Measure your te reo proficiency

The Level Finder Examination (LFE) provides a general indicator of a candidate’s ability to aurally recognise words and their knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. The examinations are open to individuals and organisations who wish to test their Māori language proficiency against the Whakamātauria Tō Reo Māori framework.

The examination is a one hour written test with an additional ten minutes reading time.

The examination has three parts:

  • Aural recognition (dictation)
  • Vocabulary (close reading and multi-choice answer options)
  • Grammar (close reading and multi-choice answer options)

Open to all

There is no cost associated with sitting the LFE.

Individuals
LFE exams are delivered face to face (kanohi ki te kanohi) and can only be organised once there’s 20 or more expressions of interest (EOIs) in the same region. Once 20 or more EOIs have been received from a particular region, exam coordinators arrange a sitting venue, date and time. These details will be communicated via email confirming exam date, time and venue as well as a link to a registration form for the confirmed exam sitting.

Corporate booking
If you would like to make a booking of 20 or more people for your organisation/business/company, please select 'group' in the dropdown box on the EOI form.

 

Hono mai

Rules and regulations

Time: You are allowed one hour to complete the LFE. An additional 10-minute reading time is allocated at the start of the exam.

Dictation assessment – A passage will be read three times, your task is to write out what you hear in the document provided.

Multi-choice questions that assess your knowledge of vocabulary and grammar based on context.

  • Please do not attend the examination if you’re sick or experiencing any cold or flu symptoms. Please do not attend if you have been in contact or are a close contact of someone who has tested positive or is a suspected positive case of COVID-19
  • All exam candidates MUST sign in to the NZ COVID Tracer App through the QR codes displayed in exam sitting locations OR sign in on arrival providing your name and contact details
  • You are encouraged to wear face masks throughout the exam. (Limited masks and hand sanitizer will be provided at exam venue)
  • Despite COVID alert levels, social distancing will be observed in exam rooms.
  • Cell phones – or any other electronic communication devices - are not permitted in the examination room
  • This is a closed book exam – dictionaries or assistance in any form, from or of another person is strictly prohibited
  • Ensure you have water at hand and snacks if needed.
  • Ensure you arrive at least 10 minutes before the examination to confirm registration and your Candidate number
  • You must follow all instructions given by the coordinator.

Results are normally available three weeks after the examination. Result slips and e-certificates are sent to the email address provided on the registration form. For security reasons, examination scripts will not be returned to candidates. If contact details change between the time of registering and the exam sitting, please notify the Examinations Officer on the day of the exam. If they change within the three weeks between the sitting and when results are due, please email [email protected].

Framework

At level 1, a te reo Māori user has enough vocabulary to understand and speak in simple phrases or sentences about a limited range of topics. They can use language that is short and simple to carry out routine tasks. They have elementary reading and writing skills and may have some difficulty understanding native speakers. Language use at this level maybe slow and users normally have to think first before articulating what they want to say.

At level 2, a te reo Māori user can participate and be understood in everyday situations, can ask and answer simple questions on easy topics but their reading and writing skills may not be yet at the same level. A person at this level can usually articulate matters of immediate need in simple terms and interact effectively with others in familiar settings.

At level 3, a te reo Māori user can speak and be understood easily and effectively in everyday situations – both formal and informal – including in the workplace. A person at this level can initiate and sustain spontaneous interaction with speakers at different levels in straightforward discussions and communicate effectively in the workplace. Can produce simple, connected written text.

At level 4, a te reo Māori user can communicate easily, confidently and spontaneously in everyday situations including a range of social and professional settings. They will have a good command of grammar, vocabulary and idiomatic language that enables interaction in a sustained manner and be able to read and write well in te reo. They will be easily understood by native speakers and are able to discuss quite complex issues relating to topics they know about.

At level 5, a te reo Māori user can communicate their thoughts, opinions and emotions clearly and appropriately in te reo Māori. A person at this level has the linguistic flexibility to enter easily into a range of cultural settings and has an excellent command of grammar, vocabulary and idiomatic language. They use the language spontaneously, fluently and appropriately in a range of situations. A person at this level can also speak, read, understand and write precisely and clearly about complex and abstract issues including specialist topics.

 

At level 1, a te reo Māori user has enough vocabulary to understand and speak in simple phrases or sentences about a limited range of topics. They can use language that is short and simple to carry out routine tasks. They have elementary reading and writing skills and may have some difficulty understanding native speakers. Language use at this level maybe slow and users normally have to think first before articulating what they want to say.

At level 2, a te reo Māori user can participate and be understood in everyday situations, can ask and answer simple questions on easy topics but their reading and writing skills may not be yet at the same level. A person at this level can usually articulate matters of immediate need in simple terms and interact effectively with others in familiar settings.

At level 3, a te reo Māori user can speak and be understood easily and effectively in everyday situations – both formal and informal – including in the workplace. A person at this level can initiate and sustain spontaneous interaction with speakers at different levels in straightforward discussions and communicate effectively in the workplace. Can produce simple, connected written text.

At level 4, a te reo Māori user can communicate easily, confidently and spontaneously in everyday situations including a range of social and professional settings. They will have a good command of grammar, vocabulary and idiomatic language that enables interaction in a sustained manner and be able to read and write well in te reo. They will be easily understood by native speakers and are able to discuss quite complex issues relating to topics they know about.

At level 5, a te reo Māori user can communicate their thoughts, opinions and emotions clearly and appropriately in te reo Māori. A person at this level has the linguistic flexibility to enter easily into a range of cultural settings and has an excellent command of grammar, vocabulary and idiomatic language. They use the language spontaneously, fluently and appropriately in a range of situations. A person at this level can also speak, read, understand and write precisely and clearly about complex and abstract issues including specialist topics.

 

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