Reminder for candidates
In-person test (open tab to navigate)
Please read this information if you are sitting a test in person at a NAATI testing venue.
Preparing for test day
Test task briefs
NAATI will send you the task brief for your test tasks three days before your test day. You should use these to prepare for your test and you will not have any additional preparation time on test day.
If you have not received your task briefs at this time, please contact us at info@naati.com.au.
Test preparation and sample materials
A Certified Provisional Interpreter test preparation module is available on the NAATI learning management system. You can access NAATI Learn for free at this link: https://learn.naati.com.au/. You don’t need to create an account. Just select the CPI Preparation Module from the dashboard.
It provides you with:
- Practice dialogues available in 46+ languages, with more languages to be added
- A built-in audio recorder allows you to record and download your own performance
- Self-assessment tools, including a self-review sheet to allow you to critically assess your own performance.
These materials are © National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (2022) and cannot be reproduced without the written permission of NAATI.
- You must bring a photo identity document (e.g. Australian driver’s licence or passport) to check in for your test. Click here to learn more about identity verification.
- You may wish to bring food to the test venue as you may need to wait several hours for your test to start. Any food must be consumed in the Waiting Room.
- You can bring a single printed A4 sheet containing the test task brief and your preparation notes for each task (i.e. three sheets of paper in total).
NAATI will provide:
- Task briefs. These will be emailed 3 days before the test
- A pen and paper for note taking during each dialogue task (to be returned at the conclusion of the task)
- A glass of water
NAATI will not provide:
- Internet access for candidates
- Other resources and equipment to prepare for the dialogue tasks.
You must follow these conditions. If you do not, NAATI may cancel your test or not issue your test result. If this happens, you will not receive a refund of your test fee.
Leaving the test venue
Once the test session has started, you are not allowed to leave the test venue until your test is complete. If you do, you cannot re-enter the venue or continue your test at a later time.
Behaviour on test day
You are expected to be courteous and respectful towards NAATI staff, including role-players, and other candidates. You cannot communicate with other candidates on the test day once your test has started.
Use of internet and electronic devices
You are not allowed to use any electronic devices in the Waiting Room or Test Room. These devices include your phone, laptop, tablet, smartwatch and any other electronic devices. When you check in for the test, you will be asked to turn off all your electronic devices, put them in your bag and leave your bag in a secure storage space.
You must not use any communication and recording functions of any devices for the duration of your test session.
Confidentiality
All test materials are the property of NAATI. You are not permitted to make or take away copies, paper or electronic, of any test material, or reproduce the test or communicate the test content to other candidates or a third party.
Any attempt to copy the test material will also result in disciplinary action being taken, which may involve the test being invalidated and a ban from any future NAATI test.
Test overview
The Certified Provisional Interpreter test assesses your ability to provide quality, professional interpreting of non-specialised dialogues commonly encountered in daily-life situations, using the consecutive interpreting mode.
- Two consecutive interpreting face-to-face dialogue tasks
- One consecutive interpreting remote dialogue task
Each task involves a different situation from a different domain and is a live role-play. There will be two role-players involved in each task, one English-speaking and one speaking the other language.
The test can usually take up to 1.5 hours per candidate from the time it starts.
You may need to wait a few hours for your test to start after you check in, depending on the number of candidates that day. The expected completion time of the test session is listed in your test confirmation email.
You may wish to contact your local NAATI office in the week prior to your test to get a more accurate indication of the test day schedule.
NAATI staff manage logistics, the equipment recording your test, start and finish times, and any other issues. A NAATI staff member will be in each room and will tell you when to move between the different rooms.
NAATI staff are not permitted to talk about the content of the task or comment on your performance.
You must always follow NAATI’s instructions.
Waiting room
After you check in, a NAATI staff member will direct you to sit in the Waiting Room. You will wait in this room until it is time to start your test. In the Waiting Room, you can only access your printed A4 sheets containing your task briefs and preparation notes. You cannot use any electronic devices in this room.
