The Avant STAMP test is a nationally recognized assessment used by school districts across the U.S. It is a general language proficiency assessment of Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking skills. It is designed for second-language learners aged 13 and older in school grades seven and above. 

• Provides official proficiency ratings based on ACTFL (American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages) standards

• Results can appear on high school transcripts

• Increasingly used for credit-by-exam and placement decisions

• Can be taken any time of year

• Computer-adaptive - adjusts difficulty based on student responses

• Scores on proficiency levels (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced)

• AP = "I completed a college-level German course in high school"

• STAMP = "Here's proof of my actual German proficiency level"

California State Seal of Biliteracy

Students can use Avant STAMP scores to earn the California State Seal of Biliteracy, which appears on their high school diploma and transcript. California accepts Avant scores of 5 or higher (Intermediate level) for this recognition.

Why the Seal matters:

• Distinguishes students on college applications

• Demonstrates commitment to multilingualism

• Recognized by California colleges and universities as evidence of advanced skills

• Can influence scholarship decisions

The Deutsches Sprachdiplom (DSD) is an official German language certification administered by Germany's Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK). Only certified schools can administer the exam and you must be enrolled in one of these schools to be eligible for the test. Students who pass the DSD exam earn a diploma that German universities and preparatory colleges (Studienkollegs) recognize as proof of language proficiency without requiring additional testing.

• The exam assesses all four language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. 

• DSD I (B1 proficiency, CEFR)

  • Study at a Studienkolleg in Germany without requiring additional language proficiency testing.

• DSD II (B2/C1 proficiency, CEFR, equivalent to the language level of a German high school graduate preparing for university). 

  • Study at a German university without additional language proficiency testing.

• Students as young as 14 can take the examination, though younger students may be eligible depending on the testing center.

• Most important when planning to study in Germany

• US high schools and universities MAY accept the DSD as proof of foreign language proficiency, but it depends on the institution.

Coming soon

AP Exams are administered by the College Board and let students demonstrate college-level mastery in a specific subject after completing an AP course (or through independent study). Unlike STAMP or DSD, which measure general language proficiency, AP Exams measure achievement in a defined curriculum.

• Scored on a 1–5 scale (5 = extremely well qualified, 3 is generally considered "passing")

• Many colleges award course credit or placement for scores of 3, 4, or 5 but policies vary by school

• Administered once a year, in May, at the student's school

• Tests both subject knowledge and skill application (for language exams: reading, writing, listening, and speaking)

• Results appear on a separate AP score report, not directly on the high school transcript (though the course itself does)

• AP = "I completed a college-level German course in high school"

• STAMP = "Here's proof of my actual German proficiency level"