Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy

The State Seal of Biliteracy and the State Commendation towards Biliteracy are recognitions given to graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in English and in reading, writing, listening and speaking in another language. Seniors who are enrolled in an upper-level foreign language course, senior EL students as well as students that speak another language at home are eligible to apply for the Seal of Biliteracy. Once a student demonstrates proficiency, they will then receive a State Seal of Biliteracy or State Commendation on their diploma and designation on their transcript.

There are two ways to achieve this recognition and there are two levels depending on Language Proficiency:

In order to receive the Seal, a student must achieve an I-5 (intermediate high) on the AAPPL (or STAMP ) or receive a 4 or 5 on the AP test. They must also receive a 480 or higher on the ELA portion of the SAT, a 4.8 on the ACCESS for ELLs, a 21 composite on the ACT, a 4 or 5 on an English AP exam, or an I-5 on the AAPPL in English.

In order to receive the Commendation, a student must achieve an I-1 (intermediate mid) on the AAPPL (or STAMP ) or receive a 3 on the AP test. They must also receive a 480 or higher on the ELA portion of the SAT, a 3.5 in Literacy on the ACCESS for ELLs, a 21 composite on the ACT, a 3 on an English AP exam or an I-1 on the AAPPL in English.

The State Seal of Biliteracy website contains information and resources.

For questions about this recognition, Email Amee Noethe, Department Chair of World Languages or contact your high school counselor.

Common questions regarding the Seal of Biliteracy:

What is the difference between the Seal of Biliteracy and the Commendation?

The Seal of Biliteracy is given to students with an Intermediate High or better on the AAPPL or a 4 or 5 on the AP exam in a language other than English.

The Commendation towards the Seal of Biliteracy is given to students with an Intermediate Mid on the AAPPL or a 3 on the AP exam.

Those students would also need to show proficiency in English either by getting a 480 or higher on the English portion of their SAT, exiting through ACCESS for ELs, receiving a 21 composite on the ACT, receiving a 4 or 5 on an English AP exam, or an Intermediate High or better on the AAPPL.

Why would I take the AAPPL if I plan to take the AP test?

This has two answers. The first would be that if a student enrolled in AP as a senior would like to be recognized through senior honors or get updated transcripts at graduation, the AAPPL would be needed as AP scores are not available until after graduation.

The second is that many students look at the AAPPL as an opportunity to practice for the AP test.

What practice is there for the AAPPL?

Central Website

These links will show you the tasks and topics on the AAPPL to get an understanding of the expectations:

General topics Expectation by proficiency level

These links will send you to videos to give you tips on how to achieve your highest score possible on the AAPPL:

Speaking Reading and Listening Writing

This link will bring you to the demos that allow you to do a practice in all four domains of the assessment. Scroll down to the correct language and be sure to select form B:

Demos

Who can take the AAPPL?

Currently, this test is for seniors only, with a few special circumstances.

What languages are offered?

Currently, the only tests available are for the following languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. We are offering the STAMP to those students that speak Hebrew, Hindi, Polish, and Russian.

If you have any further questions, please contact our World Languages Department Chair, Email Amee Noethe

Wheaton Warrenville South High School

World Languages/ESL

Department Staff

Seal of Biliteracy

ESL Program Information

World Language Courses

Language Practice Websites

Spanish for Native Speakers

AP Spanish Information