"As long as we have Deaf people on Earth, we will have signs...
our beautiful Sign Language is the noblest gift God has given to
Deaf people."
-George W. Veditz
ASL Skill Assessments
The ASL Skill Assessment test is conducted as an interview. There are no test books or written responses associated with this test. The assessment is structured as a conversation between you and an interviewer and covers topics of general interest. The assessment is conducted solely in American Sign Language.
The actual test portion of the assessment lasts approximately 20 minutes. The assessor will ask a series of questions and prompts for stimulating conversation. Responding to the questions and prompts require you to demonstrate competency in five content categories in American Sign Language, using a range of signing levels. The interviewer asks follow-up questions to further the conversation or explore a response more fully. You, in turn, should feel free to ask the interviewer questions or make any comments appropriate to the conversation. If you do not understand a question/prompt or sign, it is acceptable to ask for clarification during the interview. The direction of the interview is, in part, determined by your questions and responses.
The combination of the prepared set of questions and prompts, and the interviewer's questioning strategies within the conversation that occurs, is designed to allow you to demonstrate your highest level of proficiency in American Sign Language within a natural and dynamic conversation. The combination provides the evaluator with information by which to assess your expressive and receptive signed communication proficiency. Descriptions of topics covered in each category are provided below.
- Description: This category elicits descriptive conversation during the assessment. During the assessment, there are questions that require description of familiar activities, events, etc.
- Instructions: This category focuses on the "how to" questions. During the assessment, there are questions that require an explanation of how to complete procedures or steps involved various activities.
- Supported Opinion: This category requires an opinion or position on one or more topics. The topics are selected to be general and non-controversial. During the assessment, questions request that the position taken is expressed and supported with an opinion. Communication skills should be used to be persuasive when possible.
Rating Scale
Evaluators use the assessment of Signed Communication to assign an overall score to your signed performance. The rating scale presents the criteria on which your signed performance is evaluated. The rating scale is a five-point scale, with 5 the highest rating and 1 the lowest. Each point of the scale represents a different level of overall signed communication proficiency. The score point descriptions reflect typical levels of signed performance at each score point. Although the score assigned corresponds to one of the score points, individual responses may include attributes not specifically mentioned in the rating scale and/or attributes of one or more that one score point. The passing score is the minimum level of sign communication proficiency required for an entry-level educator to perform successfully.
Level 5
The candidate consistently shows a very high level of proficiency in expressive and receptive communication in ASL.
The candidate demonstrates the communicative ability necessary to discuss a wide range of topics and can perform conversational communication functions, fully elaborated, with ease. The candidate exhibits the communication skills needed to effectively explain in detail, hypothesize at the abstract level, express and support opinions and persuade. Few or no semantic or pronunciation/enunciation errors (such as misused or malformed vocabulary or grammar) are evident.
Level 4
The candidate is a full partner in expressive and receptive communication in ASL.
The candidate shows a high level of proficiency and comprehension across a variety of topics. The candidate may describe, narrate, compare clarify, explain, and/or persuade in smooth and connected discourse, with little circumlocution (the use of an unnecessarily large number of signs or gestures to express an idea). Occasional semantic and pronunciation/enunciation errors (such as misused or malformed vocabulary or grammar) are evident, but these do not detract from or affect intelligibility or communication.
Level 3
The candidate is generally a partner in expressive and receptive communication in ASL.
The candidate may describe, narrate, compare, and/or clarify regarding routine social and work-related topics and some novel, unusual, or abstract topics. Some lapses in comprehension and/or fluency may occur (such as unnecessary pauses or rephrasing), which do not generally impede communication, and at times circumlocution may occur. Some semantic and pronunciation/enunciation errors (such as misused or malformed vocabulary or grammar) are evident.
Level 2
Expressive and/or receptive communication occurs on a limited basis in ASL.
The candidate is able to participate in conversation, although participation may be halting or fragmented, and can describe some familiar topics within social or work contexts. The candidate can ask and answer basic questions and create some utterances, although only a limited range of expression, limited fluency and/or incomplete comprehension are demonstrated. Frequent semantic and pronunciation/enunciation errors (such as misused or malformed vocabulary or grammar) are distracting.
Level 1
Expressive and/or receptive communication is very limited or does not occur in ASL.
