The placement test is used to place employees and their eligible immediate family in the appropriate level of OLBI’S English or French as a Second Language personnel courses.

Description of the Test

The English placement test includes:

  • Three short listening passages which consist of a recorded conversation and multiple-choice questions related to the recording. You will hear the recording once.
  • Two longer listening passages which consist of a recorded conversation or lecture and multiple-choice questions related to the recording. You will hear the recording twice.
  • Three reading passages with multiple-choice questions which consist of a text which you must read and multiple-choice questions related to the text.
  • One fill-in the-blank activity which consists of a passage in which words have been deleted. You must choose, from the multiple-choice options, the words that best fit the blanks.
  • Some test-takers may be asked to complete additional fill-in-the-blank activities.

Test-takers must allow two hours to write the test, but may finish more quickly.

The French placement test includes:

  • One short listening passage which consists of a recorded conversation and multiple-choice questions related to the recording. You will hear the recording once.
  • Two longer listening passages which consist of a recorded conversation, presentation or lecture and multiple-choice questions related to the recording. You will hear the recording twice.
  • Three reading passages which consist of a text which you must read and multiple-choice questions related to the text.
  • One fill-in the-blank activity which consists of a passage in which words have been deleted. You must choose, from the multiple-choice options, the words that best fit the blanks.
  • Some test-takers may be asked to complete additional fill-in-the-blank activities.

Test-takers must allow two hours to write the test, but may finish more quickly.

Accessing the test

Employees

For ESL courses:

  1. Follow the login steps outlined in the XpressLab - Language testing portal.
  2. Find Personnel Courses - English Placement Test in the Available Tests list.
  3. Click on the Start Test button next to the test title.
  4. Write the test and view your results immediately after submitting the test.

For FLS courses:

  1. Follow the login steps outlined in the XpressLab - Language testing portal.
  2. Find Personnel Courses - French Placement Test in the Available Tests list.
  3. Click on the Start Test button next to the test title.
  4. Write the test and view your results immediately after submitting the test.

Eligible Immediate Family Members

Complete the online form to request access to the placement test.
Within two business days, you will receive an email with your username, temporary password and the test login procedures.

Understanding your test results

You will receive a list of courses for which you may register. This is the starting point for your second language studies at OLBI. Please go to the personnel course registration page for more information about the courses and how to register for them.