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English @ Workplace
Better Communication, Greater Efficiency, Higher Productivity
Training & Credentialing
What is Workplace
Literacy training and
assessment about?
WPL Assessment
Situated in a strategic location in the region, Singapore
is a hub for many industries and a magnet for foreign
investments. With English as the most common
working language in this global marketplace and having
a team of staff who is proficient in English would
distinguish your company from the rest.
Four English assessments are available at a highly
subsidised rate of $3.50 (excluding GST) per modality for
Singaporean citizens and Permanent Residents. Each
assessment takes 30 to 60minutes:
The Workplace Literacy (WPL) assessment and
training helps companies achieve that goal. It creates
an alternate pathway for your Singaporean Low Wage
Workers (LWWs) to improve their workplace English.
Since its launch in 2004, over 100,000 workers have
attempted the WPL assessment and more than 14,000
have benefitted from the WPL training.
WPL Courses
The WPL courses and assessment system are jointly
developed by WDA and CASAS (Comprehensive Adult
and Student Assessment Systems), a US-based adult
assessment system approved and validated by the US
Department of Education and Department of Labor to
assess the literacy level of both native and non-native
speakers of English.
The WPL courses are available at three levels in three
pathways:
•
90 hours WPL (Comprehensive) covering
Reading, Listening, Speaking & Writing
•
45 hours WPL (Conversational) covering
Reading, Listening & Speaking
•
45 hours WPL (Writing) covering Reading &
Writing
Different jobs require different level of English language
proficiency. WPL assessment helps to assess a
worker’s level to determine their English literacy training
needs. The WPL assessment appraises your workers’
English language proficiency and provides training
recommendations for your workers.
WPL Assessment
Modality
Reading
Listening
Assessment Format
Multiple Choice Questions
Computer Adaptive Test
Speaking
Questions & Answers
Computer Based Test
Writing
Picture and/or Essay
Computer Based Test
How Do I Sign Up For
Assessments?
Signing up for the WPL assessment is easy. Simply log
on https://www.ces.gov.sg for direct online booking
or call 6883 5885 to sign up. Alternatively, you can
approach one of the five WPL CETCs.
What do I get at the end of
the assessment?
For each assessment attempted, your staff will receive
a nationally recognized Statement of Attainment (SOA)
indicating their level of proficiency, ranging from SOA 1
to SOA 8.
English @ Workplace
Better Communication, Greater Efficiency, Higher Productivity
Training & Credentialing
What is WPLN
credentialing project
about?
The Workplace Literacy and Numeracy (WPLN)
credentialing project is aimed at getting employers and
training institutions to recognise the WPLN credentials
as an alternative to GCE ‘N’ and ‘O’ levels for recruitment
and admission purpose.
To date, over 2,900 employers and training institutions
recognise and accept the WPLN credentials as an
alternative recruitment and entry requirement to GCE
N/O level qualifications. These companies include both
international and national privately owned business from
various sectors ranging from retail, food and beverage,
hospitality, healthcare, construction and manufacturing,
as well as the Singapore Public Service Division.
The WPLN credentials are also benchmarked against
GCE N/O levels and international standards by UK
NARIC, a British national agency responsible for
providing advice and expert opinion on vocational,
academic and professional skills and qualifications
worldwide (www.naric.org.uk) .
Your recognition of the WPLN credentials as an
alternative recruitment criterion to the formal academic
qualifications (e.g. GCE N/O levels) will open your access
to over 100,000 potential job candidates.
For a full list of employers and training institutions
that recognise the WPLN credentials, please refer to:
www.wda.gov.sg/wsq/WPLNCredentialingList
For a full version of the NARIC report, please refer to:
www.wda.gov.sg/wsq/NARICFullReport
How do I determine the
WPLN Level for the job
positions?
i.
Comparison with academic qualifications
ii.
Reference to what other employers are using for
similar job positions
iii.
By the level of personal interaction and
independence required in a job position
i.
Comparison with academic qualifications
Table 1 shows the mapping of the WPLN
proficiency levels with GCE N/O Level as well as
IELTS based on the benchmarking study by UK
NARIC. UK NARIC found that WPLN Level 5 is
closely matched to GCE N/O level pass in terms
of learning outcomes. Hence, if you use GCE N/O
level qualifications for your job entry requirements,
you could consider using WPLN level 5 as an
alternative. In 2010, the Department of Statistics
also officially included the WPLN credentials in
the Singapore Standard Education Classification
(SSEC) published by the Department.
Table 1 Mapping of WPLN Proficiency Levels with
GCE N & O levels and IELTS
WPLN
Proficiency Level
IELTS
8–9
7–8
8
7
6
6–7
SECONDARY
(At least 3 WPLN SOAs at
Level 5 and above)
5
4
3
2
1
IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is an internationally recognised English
language assessment developed by the University of Cambridge to assess the language ability of
candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication. It covers the
four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking (http://www.ielts.org).
1
WPLN Proficiency Level
LOWER SECONDARY
(At least 3 WPLN SOAs at
Level 3 or 4)
PRIMARY
(At least 3 WPLN SOAs at
Level 1 or 2)
5–6
4–5
3–4
English @ Workplace
Better Communication, Greater Efficiency, Higher Productivity
Training & Credentialing
ii.
