The TPLS is made up of two categories of items: written comprehension and oral comprehension. There are five types of items: associations, multiple choice, sequencing, cloze text with drag and drop, and cloze text with menus. Each item includes:
The TPLS is an adaptive test, which is non-linear: each correct or incorrect answer affects the progression of the test. The test gradually estimates the provisional skill level of the respondent (θ value) and dynamically selects the next item most likely to assess the respondent’s actual skill level. The test continues until the estimated skill level becomes stable, and the final θ value is translated into a proficiency level on the language scale that is the reference for the measurement system.
An adaptive test, in comparison with a non-adaptive test, makes it possible to reduce the number of items presented and decrease the test administration time, which can increase the reliability of skill assessment.