FLACS Exam Portal
Exam Administration Date: Monday, June 23, 2025
FLACS A start time – 9:15 AM (early start 8:15 AM)
FLACS B start time – 1:15 PM (early start 12:15 PM)
Exam Administration Date: Monday, June 23, 2025
FLACS A start time – 9:15 AM (early start 8:15 AM)
FLACS B start time – 1:15 PM (early start 12:15 PM)
NYS delineates two (2) categories of modern languages based on the time needed for English speakers to develop proficiency.
Category 1 and 2 modern languages include those that use a Roman-based alphabet (e.g., Spanish, French, German, Italian, Swahili).
Category 3 and 4 modern languages include American Sign Language (ASL), indigenous languages (e.g., Seneca, Tuscarora), those languages that are character-based (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean), and those that use non-Roman-based alphabets (e.g., Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, Russian).
This document describes general information on FLACS exams and overall procedures and guidelines.
Access FLACS SAM HERE
This booklet provides specific information on how to administer the speaking portion of the FLACS exam. It also contains examples of items with scoring explanations.
We ask that you read the guidelines carefully. ALL items in our speaking task booklets may be used for either practice or as secure testing items. It will be up to individual districts to decide which and how many items from each theme will be used for testing purposes. Once secure testing items are selected, districts may then use the other items as practice throughout the year.
Secure Speaking task booklets are released to current members of NYSAWLA. If you have not received them, check your membership status in your account. If you are a current (or pending) member, then the email may have landed in your junk email folder! Please take us out of “junk” by asking your IT Department to add @nysawla.org and nysawla@gmail.com to their Safe Senders list.
Administration Guidelines, including sample tasks for scoring.
NYS delineates two (2) categories of modern languages based on the time needed for English speakers to develop proficiency.
Category 1 and 2 modern languages include those that use a Roman-based alphabet (e.g., Spanish, French, German, Italian, Swahili).
Category 3 and 4 modern languages include indigenous languages (e.g., Seneca, Tuscarora), those languages that are character-based (e.g., Japanese, Korean, Mandarin), and those that use non-Roman-based alphabets(e.g., Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, Russian). This rubric is also used for ASL.
Category 1&2 Presentational Speaking Category 1&2 Interpersonal Speaking
*Category 3&4 Presentational Speaking *Category 3&4 Interpersonal Speaking
FLACS Speaking Reporting Sheet
*REVISED 2/24 to include ASL-specific descriptions
These password-protected booklets contain both secure and practice items for the Presentational and Interpersonal Speaking sections of the FLACS exam. Only current NYSAWLA members receive password information to these booklets.
FLACS Interpersonal Speaking Task booklet – password protected
FLACS Presentational Speaking Task booklet – password protected
The Writing and See-to-Sign Guidelines booklets include a description of the writing and see-to-sign sections, writing rubrics and scoring sheets.
Checkpoint A & B Writing Guidelines – Revised Spring 2024
Checkpoint A ASL See-To-Sign Guidelines
ASL Part 4 See-To-Sign Scoring Sheet
ASL See to Sign Part 4 Rubric
(Checkpoints A and B exams share one rubric)
Category 1 & 2 Writing Rubric – French, German, Italian, Spanish
Category 3 & 4 Writing Rubric – Chinese
Checkpoint A&B Writing Score Sheet
Part 4 See-to-Sign Rubric — ASL
ASL See-to-Sign Score Sheet
Districts will be responsible for creating their own audio recordings of the Interpretive Listening section of the exam. Scripts for all exams will be shared well in advance of the start of testing in order to give districts time to prepare. Below are suggested guidelines for making a recording of the interpretive listening section.
MAKEUP EXAMS
FLACS exams, in their entirety, or select components of current or past exams, cannot be used as a makeup exam. Districts may decide on an alternative assessment as a makeup or students may continue on with their language studies next year and take the FLACS exam next June. Parents are encouraged to speak with the administrator in charge of world languages in their district if they have questions.
EXAM SCORING
We understand that each district has unique issues and needs concerning language learning in their schools. NYSAWLA permits districts to conduct their own item analysis as they score their exams, and determine whether to give credit to individual items that may be causing issues for students in their own district. NYSAWLA suggests, based on best practices, that at least 50% of the students need to get the item wrong before determining whether credit should be awarded.
We hope that this alleviates any serious issues you may have with items on exams.
EXAM DATA
Exam data is collected immediately following exam administration. Please participate in this important analysis so that we have valid and reliable data to evaluate each year.
Part 1: Presentational/Interpersonal Speaking (30 points)
1 presentational task
2 interpersonal tasks
Part 2: Interpretive Listening (20 points)
2-a — 4 items – passages in target language, question in English
2-b — 2 items – passages in target language, question in target language
2-c — 2 passages, with 2 questions each, in English
Part 3: Interpretive Reading 30 points
3-a — 8 items – short readings or ads in target language, multiple choice items in English
3-b — 7 items – short readings or ads in target language, multiple choice items in target language
Part 4: Presentational Writing 20 points
4-a — Read to Write – students use two documents to develop and write about a given topic
4-b — Select one of two writing prompts
Part 1: Presentational/Interpersonal Speaking 30 points
1 presentational task
2 interpersonal tasks
Part 2: Interpretive Listening 20 points
2-a — 5 items – passages in target language, questions in English
2-b — 5 items – passages in target language, questions in target language
Part 3: Interpretive Reading 30 points
3-a — 6 items – short readings or ads in target language, multiple choice items in English
3-b — 4 items – short readings or ads in target language, multiple choice items in target language
3-c — 5 items – one passage in target language, 5 multiple choice items in English
Part 4: Presentational Writing 20 points
4-a — Read to Write – students use two documents to develop and write about a given topic
4-b — Select one of two writing prompts
Part 1: Expressive Skills (Interpersonal & Presentational) – 30 pts
2 Interpersonal tasks
1 presentational task
Part 2: Receptive Skills (Interpretive) – 20 points
2-a — 6 signed stories with one signed question each
2-b — 4 signed stories with 1 written question each
Part 3: Comprehension (Interpretive) – 30 points
Multiple Choice Video Comprehension Questions related to culture, history, syntax/structure or NYS themes and topics appropriate for Checkpoint A (15 questions total)
Part 4: Expressive Skills (Presentational) – 20 points
Two See-to-Sign Items — Students use a video and document/mixed media to develop and record a signed response about a given topic – 10 pts each
For any questions, comments, accolades or otherwise regarding the June 2023 FLACS exams, please click on the button below.
***We ask that you refrain from phoning and emailing your questions to us, as we will be hard at work preparing for our new exams this year. We WILL monitor this form, though, and will respond as quickly as possible to all entries.***
To better serve you, please direct your questions to the appropriate individuals as outlined below. Thank you.
NYSAWLA Membership, payment, Purchase order questions, requests for W-9 forms  Jimmy Kalamaras
Questions regarding the Consortium and the exams  Vincenza Graham
General questions about NYSAWLA, our meetings, and policies  Vincenza Graham or David Balsamo
Questions regarding workshops and Collegial Circle  Leo Rivera
Questions regarding scholarships and awards  Leo Rivera
All technical questions  Stacey Pritchett