ESDC Second Language Evaluation (SLE) Options – COVID-19
For Managers

Option 1: ESDC "In-House" SLE Tests

Available for all appointments/deployments (indeterminate, term, acting, etc.) to any bilingual position and for other types of requests (e.g. testing employees who have taken second language training for development purposes or in the context of a change to the language requirements and/or linguistic profile of a position) until March 31, 2022.

• In-house SLE tests, administered through SABA, to assess reading comprehension and written expression:
  • Result is transferable from one ESDC position to another for the duration of the temporary measure.
  • Result is valid for an indefinite period, but solely for the position held by the person, as long as the linguistic profile of the position is not raised to a higher level than what the employee was granted.
  • Retest period of 60 days.
  • Result is not stored in PeopleSoft.
• Managers must submit SLE requests through the HRSC Portal as per usual practices.

Option 2: Public Service Commission (PSC) Unsupervised Internet Test (UIT) of Reading Comprehension and Written Expression for Level B or C

Only available for new advertised processes launched on GCJobs (currently not an option for non-advertised appointments, non-advertised deployments, expired results, etc.)

• PSC UITs for Reading Comprehension and Written Expression are administered by the PSC to candidates in their own home:
  • Result is candidate meets or does not meet the required level of proficiency (B or C) for the position.
  • Result is valid for 1 year and can only be used to staff the position for which the assessment was conducted. Therefore, it is not transferable from one position to another.
  • Once the 1-year validity period expires, the result is valid for an indefinite period, but solely for the position held by the person, as long as the linguistic profile of the position is not raised to a higher level than what the employee was granted.
  • Result is not stored in PeopleSoft or in the PSC’s Test Scoring and Results Reporting (TSRR) system.
• The PSC is currently exploring how these tests can be made available for all types of staffing actions (not solely in the context of new job advertisements).
• Managers may discuss this option with their Human Resources Advisor prior to launching a new advertised selection process.

Public Service Commission (PSC) Oral Language Assessment

Available for all types of requests although priority is to organizations staffing positions that are related to the COVID-19 situation or that ensure the effective functioning of the Government of Canada.

• As a response to the COVID-19 situation, the Oral Language Assessment has replaced the traditional SLE Test of Oral Proficiency.
• The new Oral Language Assessment is administered remotely via Microsoft Teams, by language assessors certified by the PSC.
• For this new PSC second language oral proficiency assessment tool:
  • Result is awarded based on a rating scale (X, A, B, C or E).
  • Result is valid for 5 years and is transferable from one position to another across departments.
  • Once the 5-years validity period expires, the result is valid for an indefinite period, but solely for the position held by the person, as long as the linguistic profile of the position is not raised to a higher level than what the employee was granted.
  • Retest period of 30 days.
  • Result is stored in PeopleSoft and in the PSC’s Test Scoring and Results Reporting (TSRR) system and will replace any previous valid PSC oral test result.
• Managers must submit SLE requests through the HRSC Portal as per usual practices.