Test room/s
The Test Room is where you will complete the actual tasks. You are not allowed to ask for further explanation of the task or conditions once you enter the Test Room.
The only resources you can bring into this room are the interpreting brief and any handwritten notes you made when preparing for the tasks. Notes should be contained on one A4 page per test task.
You may take notes during the test. After the task, you must leave the interpreting brief and any handwritten notes in the Test Room.
Sitting the test
You must check in for your test between the arrival time and the registration closing time listed in your test confirmation email. NAATI staff will check you in by verifying your identity.
NAATI will not admit you to the test if you arrive after the registration closing time.
The test will be audio and video-recorded for identity verification, assessment and auditing purposes.
You will use the consecutive mode to interpret two face-to-face dialogues between two role-players about the topic and situation described in the interpreting brief. The role-players are in the same room as you for these tasks.
For each task, the role-play dialogue begins as soon as you enter the Test Room. The English-speaking role‑player will greet you.
You should introduce yourself to both role-players (in English and LOTE as appropriate) as ‘the interpreter’.
Do not use your real name. The introductory part is not recorded or assessed. Shortly after the introduction, the test invigilator will make an announcement and start recording the session.
The English-speaking role-player will begin the timed assessment part of the task by saying, “ok, let’s start.” or similar. You must interpret what the role-players say from this point on. You should interact with the role‑players to accurately transfer the meaning between them.
Each task will finish when the dialogue between the two role-players ends or 12 minutes after the start of the assessed part.
You will be asked to complete an audio only interpreting task. This task intends to simulate a telephone interpreting assignment, and you will not be able to see the role players.
You will use the consecutive mode to interpret this remote dialogue between two role-players about the topic and situation described in the interpreting brief. The role-players are in a separate room from you for this task.
The role-play dialogue begins as soon as you answer the call. An English-speaking telephone operator will ask if you are available to do the interpreting job. You will accept the job, and the operator will connect you to the role-players.
Once you are connected to the role-players, you should introduce yourself to both role-players (in English
and LOTE as appropriate) as ‘the interpreter’. Do not use your real name. The introductory part is not recorded or assessed. Shortly after the introduction, the test invigilator will make an announcement and start recording the session.
The English-speaking role-player will begin the timed assessment part of the task by saying “ok, let’s start” or similar. You must interpret what the role-players say from this point on. You should interact with the role‑players to accurately transfer the meaning between them.
The task will finish when the dialogue between the two role-players ends, or about 12 minutes after the start of the assessed part.
Role-players
The age and gender of the role-players may not accurately represent the age and gender of the characters described in the brief. In some briefs, characters are given female and male names because their role is not gender specific. You should refer to the role-player by the name with which they introduce themselves.
Under the test situation, the candidate should not ask the role-players to speak in short sentences or segments for the entire dialogue. The role-players will not be able to accommodate the candidate with regards to such a request.
Managing interaction
As the interpreter, you should listen to what the role-players say and transfer the meaning accurately. You are also expected to demonstrate your ability to manage the interaction with the role-players to make sure you accurately transfer the meaning.
There may be instances, during the test, which make it challenging for you to capture and comprehend what has been said, including:
- the role-players speak for an extended period
- the role-players mumble or talk at the same time
- there is a distracting noise or other interference
- the phone cuts out
- the role-players use a phrase you don’t know.
You should use a range of techniques to deal with these instances, including:
- cutting-in in an unobtrusive way by making use of the role-players’ natural pauses, and indicating that you are about to interpret by using conversational cues
- asking the role-player to repeat or clarify what they have said
- asking the role-player to pause or slow down
- asking the role-player to speak louder or softer
- inserting a correction if you realise you have made an error
- using other techniques to manage the interaction and transfer meaning.
The use of these techniques is considered acceptable if:
- they result in accurate transfer of meaning.
- you are courteous.
- you inform the other role-player about what occurred in the other language.