The candidate is able to participate only in rudimentary conversation. Communication is hindered by a lack of fluency (frequent long pauses, rephrasing, and unfinished ideas) and/or a lack of comprehension. The candidate is able to understand and use only common nouns and basic vocabulary (e.g. food, family members, time). Numerous and severe semantic and pronunciation/enunciation errors (such as misused or malformed vocabulary or grammar) interfere with communication.
Readiness for the Assessment
The following describes the level of sign communication proficiency a person who achieves a passing score on the test is generally expected to demonstrate.
- Communicates as a general partner in American Sign Language in a clearly participatory manner.
- Initiate, sustain, and bring to a closure a wide variety of content categories, including description, instructions, and supported opinion.
- Demonstrate comprehension skills in general, understanding most of the evaluator's signing in American Sign Language.
- Demonstrate fluency in American Sign Language by appropriately using ASL signs, grammar, structure, and syntax in an understandable fashion at a pace that does not impede meaning.
- Demonstrate an adequate American Sign Language vocabulary for familiar topics and enough for unfamiliar topics to communicate with the evaluator.
- Use non-linguistic cues and facial expressions appropriately in communicating with the evaluator.
- Use sign space appropriately, establishing referents in space and using verb directionality.
Assessment Tips
The list below may be useful as you prepare for the day of the test interview.
Relax. Do whatever helps you to relax and feel confident before the assessment. It is normal to be nervous. As necessary, stop during the interview for a few seconds to regain your composure. You may wish to admit that you are nervous and joke about it; often this is enough to make you comfortable. During the assessment, you will be asked to communicate in American Sign Language about a variety of subjects. At times, the evaluator will need to interrupt you to move to another topic or question to complete the entire assessment; this does not reflect on the quality of your responses.
Use ASL signs with which you are most comfortable. You will want to demonstrate your best American Sign Language in the interview. Therefore, you should show your best signing of American Sign Language. The evaluator will sign in American Sign Language only. They will mot match other sign systems that you may employ.
Sign at a speed that is comfortable for you. If you know that you have difficulty when you sign fast, plan to sign more slowly so that you can be confident and reduce the number of signing errors.
Use both short and long signed sentences. Short and long responses are appropriate because both are common in conversation. You are not making a public speech. Short sentences can reduce the chance that you will get lost in the middle of your thought and may help you to relax, giving the impression of both ease, confidence and skill. Long sentences can convey the full meaning of your thoughts. Both lengths of sentences add to the richness of your communication.
Keep signing. Keep the conversation flowing. You are trying to demonstrate your best performance. Don't stop the conversation about a topic by simple giving a "yes" or "no" response. Expand on your thoughts and give complete responses to questions that are asked. Give details, explain your point(s), develop your thoughts and make comparisons. Avoid signs whose meanings and/or usage are not clear to you. If you have difficulty signing exactly what you wish to say, think of another way to say it and keep signing. If you can't think of a sign, use another sign, or mime it.
Stop. Think. If you are lost in a long sentence or draw a blank, let the evaluator know that you are going to start over, or that what you are trying to convey may be complicated.
Don't worry about finding the "right" answer. Questions are intended for you to demonstrate your American Sign Language proficiency. This includes your range of communication, comprehension, and intelligibility (which includes fluency, vocabulary/grammar, and use of space). Questions are not intended to test your factual knowledge. In many circumstances there are no "right" or "wrong" answers.
Correct your mistakes. If you make a mistake, correct it and continue. Mistakes are expected. Do not worry about what happened. Worrying about a mistake may distract you during the assessment. Focus on signing in American Sign Language rather than on the content of your response. Don't try to impress the interviewer with your knowledge of a subject. It is not what you know that is of greatest importance, but how well you sign the information you know in American Sign Language.
Ask questions. Ask questions of the evaluator if you need to clarify your understanding. It is not a reflection on your signing ability to ask questions. This is a common practice in conversation. If you think you understand what was asked, respond confidently. If you make a mistake, correct it and continue. Alert your evaluator to anything that may be interfering with your signing. If the air conditioner or lighting bothers you, say so. If you can't see the evaluator clearly, say so. The evaluator wants you to have the best possible assessment conditions.
Monitor your feelings about how the assessment is going. If you feel the assessment is too easy, try to sign on a higher level to be sure you are demonstrating your highest level of skill in American Sign Language. It is normal to feel the assessment is becoming difficult: when that happens, you are near the level where you begin to feel the pressure. The evaluator cannot gauge your highest level unless you are challenged and asked to go beyond it.
