Ever searched for a course to take and saw “WPLN” as one of the requirements for the course? It usually came with a level pegged to it and there wasn’t additional explanation to this term. This makes it difficult to determine whether you are eligible for the course.
In this article, we will talk about what WPLN is, the benefits and shortcomings of WPLN and, as the headline suggests, what the WPLN proficiency levels are equivalent to when compared to other similar language tests/standards.
What is WPLN?
WPLN, an acronym for Workplace Literacy and Numeracy, is actually made up of Workplace Literacy (WPL) and Workplace Numeracy (WPN) series developed by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG; then Singapore Workforce Development Agency).
The WPLN series defines a person’s literacy and numeracy skills beyond what Singaporeans are familiar with (i.e. GCE A/O/N Levels) with a framework that can be used by people from different industries and work environment.
WPLN is made up of “WPL” and “WPN”
Literacy refers to a person’s proficiency in English, namely in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing (as defined by SSG).
On the other hand, Numeracy refers to a person’s ability to recognise and apply maths concepts (e.g. understanding numbers, counting, solving number problems, measuring) in all areas of life (Source: https://raisingchildren.net.au/babies/play-learning/learning-ideas/early-numeracy).
Therefore, WPLN is meant for defining a person’s literacy and numeracy capabilities in the workplace. In other words, the “literacy” portion isn’t going to look for people who could use bombastic, rare words. Neither is the “numeracy” section testing whether you can do calculations for rocket science.
What are the proficiency levels for WPLN?
SSG’s framework divides these proficiency into 8 levels, and a person who took the WPLN tests will be awarded a certificate that lists down their proficiency levels in each of these areas:
- Reading;
- Listening;
- Speaking;
- Writing;
- Grammar and Vocabulary;
- Numeracy;
As mentioned, the WPLN is for the workplace. Only occupations with highly specialised, highly academic tasks will require one to have a WPLN of level 8. In fact, a typical worker will fall between WPLN level 3 to WPLN level 7, with the “white collar” office workers deemed to be have higher WPLN levels than the “blue collar” operational/frontline worker possessing lower WPLN levels.
That being said, there are exceptions. A frontline worker handling customers will need to be very good in English (spoken). A logistics technician will also need to be very good at calculations, which calls for high WPN level requirement. Therefore, it is often good to consult the HR personnel / learning and development specialist / career specialist on what the WPLN requirements are for a certain job position or course.
Testing for WPLN
Anyone can take a WPLN test that is administered by SSG-recognised institutions, like British Council and polytechnics. As there are different components of the WPLN, one can also choose not to take the tests for all components.
For example, if an employer only requires you to prove your ability to manage daily cash transactions, you can take a WPN test (i.e. test for your numeracy skills) to prove your capability. For literacy tests, people usually take all of the reading, listening, speaking and writing test components (Grammar and Vocabulary are assessed as part of the component tests).
WPLN tests are made up of several components and you can choose to take only one, part of, or all of the components, depending on the requirements of the employer or whoever is requesting for the WPLN test results.
The WPLN tests is unlike the tests we take in schools. There is no such thing as a “Pass”/”Fail” in WPLN. You just appear for the tests and your test result will show which level of proficiency you are at.
Scoring a level 4 in WPL just means you have “low intermediate” grasp of English, and is capable of handling “entry-level jobs that involve some simple oral and written communication but in which tasks can also be demonstrated and/or clarified orally” (extracted from “ES Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Level (WPLN) Descriptors” published by Singapore Workforce Development Agency in 2009).
Benefits of WPLN
A generic framework allows employers to determine the literacy and/or numeracy of their employee (or potential employee) conveniently, even though they may come from different age groups (older Singaporeans who grew up when education is not as prevalent) and nationalities (unsure which schools are recognised).
Professional courses (or adult learning courses found on the SSG’s training exchange portal) may also use the WPLN as an entry requirement, so that people with WPLN levels lower than the requirement may not find themselves in an awkward situation where they don’t understand the training content.