- the flow of the conversation is NOT hindered
Assessment and results
Assessment
At least 2 NAATI examiners will independently assess your performance in the test. They will assess each task separately, using assessment rubrics with 5 bands (with Band 1 representing the highest level of performance and Band 5 the lowest). Your task performance will be marked against each criterion, which are the same for all task types, as outlined below.
For each task, NAATI examiners will assess your:
- Transfer competency: Meaning transfer skill, Application of interpreting mode skill, Interactional management skill and Rhetorical skill.
- Language competency: Language proficiency enabling meaning transfer into the target language.
Refer to our language policy to understand how the examiners will assess your use of language in your test.
You need to achieve at least Band 2 for each criterion, and you must pass all three tasks to pass the test.
Results & receiving your credential
NAATI aims to issue results within 8-10 weeks of the test date. We will issue results as they are finalised, so some candidates will receive their results earlier than others even if they sit the test on the same day.
If you have already passed any prerequisite screening tests (Ethical Competency and/or Intercultural Competency), we will issue your credential if you pass this test.
Supplementary testing
You must attempt all three tasks and pass two of them to be eligible to apply for a supplementary test. You must apply for the supplementary test from your myNAATI account within 30 days of receiving your test results. The supplementary test will involve re-sitting only the failed task, but with a different situation.
If you pass the supplementary test, NAATI will award you the Certified Provisional Interpreter credential. If you fail the supplementary test, this means you have failed the test. You can apply for another Certified Provisional Interpreter test with NAATI if you want to sit the test again.
Downloads
Checklist
Candidate instructions
Online test (open tab to navigate)
Please read this information if you are sitting a test online via Microsoft Teams.
Equipment and system requirements
Please read the specifications carefully below for online tests.
Equipment & system requirements
| Laptop or computer with the following: |
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| Internet connection: |
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| Other items: |
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It is your responsibility to make sure your equipment is suitable and will function for the entire test. We recommend that your electronic devices be connected to a power source for the duration of your test. Note that small screens (such as laptop screens) may make it harder for you to see everything clearly.
Preparing for test day
Test time and link
You will receive your exact test time and the MS Teams link 4-7 days before your test.
This email will specify the time you should join your test and indicate when the test will finish.
Important: The start and finish times may vary from your original confirmation email depending on the number of candidates confirmed to attend the the session.
Test task briefs
NAATI will send you the task brief for your test tasks three days before your test day. You should use these to prepare for your test and you will not have any additional preparation time on test day.
If you have not received your task briefs at this time, please contact us at info@naati.com.au.
About MS Teams
You should familiarise yourself with MS Teams prior to attending the test and ensure your audio and video settings are working properly.
Whether you are joining the test via MS Teams App or browser, you must use your NAATI Attendance ID as your name. Your NAATI Attendance ID can be found on your test confirmation email.
MS Teams App:
To join a Teams meeting as a guest using the app, sign out of any existing profiles first. This will allow you to enter your attendance ID as your ‘name’ during the test.
MS Teams browser:
To join a Teams meeting as a guest using the browser, just click on the meeting link and use your attendance ID as your name.
Step by steps instructions on how to join a Teams meeting is here: Join a meeting without an account in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Support
Before your test, you will be invited via email to attend an online Q&A session. We recommend joining this session using the same setup as you will use on your test day (i.e. same computer, phone, wired headphones, location, internet connection). This will give you an opportunity to confirm your equipment is suitable for the test. Limited technical advice will be provided by NAATI staff at this session.
Test preparation and sample materials
A Certified Provisional Interpreter test preparation module is available on the NAATI learning management system. You can access NAATI Learn for free at this link: https://learn.naati.com.au/. You don’t need to create an account. Just select the CPI Preparation Module from the dashboard.
It provides you with:
- Practice dialogues are available in 46+ languages, with more languages to be added.
- A built-in audio recorder allows you to record and download your performance.
- Self-assessment tools, including a self-review sheet, allow you to assess your performance critically.
These materials are © National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd (2023) and cannot be reproduced without the written permission of NAATI.
- You must have your photo identity document (e.g. Australian driver’s licence or passport) ready to check in for your test. Click here to learn more about identity verification.
