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1.
Examination |
1.1 |
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1.2 |
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1.5 |
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1.7 |
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2.
Eligibility |
2.1 |
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2.2 |
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2.3 |
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2.4 |
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2.5 |
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2.6 |
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3.
Registration Process |
3.1 |
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3.2 |
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3.3 |
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3.4 |
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4.
Examination Results |
4.1 |
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4.2 |
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4.3 |
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4.4 |
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4.5 |
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1.
Examination
How
is the exam structured?
The LPE is comprised of a written and an oral test. The written section
consists of a composition, a series of multiple-choice questions covering
listening comprehension, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar.
The oral section of the examination is a 10-15 minute interview conducted
by one interviewer.
How
long does the exam last?
The written section of the exam, which is administered in a single session,
lasts 3 hours and 10 minutes, while the oral section lasts 10-15 minutes.Once
the examination begins, all candidates must remain in the examination
room for the entire duration of the examination, even if you have finished.
What
is the passing score?
Both the written and oral exams are marked on a 100-point scale, and the
passing score is 65 for each part of the examination. In order to pass
the LPE, the candidate has to pass both sections.
I
have successfully passed an official examination organized by a renowned
institution in a given UN language. Could I be awarded a language allowance
on this basis?
No. The language allowance is awarded only on the basis of a passing score
on the LPE.
Where can I find materials to practice
for the exam?
Sample exams in all UN official languages can be found on the LPE website.
Please check the appropriate UNHQ language program websites where you
will find further resources for the language you are interested in.
I
have an appointment that I cannot miss on the day of the exam. Can I take
the exam earlier/later on that day or any time before/after the announced
exam date?
No. All candidates must start the exam at the specific time scheduled
by the exam centre and remain in the examination room for the entire duration
of the examination. There are no makeup exams and there are no exceptions,
not even for medical reasons.
Can
I arrive late to the exam?
Arriving late is strongly discouraged, as it will disturb others and you
will miss the instructions read at the start of the exam. In the event
that you are delayed, you will be admitted up to thirty minutes after
the starting time. You will not receive extra time if you arrive late.
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2.
Eligibility
I
am a CIVPOL officer. Can I take the LPE?
No. Unfortunately, CIVPOL officers are not eligible to take the LPE.
I am a military staff member.
Can I take the LPE?
No. Unfortunately, military staff members are not eligible to take the
LPE.
I have studied one of the UN official
languages outside the United Nations (i.e., high school, college, language
courses, immersion, study/work abroad). Am I eligible to take the Language
Proficiency exam?
Staff members must have studied the language (in which they want
to be tested) outside of the UN for at least 2 years. The decision on
eligibility is made on a case to case basis. For that purpose, you must
provide full details of your language training (i.e. name of institution,
courses, dates, length of study) on the LPE Registration form. The LPE
Registration form will then be submitted to the Board of Examiners for
their review and decision on eligibility.
Non staff members who have studied outside of the UN are not eligible
to take the LPE in any case. No exceptions will be made.
I have studied one of
the UN official languages in a United Nations language course. Am I eligible
to take the Language Proficiency exam?
Staff members
who have participated in a United Nations language course and who have
completed the highest level of that course are required to:
1)Pass the final exam
at the highest level of the United Nations Language and Communications
Program.
2)Should there be no
final exam, a 75% class attendance at the highest level class is mandatory
to be eligible to take the LPE.
Non staff members
who have not completed the highest level language course offered at the
UN are not allowed to take the LPE.
One of the official languages of the UN
is a requirement for my position. Do I need to take the LPE?
If your mother tongue is one of the official languages of the UN, you
do not need to take the LPE in that language.
If your mother tongue is not one of the official languages of the UN,
you are not required to take the LPE to prove your proficiency.
My contract expires one week before
the LPE exam date I would like to take part in. Can I still take the LPE?
If your contract expires prior to the date of the LPE, you may take the
exam only with authorization from your Executive Officer or the Head of
Administration at offices away from Headquarters and field offices, on
the ground that your contact is expected to be extended.
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3. Registration Process
The
duty station I am based in will not be administering the next LPE. What
do I have to do in order to take the exam the next session?
Please contact your nearest test center for information and registration
deadline. Should you be eligible to take the LPE, you will have to travel
to your chosen test site at your own expense.
Is the local registration deadline for candidates
located in the offices away from HQ announced on the LPE website?
No. The deadline announced on the website is the deadline established
by UN Headquarters for receipt of the list of registered candidates. Each
local test center sets its own deadline, prior to the one announced on
the LPE website. Please contact your local LPE administrator regarding
the local registration deadline.
I applied to a test site but my application was
not accepted. Can I apply directly to the UNHQ?
No. UNHQ only acknowledges inquiries and registration requests through
the designated LPE Administrators named on the List of LPE Test Sites
at Offices Away from Headquarters.
I will be on a professional assignment away from
my registered test center. Can I take the LPE at another test site?
We highly encourage candidates to plan their LPE application well in advance
to foresee any prospective and/or future circumstances, either personal
or professional, that may affect their availability to attend the LPE
exam. Only under exceptional circumstances based on professional commitments
will candidates be allowed to switch their LPE site. These claims must
be supported in writing by their supervisor.
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4. Examination Results
I
passed the written test but failed the oral section. Do I need to repeat
both parts of the exam at a subsequent session?
Yes. If you fail the oral test, you need to retake both parts at a subsequent
session unless your score for the written section is at least 80 percent,
in which case the Board of Examiners adjudicating the examination shall
review the case and may allow candidates to retain their written score
for the following examination session. In this event, the candidate
shall receive written notification of the Board's decision and will
only be allowed to apply to retake the oral examination at the following
session.
I passed the oral test but failed the written
section. Do I need to repeat both parts of the exam at the subsequent
session?
Yes. If you fail the written test, you need to retake both parts of
the exam at a subsequent session.
I did not pass the LPE. Can I receive information
regarding my scores for each part of the exam to identify the areas
I need to work on?
Yes. You will receive your score for each part of the exam. However,
should your total score for the multiple choice section be too low,
the composition and oral interview will not be evaluated. Consequently,
you will not be informed of your score for these two parts.
How
will I be informed about my result?
If you sat for the exam at UNHQ in New York, the result letter will
be sent to your office address provided by you during registration.
If you took the exam in a test site away from headquarters, you will
be informed about your result through your LPE Administrator.
I
have passed the Language Proficiency Examination. When will the language
allowance take effect?
Once proficiency in one of the UN official languages has been established,
the Administrative Instructions states that the language allowance shall
be paid to a staff member as of the first month following the month
in which the staff member successfully passed the LPE (ST/AI/1999/2).
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