Automated Testing

Preliminary Interpreter Candidate Skills Interview (PICSI)

Information for Candidates

Overview

            The PICSI is an assessment designed to measure a candidate’s performance as they interpret a series of short role-play scenarios between two different languages. It evaluates the ability to understand and retain information provided in a language, and then clearly and accurately communicate that information in the other language. Versions of this test are available for customer service applicants as well as for entry level healthcare interpreter candidates. 

The content, context and vocabulary are specific to the healthcare or customer service variety. 

 Taking the Test

If you or your coordinator has requested an On-Demand automated test, you will receive testing information and a link via email. Clicking on this link will prompt you to begin your test at the time that best suits you. No scheduling is necessary. Your interpreted responses will be recorded online, and a human tester will score your performance after you finish. 

If you have expected, but not received the email with the test invitation, be sure to check in your email’s junk folder, or search your email for languagestat@hireiqinc.net.

You will need to be alone and in a quiet area, and you will need a pen and 2-3 sheets of blank paper for note taking. You are not allowed to use any reference materials, such as dictionaries or assistance from other people. The test usually takes about 10 to 20 minutes to complete.

While On-Demand testing does not (by default) include a live proctoring service, starting in early 2021, it will require each candidate to present a valid, nationally recognized photo ID (ex. passport, state driver’s license) via webcam, together with a snapshot of the candidate’s face, and including a sample voice recording. Please note that during the test, a snapshot of your face will be taken randomly every couple of minutes to ensure adherence to all the test rules. These new steps are meant to augment test security and, by extension, further authenticate the validity of a candidates’ performance. Therefore, please be sure you have a working microphone and webcam before beginning your assessment.

The automated assessment employs a virtual interviewing technology, and is administered online in your web browser. Over the course of 3-4 short role-play scenarios, you will hear a series of pre-recorded lines between a non-English speaker and an English-speaker, and you will interpret back and forth for both parties. You should pay attention to the overall meaning of each speaker’s communication, as well as to the specific terms and concepts, and do your best to convey the messages accurately and completely. You do not need to introduce yourself at the beginning of the role-play scenarios; you will be presented with lines to interpret immediately. Concepts such as interpreter transparency and interpreter protocol are not evaluated. 

Your responses will be recorded for evaluation. Please follow the prompts and instructions as you go along. You may request repetitions, but only once per line. Candidate's responses are recorded for subsequent evaluation by a qualified tester. (This test is NOT graded by a computer, but by a live human rater.)

Please listen carefully and take notes as you go along. For each question, you will have 30 seconds to click the Play button to start listening the scenario. Within those 30 seconds, if you need to listen to the scenario again, you can click the play button again. After 30 seconds, you will hear a BEEP to signal the beginning of the recording. If you want to start recording your answer earlier, you can do so by clicking the red recording button. You should interpret as accurately and completely as possible.

Please, follow the prompts and instructions as indicated by the system. 

Technical Considerations

It is important to have a reliable high-speed internet connection for online testing, as well as a microphone and headset for audio (built-in computer microphones and speakers are sufficient, but less than ideal), and a working webcam. The browser-based system will provide you with a chance to test your audio/video setup and connection quality before beginning your test. If you are unsure whether or not your connection speeds are sufficient, please run a speed test, and share the upload and download speeds with our team.

For note-taking purposes, you will need a pen and paper to take notes. Writing notes on a computer or any other electronic devices is prohibited.

Frequently asked questions

 Am I required to use first person interpreting? 

 For this test you are encouraged to interpret in first person (using “I” or “me” and speaking as though you were the original speaker). However, no points will be deducted for third person interpretation (“He says that he…” / “She says she went…”).

 When are results ready? Do I receive a copy? Who else sees my results?

 Results are usually sent out within five working business days (or one week, unless there are holidays). You may receive results sooner. If you ordered through the website and paid for the test yourself, you will receive a copy, and we will also send a copy to any other parties you requested on the order form. (If you did not list any other recipients, only you will receive a copy).  If your employer/school ordered and paid for the test, only they will receive a copy, which they may or may not be able to share with you, according to their own internal policy. Self-paying candidates who chose the option to enroll in the “ON-FILE” program will have their results added to a database that LanguageStat and our partner organizations may refer to when seeking talent.

 Which national/regional accents are considered standard in English?

 LanguageStat acknowledges several standard regional/national dialects and accents in English including: Australian, British (including Scottish*), Canadian, Caribbean*, Indian*, Irish, New Zealander, US American (Including regional accents: Southern, Northeastern, Mid-western, and Southwestern/Native American) and South African*.  (*No points will be deducted for clear and easy to understand speech in these dialects/accents. However, if speech is deemed to impede understanding for listeners from other countries or regions, score may be lowered and/or include notes mentioning impact on communication as applicable, depending on the degree of severity.) 

 How are results provided? What is the passing score? 

 Candidates receive a two scores- one for accuracy and one for vocabulary- as well as on overall blended score. Scores are presented as percentages, and are accompanied by an A-F ranking, corresponding to a standard US grading scale. LanguageStat recommends a 75% passing score for this test, although each organization will set their own criteria according to their needs, and some may have higher (or lower) score requirements. Notes and comments included in report.

I have been interpreting in this language at work for years. Why do I need to take this test?

 Your employer may wish to confirm or recertify your skill level for hiring, quality, safety or regulatory reasons. 

 How soon can I retest? How many times may I retest? 

 Please check with the organization (employer or school) that requested the test to see what, if any, retest guidelines they have in place. LanguageStat recommends at least 6 months before retesting in most circumstances, but does not enforce that recommendation.

 What is transparency? 

 Transparency is the concept that all parties involved in the interpreted session have the right to know everything that is said, and by whom. It is particularly important in medical interpreting. For example, an interpreter should inform the party expecting the interpretation of the need to intervene if a repetition or clarification is required. Transparency can take many forms depending on the format (for example, in-person interpreters might raise their hand for a repetition, whereas an over-the-phone interpreter would need to verbally intervene using a transparency script).  Please check with your employer or training program to see what standards and protocols for transparency they have in place. Transparency and protocol are not evaluated as part of the PICSI.