- You can have a single printed A4 sheet containing the test task brief and your preparation notes for each task (i.e. three sheets of paper in total).
NAATI will provide:
- MS Teams link to join your test session (4-7 days prior to your test).
- Q&A Session.
- Task briefs. These will be emailed to you 3 days before the test.
- Basic technical support relating to Microsoft Teams.
NAATI will not provide:
- Technical support should you experience issues with your device or internet connection.
- Other resources to prepare for the dialogue tasks.
- Other resources and equipment to prepare for the dialogue tasks.
You must follow these conditions. If you do not, NAATI may cancel your test or not issue your test result. If this happens, you will not receive a refund of your test fee.
Leaving the test environment
Leaving the test environment during a test session is not allowed.
In exceptional circumstances, you may request a 5-minute bathroom break during your test. This is only allowed in between test tasks and must be requested via the live chat before leaving the room.
Behaviour on test day
You are expected to be courteous and respectful towards NAATI staff, including role-players.
Use of internet and electronic devices
Only the laptop or computer used to access the test is permitted to be used during your test. When you check in for the test, you will be asked to turn off all your electronic devices.
You must not use any communication and recording functions of any devices for the duration of your test session, other than those required by NAATI.
Confidentiality
All test materials are the property of NAATI. You are not permitted to make or record copies (paper or electronic), of any test material, reproduce the test, or communicate the test content to other candidates or a third party.
What if something goes wrong on my test day?
Please have your mobile phone turned on and nearby as a NAATI staff member will call if you do not join the meeting on time. You will be asked to switch your phone off once you’ve joined the meeting and the test is about to start.
If you have connected to MS Teams and issues arise during your test, the NAATI staff member will provide support to fix these as quickly as possible.
- If IT issues can be resolved quickly, your test will continue.
- If IT issues cannot be resolved, the NAATI staff member will stop the test and discuss the next steps with you.
Test overview
The Certified Provisional Interpreter test assesses your ability to provide quality, professional interpreting of non-specialised dialogues commonly encountered in daily-life situations, using the consecutive interpreting mode.
- Two consecutive interpreting face-to-face dialogue tasks
- One consecutive interpreting remote dialogue task
Each task involves a different situation from a different domain and is a live role-play. There will be two role-players involved in each task, one English-speaking and one speaking the other language.
The test can usually take up to 1.5 hours per candidate from the time it starts. NAATI will provide you with an exact attendance time, and MS Teams link 4-7 days prior to test day.
NAATI staff manage logistics, the equipment recording your test, start and finish times, and any other issues.
A NAATI staff member will remain with you during the whole test. You will also be given a direct contact number for further support.
NAATI staff are not permitted to talk about the content of the task or comment on your performance.
You must always follow NAATI’s instructions.
Sitting the test
The test must be completed in a location that is free of distractions, background noise and other people.
When you are ready, click the link to your test you will have received via email. You must check in for your test at the time advised in your test invitation email.
You will need to provide proof of your identity by showing your identity document (passport or Australian driver’s licence) to the camera when asked, prior to beginning your test. Click here to learn more about identity verification.
The test will be audio and video-recorded for identity verification, assessment and auditing purposes.
You will use the consecutive mode to interpret two face-to-face dialogues between two role-players about the topic and situation described in the interpreting brief. The role-players are in the same online meeting as you for the online test. The role-players will have their video turned on for these tasks.
For each task, the role-play dialogue begins as soon as the role-players are admitted into the online meeting. The English-speaking role-player will greet you.
You should introduce yourself to both role-players (in English and LOTE as appropriate) as ‘the interpreter’. Do not use your real name. The introductory part will be audio-recorded from the time you enter the test room (onsite test) or from the start of the video call (online test). NAATI examiners will not assess this introductory part of the task.
The English-speaking role-player will begin the timed assessment part of the task by saying “ok, let’s start” or similar. You must interpret what the role-players say from this point on. You should interact with the role-players to accurately transfer the meaning between them.