More importantly, for individuals like you and me, a WPLN test is cheaper than the conventional English language tests like IELTS and TOEFL. WPLN tests are also conducted locally, have no expiry dates and are recognised by SSG (and since SSG is under the Ministry of Education, by MOE). Singaporeans and Permanent Residents can also utilise their SkillsFuture Credits to pay for these SSG-recognised tests, regardless of where they take the tests.
| WPL | IELTS (International English Language Testing System) | TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost for assessments/tests | $4 (Singaporeans and Permanent Residents); $40 (foreigners) *Cost is shown for each component of reading, listening, speaking, writing and numeracy. | $365 | $265 |
Disadvantages of WPLN
The best part of WPLN, in which it works well for companies based in Singapore, is also its greatest advantage. Outside of Singapore, no other countries recognise the WPLN framework. As such, if a company or school overseas asks for proof of English proficiency, we will have to take either IELTS or TOEFL (depending on the requirements).
The converse is also true. For someone who comes into Singapore with an IELTS / TOEFL test results, do we ask them to schedule and take a WPL test (which may take up to 2 months)? Since IELTS and TOEFL are already internationally recognised, won’t it be easier if we could just map the IELTS / TOEFL results to the WPL levels?
Unfortunately, such mapping doesn’t exist, which makes it a real headache for employers or trainers when someone shows up with a non-WPLN test result.
Existing English Tests
To be able to map WPL (note that WPN is not mentioned here, as we’re talking about English language tests) to existing English language tests, we have to understand the different English proficiency frameworks out there.
IELTS and TOEFL are existing English tests accepted by many organisations worldwide, while CEFR is a standard to define the different skills levels in English usage.
IELTS
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is perhaps the most well-known English language test, as many schools, universities, immigration authorities and companies use it as a benchmark. According to IELTS’ website, the test is accepted by more than 11,000 entities around the world.
IELTS splits a person’s English proficiency into 9 bands, and it is possible to get a “half band” (e.g. Band 6.5). Like WPL, the assessment is also broken down into components, namely listening, reading, writing and speaking. After completing the test, the candidate will receive a band score in each of these components. He/She will also have an overall band score based on the average score across these 4 components.
There are also 2 types of IELTS: Academic and General. The IELTS (Academic) is usually required by universities, while most immigration authorities and employers will request for IELTS (General). It is important to know what type of IELTS the other party wants, as the test results is not communicable (i.e. you can’t use your results for IELTS (General) as IELTS (Academic)).
Another difference from WPL is that you can’t choose to take only a component test in IELTS. In other words, you can take a WPL test on writing only, but there’s no such option for IELTS.
TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is an American based English test that is mainly used by universities. Therefore, the test focuses on the academic usage / classroom settings.
Like IELTS, a TOEFL candidate is also tested on the 4 components of listening, reading, writing and speaking of English. However, the grades is purely based on scores, with each component worth a maximum of 30 points. The scores for each section will be added up to an overall score between 0 – 120.
The main differences between IELTS and TOEFL are in their delivery. TOEFL is purely MCQ, while IELTS have short answers (and essays!) and interviews with the assessor (to determine your speaking capabilities). TOEFL is also typically computer based, while IELTS requires answers to be handwritten.
Like IELTS, you can’t take the test for the individual components. However, TOEFL is deemed to be a more convenient test to take, as the tests are done over computer and does not require one to go to different locations for different components of the test.
CEFR
CEFR, or the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), is a standard developed by the Council of Europe to describe language ability. There is no language tests. Instead, people use the CEFR to map the different score tests. For example, using the CEFR, we can know that since a TOEFL score of 72 – 94 is equivalent to CEFR level B2, and CEFR level B2 is equivalent to IELTS band 5.5 – 6.5, we can say that a TOEFL score of 72 – 94 is equivalent to IELTS band 5.5 – 6.5.
