The FLACS Exams are assessments offered in Spanish, Italian, and French to evaluate students' overall proficiency levels in these languages. The exams are uniform, standards-based tests which meet the NYS LOTE requirement for an Advanced Regents Diploma. Deer Park World Languages students are required to take two FLACS exams during their time in their Spanish, Italian, or French program:
FLACS A
The FLACS A exam is administered to students at the end of 8th grade. The exam tests students' knowledge of the first level of Spanish, Italian, or French; this includes all topics covered in 7th and 8th grades. A passing grade on the FLACS A exam allows students to earn one High School credit in LOTE (Languages Other Than English).
The format of the exam is as follows:
PART 1: SPEAKING (30 points)
Students must perform a total of three tasks, one in each of three categories consistent with the four communication functions specific in the State syllabus:
- Socializing or expressing feelings
- Providing/obtaining information
- Getting others to adopt a course of action (persuasion)
For each task, students must have five utterances or interactions with the teacher. Each utterance is worth 0-2 points. The Speaking portion of the FLACS is administered by a World Languages teacher during class time.
PART 2: LISTENING (20 points)
2a (10 points): Five multiple-choice questions measuring comprehension of oral target-language stimuli; responses provided in English
2b (10 points): Five multiple-choice questions measuring comprehension of oral target-language stimuli; responses provided in target language
2c (10 points): Five multiple-choice questions measuring comprehension of oral/visual stimuli; responses provided in English
The Listening portion of the FLACS is administered by a proctor during finals week.
PART 3: READING (20 points)
3a (12 points): Six multiple-choice questions measuring comprehension of written target-language stimuli; responses provided in English
3b (8 points): Four multiple-choice questions measuring comprehension of written target-language stimuli; responses provided in target language
The Reading portion of the FLACS is administered by a proctor during finals week.
PART 4: WRITING (20 points)
Two writing tasks, 50 words each. One task will be a "Read to Write" Common Core task, requiring referencing from a reading source provided. The other task is to be chosen from two descriptive or narrative prompts. Each task is worth a maximum of 10 points. Tasks are scored using the standard FLACS Writing Rubric for Checkpoint A.
The Writing portion of the FLACS is administered by a proctor during finals week.
FLACS B
The FLACS B exam is administered to students at the end of 11th grade, once students complete Spanish 4, Italian 4, or French 4. The exam tests students' cumulative knowledge of the target language; this includes all topics covered in 9th - 11th grades. A passing grade on the FLACS B exam allows students to earn an Advanced Regents Diploma.
The format of the exam is as follows:
PART 1: SPEAKING (24 points)
Students perform a total of two speaking tasks and must complete six interactions of each task with the teacher. Each utterance is worth 0-2 points. The Speaking portion of the FLACS is administered by a World Languages teacher during class time.
PART 2: LISTENING (26 points)
2a (16 points): Eight multiple-choice questions measuring comprehension of oral target-language stimuli; responses provided in English
2b (10 points): Five multiple-choice questions measuring comprehension of oral target-language stimuli; responses provided in target language
The Listening portion of the FLACS is administered by a proctor during finals week.
PART 3: READING (30 points)
3a (10 points): Long reading passage followed by 5 questions in target language
3b (10 points): 5 advertisements or short passages, each followed by a question in English
3c (10 points): Long reading passage followed by 5 questions in English
The Reading portion of the FLACS is administered by a proctor during finals week.
PART 4: WRITING (20 points)
Two writing tasks, 100 words each. One task will be a "Read to Write" Common Core task, requiring referencing from a reading source provided. The other task is to be chosen from two descriptive or narrative prompts. Each task is worth a maximum of 10 points. Tasks are scored using the standard FLACS Writing Rubric for Checkpoint B.
The Writing portion of the FLACS is administered by a proctor during finals week.
Students will receive extensive review work for the FLACS exams in their Spanish, Italian, or French classes. Please contact your child's World Languages teacher with any additional questions.