Description of the AEPS English language proficiency test
The AEPS test is designed to assess your ability to understand and use radio phraseologies as well as common English. The test is intended to measure the six following subskills:
- Pronunciation
- Structure
- Vocabulary
- Fluency
- Comprehension
- Interactions
The AEPS test is divided in 2 sections as follows:
1. Plain language Test
The test developed by AEPS for the plain language test is composed of the following exercises:
This exercise is based on an interview during which you are asked to introduce yourself. Explain who you are, why you take/took flying classes, what you intend to do with your flying skills, if you have special hobbies… The assessors may ask questions in order to facilitate conversation.
R/T Practical Test (approx. 10 minutes)
You are presented with an aviation-related picture. You have about 30 seconds to provide a description of what you see.
The pictures are selected from a database.
You are asked to answer open questions using an aeronautic lexical field.
The open questions are selected at random in a database.
This part takes about 10 minutes
2. R/T Practical Test
The R/T-testing scenario is a simulation of an actual flight.
You are the pilot in command and the operational examiner is playing the role of the air traffic controller. You are asked to use standard radiotelephony communication whenever possible. If no standard phraseology is available for the situation, use plain language.
This part takes about 10 minutes
The ICAO/EASA test is:
- An assessment of your standard radiotelephony communication and plain English language level in an aviation-operational environment
- Linked only to aviation topics and/or an aviation work-related context
- Based only on a practical use of the English language in real ‘aviation’ life
- Designed to evaluate your ability to communicate (both ways) effectively within an aviation-related topic
The ICAO/EASA test is not:
- A test about your grammatical knowledge, nor vocabulary
- A formal translation exercise
- An assessment of your operational or technical skills ( procedures )
- A TOEFL (or similar) exam