Test Preparation Tips

• The test will take one hour.
• A non-refundable administration fee of $160 $175 (includes HST) must be paid at the time the test is administered.
• Bring identification with you at the time payment is made.
• The results will be ready within 4 to 6 weeks.
• If you pass the test, you will receive certification in English and the other language: a certificate will be issued.
• No dictionaries or language aids are allowed.
• A retest can be administered after a 3-month waiting period.

If you require any additional information about the CILISAT or ILSAT please give a Training Representative a call before the testing date.

To book an appointment for a Language test, you can contact us by telephone at (416) 426 7014 or e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sight Translation Preparation Tips

• Choose a variety of text related to violence, social services or general medical questions. Newspaper articles and magazines are useful tools.
• The text should be 200 to 250 words in length.
• The text should be in both languages, if possible.
• Take 15 minutes to read over the text. Try to solve any translation problem at this point without using a dictionary.
• You may make some notes on your text paper, but it should be limited to the translation of some difficult words or phrases.
• Do not under any circumstances attempt to do a full written translation of the text. You will be penalized if your notes exceed 10% of the text.
• When you have dealt with the parts of the text that may present some difficulty, go through the entire text translating it mentally.
• After 15 minutes of preparation, read your translation, read your translation aloud making sure that you are not omitting or adding anything.
• Accuracy is essential, but this does not mean a word-for-word type of translation, which would be either meaningless or awkward in the second language.
Consider each sentence and interpret its message and intent as accurately and as naturally as possible in the other language. A good way of assessing this is to have a speaker of the second language listen to your translation and tell you whether it was clear, natural sounding and understandable.
• If you feel that there are any terms or concepts in the passage that do not have an equivalent in the other language, try to paraphrase or explain the term in other words, without adding anything that’s not contained in the original term or concept.

Example: “on probation” (assuming that this concept does not exist in the other language)
Paraphrase: having to follow certain rules imposed by a judge.
Paraphrase with non-acceptable additions: having to follow certain rules, such as not drinking alcohol, that have been imposed by a judge.

When you have finished reading and taping your translation out loud, assess the following elements, which will be taken into consideration by the marker.

1. Did you omit anything?
2. Did you add anything?
3. Did you distort the meaning of any term or concept in the passage?
4. Were you sufficiently fluent in the second language to deal with the terminology and structure of the original passage?
5. Were you able to work around problems?
6. Was your voice clear and audible?
7. Was there a lot of hesitation?
8. Did you start a sentence several times before deciding on the correct structure?
9. Was your voice calm and controlled?

Consecutive Dialogue Interpreting Preparation Tips

• Ask some friends to assist you in practicing for the test by simulating a dialogue between a non-English speaker and a service provider.
  Example: a patient and a doctor.
• Tape a call-in radio show that consists of questions and answers.
• You will be working towards both English and the other language.
• In this type of interpretation you need to listen carefully to what the speaker says, noting a few key words to help you remember, if you find this helpful. When the speaker finishes, you interpret the message into the second language.
• Pay great attention to accuracy.
• Do not add anything.
• Try not to omit anything or change the meaning in any way.
• If you forget something, do not invent.
• In the text you will not be given an opportunity for repetition, although in a real life situation this is what an interpreter will do.
• Try to reproduce as closely as you can the language level of the speaker. Example: Do not simplify a question that may be asked in a formal manner and do not try to make a confused or incomplete answer sound sophisticated and complete.
• Remember you are the mouthpiece of the speaker, trying to reproduce faithfully what they say in the in the same level of language in which they say it.
• Tape record your interpretation and assess your performance using the following criteria.
  1. Did you omit anything?
  2. Did you add anything?
  3. Did you distort the meaning of any term or concept in the passage?
  4. Were you sufficiently fluent in the second language to deal with the terminology and structure of the original message?
  5. Were you able to work around problems?
  6. Was your voice clear and audible?
  7. Was there a lot of hesitation?
  8. Did you start sentences several times before deciding on the correct structure?
  9. Was your voice calm and controlled?
  10. Do not allow yourself a longer period to interpret a sentence than it took the original speaker to say it.

How is your language proficiency going to be assessed?
Your language proficiency is going to be marked based on your knowledge of general vocabulary and technical terminology. In addition to this, the markers will be assessing your grammar, register, audibility and your pronunciation. Please keep this in mind when preparing for the test.