ASL Skill Assessments
The ASL Skill Assessment test is conducted as an interview. There are no test books or written responses associated with this test. The assessment is structured as a conversation between you and an interviewer and covers topics of general interest. The assessment is conducted solely in American Sign Language.
The actual test portion of the assessment lasts approximately 20 minutes. The assessor will ask a series of questions and prompts for stimulating conversation. Responding to the questions and prompts require you to demonstrate competency in five content categories in American Sign Language, using a range of signing levels. The interviewer asks follow-up questions to further the conversation or explore a response more fully. You, in turn, should feel free to ask the interviewer questions or make any comments appropriate to the conversation. If you do not understand a question/prompt or sign, it is acceptable to ask for clarification during the interview. The direction of the interview is, in part, determined by your questions and responses.
The combination of the prepared set of questions and prompts, and the interviewer's questioning strategies within the conversation that occurs, is designed to allow you to demonstrate your highest level of proficiency in American Sign Language within a natural and dynamic conversation. The combination provides the evaluator with information by which to assess your expressive and receptive signed communication proficiency. Descriptions of topics covered in each category are provided below.
- Description: This category elicits descriptive conversation during the assessment. During the assessment, there are questions that require description of familiar activities, events, etc.
- Instructions: This category focuses on the "how to" questions. During the assessment, there are questions that require an explanation of how to complete procedures or steps involved various activities.
- Supported Opinion: This category requires an opinion or position on one or more topics. The topics are selected to be general and non-controversial. During the assessment, questions request that the position taken is expressed and supported with an opinion. Communication skills should be used to be persuasive when possible.
Rating Scale
Evaluators use the assessment of Signed Communication to assign an overall score to your signed performance. The rating scale presents the criteria on which your signed performance is evaluated. The rating scale is a five-point scale, with 5 the highest rating and 1 the lowest. Each point of the scale represents a different level of overall signed communication proficiency. The score point descriptions reflect typical levels of signed performance at each score point. Although the score assigned corresponds to one of the score points, individual responses may include attributes not specifically mentioned in the rating scale and/or attributes of one or more that one score point. The passing score is the minimum level of sign communication proficiency required for an entry-level educator to perform successfully.
Level 5
The candidate consistently shows a very high level of proficiency in expressive and receptive communication in ASL.
The candidate demonstrates the communicative ability necessary to discuss a wide range of topics and can perform conversational communication functions, fully elaborated, with ease. The candidate exhibits the communication skills needed to effectively explain in detail, hypothesize at the abstract level, express and support opinions and persuade. Few or no semantic or pronunciation/enunciation errors (such as misused or malformed vocabulary or grammar) are evident.
Level 4
The candidate is a full partner in expressive and receptive communication in ASL.
The candidate shows a high level of proficiency and comprehension across a variety of topics. The candidate may describe, narrate, compare clarify, explain, and/or persuade in smooth and connected discourse, with little circumlocution (the use of an unnecessarily large number of signs or gestures to express an idea). Occasional semantic and pronunciation/enunciation errors (such as misused or malformed vocabulary or grammar) are evident, but these do not detract from or affect intelligibility or communication.
Level 3
The candidate is generally a partner in expressive and receptive communication in ASL.
The candidate may describe, narrate, compare, and/or clarify regarding routine social and work-related topics and some novel, unusual, or abstract topics. Some lapses in comprehension and/or fluency may occur (such as unnecessary pauses or rephrasing), which do not generally impede communication, and at times circumlocution may occur. Some semantic and pronunciation/enunciation errors (such as misused or malformed vocabulary or grammar) are evident.
Level 2
Expressive and/or receptive communication occurs on a limited basis in ASL.
The candidate is able to participate in conversation, although participation may be halting or fragmented, and can describe some familiar topics within social or work contexts. The candidate can ask and answer basic questions and create some utterances, although only a limited range of expression, limited fluency and/or incomplete comprehension are demonstrated. Frequent semantic and pronunciation/enunciation errors (such as misused or malformed vocabulary or grammar) are distracting.
Level 1
Expressive and/or receptive communication is very limited or does not occur in ASL.
