.
- Structure:
- (Relevant grammatical structures and sentence patterns are determined by language functions appropriate to the task.) Basic grammatical structures and sentence patterns are used creatively and are usually well controlled. Errors may occur, particularly in unusual or unexpected circumstances, but rarely interfere with meaning.
- Vocabulary:
- Vocabulary range and accuracy are usually sufficient to communicate effectively on common, concrete, and work-related topics. Can often paraphrase successfully when lacking vocabulary in unusual or unexpected circumstances.
- Fluency:
- Produces stretches of language at an appropriate tempo. There may be occasional loss of fluency on transition from rehearsed or formulaic speech to spontaneous interaction, but this does not prevent effective communication. Can make limited use of discourse markers or connectors. Fillers are not distracting.
- Comprehension:
- Comprehension is mostly accurate on common, concrete, and work-related topics when the accent or variety used is sufficiently intelligible for an international community of users. When the speaker is confronted with a linguistic or situational complication or an unexpected turn of events, comprehension may be slower or require clarification strategies.
- Interactions:
- Responses are usually immediate, appropriate, and informative. Initiates and maintains exchanges even when dealing with an unexpected turn of events. Deals adequately with apparent misunderstandings by checking, confirming, or clarifying.
ICAO Level | Level Name | Meets ICAO Proficiency Requirements | Recommended testing recurrence |
---|---|---|---|
Level 6 | Expert Level | Yes | N/A |
Level 5 | Extended Level | Yes | Every 6 years |
Level 4 | Operational Level | Yes | Every three years |
Level 3 | Pre-operational Level | No | N/A |
Level 2 | Elementary Level | No | N/A |
Level 1 | Pre-elementary Level | No | N/A |
- Is every ELP Test the same? Although there are many versions of the ELP Test, the structure of the test remains the same for all versions. No test taker will repeat the same test. - Can I take only 1 section of the test? No. Both the listening and speaking components must be completed to receive a score. - How and when do I register for the test? Online registration is the preferred method. Registration is available 6 months before the test date. Register early as seats fill up quickly. You cannot register by phone. - How will I find out my test date? Once we have a confirmed test date/time, an email confirmation will be sent to you with all the testing information. - Can I pick my own test date/time? Yes. There are no set time slots for these tests. On the application it requests that you give us your availability for testing. You must allow at least 3 business days from the date you submit a completed application. If we are unable to meet your requested dates, we will contact you for more availability. - What if I achieve Level 4 or more on only one component of the test (e.g. Speaking component), can I just repeat that part of the ELP Test? If you take the ELP Test again, you are required to sit the entire test even if you received a low score in only one component. Results from previous ELP Tests are not carried forward. - What is the structure of the ELP Test? The ELP Test consists of two component: Part 1 - Listening Comprehension and Part 2 - Speaking. Both parts of the test are online delivered. - How is the test taker's score generated? The final assessment will be based on the lowest score obtained for any of the six criteria. For example, if a candidate is assessed as fluency 5, structure 5, vocabulary 4, interaction 4, pronunciation 5 and comprehension 4. The awarded score will be at level 4. The minimum level to achieve ICAO compliance is Level 4. - What is the emphasis of testing phraseologies compared to testing the use of plain English? The ICAO language proficiency rating scale applies to both phraseology and plain language in aeronautical communication. That is to say that in aeronautical communication both phraseology AND plain language relevant to the context of the communication, must be tested. It is important that a candidate demonstrates the ability to switch effortlessly between phraseology and plain language.