STAMP Test Information

STAMP testing takes place in February or March, depending on the school calendar year-to-year.

Dates for the 2026-2027 school year STAMP tests will be announced in January 2027.

The cost of STAMP tests is set by the vendor and varies, depending on the number of tests administered. We will notify test takers of the final price once we place our exam order, but the cost is typically about half of what an AP exam costs.

STAMP testing is billed through FACTS and financial aid is available to those who qualify.

Students must earn a six (6) or higher on each domain of the STAMP test for each language test. 

You must earn a score of 6 or higher in every individual domain of the STAMP 4S exam (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) to meet the proficiency standard. For the STAMP WS exam, you must earn a score of 6 or higher in both Writing and Speaking. For either exam, a cumulative or averaged score does not meet the requirement.

Yes. If you do not pass a STAMP test this year, you can try it again another time, either by arranging for a test on your own, or taking it again at SMA the following year. 

STAMP testing dates are offered once a year during the Spring term at SMA, typically in February or March. 

No. Students may arrange to take the STAMP test on their own elsewhere. Please note: students are responsible for submitting proof of passing proficient scores to Ms. Gilbert before April 25th of their graduation year to be eligible for the seal. 

It depends. STAMP test results are accepted up to 4 years after your test date. If you took the STAMP test PRIOR to April 25 of the calendar year that you will graduate, then your results will be accepted. If you are unsure, we recommend that you retest. 

The STAMP test is designed to take just under 2 hours. The testing session is open for up to three hours (time and a half).

Unlike many standardized tests, the STAMP is not section‑timed; students may move through sections at their own pace.  Students may spend more time on some areas and less on others as needed and therefore should plan and pace themselves accordingly.

Students will test in an environment that is comparable to our alternate testing accommodation: a room with fewer students spaced apart as much as possible

During the three-hour testing window, students may take breaks as needed.

Students may leave as soon as they've finished with their exam; they do not have to wait for others to finish to be dismissed.

No. These tools are not available for STAMP tests; however, proctors can repeat or explain anything on the test that is in English. 

• Number of questions: Approximately 30 questions.
• English instructions: Test questions and instructions are written in English. If students do not understand or word or instruction in English, they may ask the proctor for help.
• Adaptive format: The test is adaptive. Once students move to the next question, they cannot go back. The difficulty of each question changes based on how they answered the previous ones.

• Number of questions: Three (3) prompts.
• Response length: There is no required word count, but students can expect to write 400 to 600 words per prompt.
• Prompts in English and target language: Prompts are written in English. You can also listen to each prompt in your target language two (2) times.
• Writing tips: Organize your thoughts and write in complete sentences. Scratch paper is not allowed. Focus on details and show your best use of the language. Stay on topic and use a variety of vocabulary and sentence patterns.
• Conversational, not formal: Responses should be professional but do not need to be formal essays. It’s okay if your writing is not perfect. Do your best and show how well you know the language.
• Choose HANDWRITE or TYPE: Students may choose to HANDWRITE or TYPE. When entering the testing room, they must tell the proctor their choice. The proctor will give them the correct test code. This choice cannot be changed, so students should be sure of their preference.
• HANDWRITE guidelines: Students who choose HANDWRITE must use a black pen. Mistakes can be crossed out without losing points. All writing must be done in the space provided on the test paper.
• TYPE guidelines: Students who choose TYPE and want to use a language keyboard should install it before test day.

• Number of questions: Approximately 30 questions.
• English instructions: Test questions and instructions are written in English. If students do not understand or word or instruction in English, they may ask the proctor for help.
• Adaptive format: The test is adaptive. Once students move to the next question, they cannot go back. The difficulty of each question changes based on how they answered the previous ones.
• Audio playback limit: Students can listen to each recording two (2) times. After two (2) plays, the button will no longer work.

• Number of questions: Three (3) prompts.
• Response length: Each response can be up to three (3) minutes long. Students do not need to use the full length.
• Prompts in English and target language: Prompts are written in English. Students can also listen to each prompt in their target language up to two (2) times.
• Recording your response: Students can click “+Add” only once and “Re-Record” only once.
• Speaking tips: Organize your thoughts and avoid long pauses. Focus on details and show your best use of the language. Stay on topic and use a variety of vocabulary and sentence patterns.
• No scratch paper: Scratch paper is not allowed. Using it may result in a score of zero (0). Responses should sound natural, not rehearsed.
• Conversational, not formal: Responses should be professional but do not need to sound formal. It is okay if the response is not perfect – most people do not speak perfectly in conversation. Do your best and show how well you know the language.