The candidate is able to participate only in rudimentary conversation. Communication is hindered by a lack of fluency (frequent long pauses, rephrasing, and unfinished ideas) and/or a lack of comprehension. The candidate is able to understand and use only common nouns and basic vocabulary (e.g. food, family members, time). Numerous and severe semantic and pronunciation/enunciation errors (such as misused or malformed vocabulary or grammar) interfere with communication.
Readiness for the Assessment
The following describes the level of sign communication proficiency a person who achieves a passing score on the test is generally expected to demonstrate.
- Communicates as a general partner in American Sign Language in a clearly participatory manner.
- Initiate, sustain, and bring to a closure a wide variety of content categories, including description, instructions, and supported opinion.
- Demonstrate comprehension skills in general, understanding most of the evaluator's signing in American Sign Language.
- Demonstrate fluency in American Sign Language by appropriately using ASL signs, grammar, structure, and syntax in an understandable fashion at a pace that does not impede meaning.
- Demonstrate an adequate American Sign Language vocabulary for familiar topics and enough for unfamiliar topics to communicate with the evaluator.
- Use non-linguistic cues and facial expressions appropriately in communicating with the evaluator.
- Use sign space appropriately, establishing referents in space and using verb directionality.
Assessment Tips
The list below may be useful as you prepare for the day of the test interview.
Relax. Do whatever helps you to relax and feel confident before the assessment. It is normal to be nervous. As necessary, stop during the interview for a few seconds to regain your composure. You may wish to admit that you are nervous and joke about it; often this is enough to make you comfortable. During the assessment, you will be asked to communicate in American Sign Language about a variety of subjects. At times, the evaluator will need to interrupt you to move to another topic or question to complete the entire assessment; this does not reflect on the quality of your responses.
Use ASL signs with which you are most comfortable. You will want to demonstrate your best American Sign Language in the interview. Therefore, you should show your best signing of American Sign Language. The evaluator will sign in American Sign Language only. They will mot match other sign systems that you may employ.
Sign at a speed that is comfortable for you. If you know that you have difficulty when you sign fast, plan to sign more slowly so that you can be confident and reduce the number of signing errors.
Use both short and long signed sentences. Short and long responses are appropriate because both are common in conversation. You are not making a public speech. Short sentences can reduce the chance that you will get lost in the middle of your thought and may help you to relax, giving the impression of both ease, confidence and skill. Long sentences can convey the full meaning of your thoughts. Both lengths of sentences add to the richness of your communication.
Keep signing. Keep the conversation flowing. You are trying to demonstrate your best performance. Don't stop the conversation about a topic by simple giving a "yes" or "no" response. Expand on your thoughts and give complete responses to questions that are asked. Give details, explain your point(s), develop your thoughts and make comparisons. Avoid signs whose meanings and/or usage are not clear to you. If you have difficulty signing exactly what you wish to say, think of another way to say it and keep signing. If you can't think of a sign, use another sign, or mime it.
Stop. Think. If you are lost in a long sentence or draw a blank, let the evaluator know that you are going to start over, or that what you are trying to convey may be complicated.
Don't worry about finding the "right" answer. Questions are intended for you to demonstrate your American Sign Language proficiency. This includes your range of communication, comprehension, and intelligibility (which includes fluency, vocabulary/grammar, and use of space). Questions are not intended to test your factual knowledge. In many circumstances there are no "right" or "wrong" answers.
Correct your mistakes. If you make a mistake, correct it and continue. Mistakes are expected. Do not worry about what happened. Worrying about a mistake may distract you during the assessment. Focus on signing in American Sign Language rather than on the content of your response. Don't try to impress the interviewer with your knowledge of a subject. It is not what you know that is of greatest importance, but how well you sign the information you know in American Sign Language.
Ask questions. Ask questions of the evaluator if you need to clarify your understanding. It is not a reflection on your signing ability to ask questions. This is a common practice in conversation. If you think you understand what was asked, respond confidently. If you make a mistake, correct it and continue. Alert your evaluator to anything that may be interfering with your signing. If the air conditioner or lighting bothers you, say so. If you can't see the evaluator clearly, say so. The evaluator wants you to have the best possible assessment conditions.
Monitor your feelings about how the assessment is going. If you feel the assessment is too easy, try to sign on a higher level to be sure you are demonstrating your highest level of skill in American Sign Language. It is normal to feel the assessment is becoming difficult: when that happens, you are near the level where you begin to feel the pressure. The evaluator cannot gauge your highest level unless you are challenged and asked to go beyond it.