Reference to what other employers are using
for similar job positions
Table 2 shows some examples of the WPLN
levels other employers are using to recruit new
employees for similar job positions. It should be
noted, however, that the minimum WPLN Level
required by the same job position may vary
depending on the specific industry sector.
Table 2 The WPLN Levels accepted for specific job
positions
Driver (Delivery)
Primary/Secondary
3
Editor
Degree
8
Engineer
Degree
8
N Level/O Level
3
F&B Waiter/Captain
N Level
5
Field Assistant
Primary
2
Fitting Room Assistant
Primary
2
Florist
N Level/O Level
4
Front Office Receptionist
O Level/NITEC
4
Gardener
Primary
2
General Worker
Primary
2
O Level/NITEC
7
Primary
4
Primary/Secondary
2
N Level
4
N Level/O Level
3
Secondary
4
NIL to O Level
2
Management Trainee
N Level
4
Managerial Positions
O Level/Diploma
5
F&B Crew/ Waiter
Minimum Education
Levels
WPLN Level
accepted by
most companies
as alternative
Account Positions
O Level/Diploma
5
Administrative Positions
N Level/O Level
5
Secondary
5
O Level/NITEC
5
Secondary
4
N Level/O Level
5
Beauty Therapist
N Level
3
Building Custodian
Primary
2
N Level/O Level
5
Merchandising Clerk
O Level/Diploma
5
O Level
7
Diploma/Degree
7
Secondary
4
Medical Registration
Officer/Executive
O Level/A Level
4
Operating Theatre
Assistant
O Level
7
Primary
2
Operation Coordinator
N Level/O Level
5
N Level/O Level
5
Operation Executive
Diploma
5
Primary
4
Pharmacy Assistant
Secondary
5
N Level/O Level
5
Phone Receptionist
N Level
5
Certificate
4
Product Specialist
N Level
5
Corporate Support
N Level
5
Production Operator
N Level/O Level
3
Customer Service/
Relations
N Level/O Level
5
Primary
3
Data Entry
N Level/O Level
5
Diploma/Degree
7
Primary
3
Job Position
Healthcare Assistant
Ambulance Driver
Assistant Chief
Security Officer
Assistant Supervisor
Beauty Consultant
Business Development
Manager
Butler
Cashier
Chief Security Officer
Cleaner
Clinic Assistant
Coach Driver
Concierge
Cook
Driver
Housekeeping
Housekeeping Attendant
Inventory Officer
Logistics/Operations
Assistant
Machine Operator
Machinist
Production Worker
Professional Conduct
Officer/Executive
English @ Workplace
Better Communication, Greater Efficiency, Higher Productivity
Training & Credentialing
Programme/Project
Executive
O Level/Diploma
6
Project Managerial
Positions
Degree
8
QA Inspector/Technician
N Level/O Level
4
Receptionist
N Level/O Level
5
Secondary
4
N Level/O Level
5
O Level
4
Security Officer
Secondary
4
Senior Security Officer
Secondary
4
Site Positions
Secondary
4
Supermarket Staff
Secondary
4
Supervisory Positions
O Level/NITEC
5
Technician
O Level/NITEC
4
Secondary
2
Temp Administrative
Positions
O Level/NITEC
4
Therapy Assistant
O Level/NITEC
7
Ticketing Officer
N Level
4
Tour Leader
Primary
5
Translator
Diploma
8
Warehouse Assistant
Primary
3
N Level/O Level
5
Diploma
8
Retail Assistant
Sales
Secretary
Telemarketer
Warehouse Coordinator
Workplace Safety &
Health Officer
English @ Workplace
Better Communication, Greater Efficiency, Higher Productivity
Training & Credentialing
iii.Level of personal interaction and independence required in a job position
Table 3 below shows the WPLN levels other employers have adopted for each job position in relation to the required
level of personal interaction and independence. Select an appropriate WPLN level for job entry requirement by the level
of personal interaction and independence required in a job position.
Level of Personal Interaction
WPLN Level
1
2
3
HIGH
Retail Assistant
Management Trainee
Florist
Cashier
Cook
Machine Operator
MID
LOW
Level of Independence
F&B Crew/Waiter
Beauty Therapist
Driver
Logistics/ Operation Assistant
Production Worker
Warehouse Assistant
Housekeeping Attendant
Cleaner
Construction Field Assistant
Building Custodian
Machinist
Gardener
Low
4
5
F&B Captain
Beauty Consultant
Clinic Assistant
Concierge
Corporate Support
Customer Service
Receptionist
Sales
Tour Leader
Accountant
Administrative Positions
Data Entry
Merchandising Clerk
Operation Executive
Pharmacy Assistant
Assistant Supervisor
6
7
8
Project Managerial
Positions
Workplace Safety &
Health Officer
Butler
Healthcare Assistant
Medical Registration Officer
Operating Theatre Assistant
Professional Conduct Officer
Therapy Assistant
Editor
Translator
Engineer
Chief Security Officer
Secretary
Security Officer
Inventory Officer
QA Inspector/ Technician
Mid
High