(Source: The Association Between TOEFL iBT® Test Scores and the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) Levels, https://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/RM-15-06.pdf)
CEFR is broken down into 6 bands, namely A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2, where A1 is the lowest and C2 being the highest.
CEFR is also a standard for other European languages. Therefore, it’s good to know that there’s also a CEFR for French, for example. For this article, “CEFR” will refer to CEFR for English.
WPL Mapped to CEFR, MOE Qualification, IELTS and TOEFL
There is no official mapping provided by SSG and British Council. There’s also no academic research papers done to map WPL to CEFR or IELTS and TOEFL. As such, it can be quite a headache when employers are trying to understand whether a person’s IELTS / TOEFL scores are good enough for a local job position.
Based on the level of descriptors for WPL, CEFR, IELTS and TOEFL, I have come up with a mapping table to find out what a WPL level is equivalent to in CEFR, IELTS, TOEFL and to the general Singaporean qualification.
| WPL | CEFR | MOE Qualification | IELTS | TOEFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Proficient | C2 | “A” Levels and above | 8.5 – 9.0 | 95 – 120 |
| 7 High Advanced | C1 | “A” Levels and above | 7.0 – 8.0 | 72-94 |
| 6 Advanced | B2 | “O” Levels | 5.5 – 6.5 | 72-94 |
| 5 High Intermediate | B1 | “N” Levels | 4.5 – 5.0 | 42 – 71 |
| 4 Low Intermediate | A2 | Lower secondary | 4.0 | 41 and below |
| 3 High Beginning | A2 | PSLE | 0 – 3.5 | 41 and below |
| 2 Beginning | A1 | Lower primary | 0 – 3.5 | 41 and below |
| 1 Pre-Beginning | NA | NA | 0 – 3.5 | 41 and below |
There is also plenty of non-standard English tests and certifications/diplomas/degrees in the world. I won’t be covering them since the list is non-exhaustive. However, if you come from a school recognised by the Singapore public service, your HR will most likely be able to advise you what MOE qualification your qualification is equivalent to. From there, you can use the table above to check which WPLN you belong to. On the other hand, if your school is not recognised, it is a safer bet (and cheaper option) to take the WPLN tests, rather to waste time to ding dong with the HR.
Parting Words
WPLN (Workplace Literacy and Numeracy) is a framework designed to let employers and individuals gauge their English language proficiency and strength in numeracy. This is especially useful if the said individuals did not go through the Singapore education system, or are adults who have left the education system for a long time.
At as low as $4 per component of the test, it is easy for one to prove their literacy and/or numeracy proficiency to employers. However, if you have taken other English language tests, like the IELTS and TOEFL, then you may wish to use that test results in place of WPLN test results.
IELTS and TOEFL test results have a validity period of 2 years. There is also no official mapping to say what the band/score of these tests are equivalent to in WPL. This is the reason why I had come up with the lookup table “WPL Mapped to CEFR, MOE Qualification, IELTS and TOEFL”.
That being said, a framework is meant to be a guideline, so one should not rely on the WPLN (or the mapping table) rigidly. In the working world, a person’s work experience is also a good testimony of a person’s capabilities. Sometimes, a person’s work speaks louder than his paper qualifications.
Therefore, if a person is able to prove his English language proficiency through his work and portfolio, as an employer, you should also consider accepting his prior work experience too. Similarly, as an individual, do not be shy to present your portfolio or describe your past work experience to prove that you have the level of language requirement even if you have not taken any English language tests.
If you find this post useful, please share it with your friends! Find out more about SGUnited Skills programmes, where we look at them in numbers from various perspectives. Till then, stay curious!
WPLN is a reference, and by no means the only way you can use to prove a person’s English language capabilities. Work experience is also important!
References:
WPLN (SSG): https://www.ssg.gov.sg/individuals/wpl-and-wpn-series.html
IELTS: https://www.ielts.org/
TOEFL: https://www.ets.org/toefl/
CEFR (General): https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages
CEFR (the 6 levels): https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/level-descriptions
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