Each task will finish when the dialogue between the two role-players ends, or 12 minutes after the start of the assessed part.
You will be asked to complete an audio-only interpreting task. This task intends to simulate a telephone interpreting assignment, and you will not be able to see the role players.
You will use the consecutive mode to interpret a remote dialogue between two role-players about the topic and situation described in the interpreting brief.
The role-players will be in the same online meeting as you for this task, but they will have their video turned off. The NAATI staff member will play the role of the English-speaking telephone operator.
The role-play dialogue begins as soon as the role-players are admitted into the online meeting.
The NAATI staff member will play the role of an English-speaking telephone operator. They will initiate the conversation and ask if you are available to take on a telephone interpreting job. You will accept the job, and then the ‘telephone operator’ will connect you to the role-players.
Once you are connected to the role-players, you should introduce yourself to both role-players (in English and LOTE as appropriate). This part is not recorded or assessed. Shortly after the introduction, the test invigilator will make an announcement and start recording the session.
The English-speaking role-player will begin the timed assessment part of the task by saying, “ok, let’s start” or similar. You must interpret what the role-players say from this point on. You should interact with the role‑players to accurately transfer the meaning between them.
The task will finish when the dialogue between the two role-players ends, or about 12 minutes after the start of the assessed part.
Role-players
The age and gender of the role-players may not accurately represent the age and gender of the characters described in the brief. In some briefs, characters are given female and male names because their role is not gender specific. You should refer to the role-player by the name with which they introduce themselves.
Under the test situation, the candidate should not ask the role-players to speak in short sentences or segments for the entire dialogue. The role-players will not be able to accommodate the candidate with regards to such a request.
Managing interaction
As the interpreter, you should listen to what the role-players say and transfer the meaning accurately. You are also expected to demonstrate your ability to manage the interaction with the role-players to make sure you accurately transfer the meaning.
There may be instances, during the test, which make it challenging for you to capture and comprehend what has been said, including:
- the role-players speak for an extended period
- the role-players mumble or talk at the same time
- there is a distracting noise or other interference
- the phone cuts out
- the role-players use a phrase you don’t know.
You should use a range of techniques to deal with these instances, including:
- cutting-in in an unobtrusive way by making use of the role-players’ natural pauses, and indicating that you are about to interpret by using conversational cues
- asking the role-player to repeat or clarify what they have said
- asking the role-player to pause or slow down
- asking the role-player to speak louder or softer
- inserting a correction if you realise you have made an error
- using other techniques to manage the interaction and transfer meaning.
The use of these techniques is considered acceptable if:
- they result in accurate transfer of meaning.
- you are courteous.
- you inform the other role-player about what occurred in the other language.
- the flow of the conversation is NOT hindered
Assessment and results
Assessment
At least 2 NAATI examiners will independently assess your performance in the test. They will assess each task separately, using assessment rubrics with 5 bands (with Band 1 representing the highest level of performance and Band 5 the lowest). Your task performance will be marked against each criterion, which are the same for all task types, as outlined below.
For each task, NAATI examiners will assess your:
- Transfer competency: Meaning transfer skill, Application of interpreting mode skill, Interactional management skill and Rhetorical skill.
- Language competency: Language proficiency enabling meaning transfer into the target language.
Refer to our language policy to understand how the examiners will assess your use of language in your test.
You need to achieve at least Band 2 for each criterion, and you must pass all three tasks to pass the test.
Results & receiving your credential
NAATI aims to issue results within 8-10 weeks of the test date. We will issue results as they are finalised, so some candidates will receive their results earlier than others even if they sit the test on the same day.
If you have already passed any prerequisite screening tests (Ethical Competency and/or Intercultural Competency), we will issue your credential if you pass this test.
Supplementary testing
You must attempt all three tasks and pass two of them to be eligible to apply for a supplementary test. You must apply for the supplementary test from your myNAATI account within 30 days of receiving your test results. The supplementary test will involve re-sitting only the failed task, but with a different situation.
If you pass the supplementary test, NAATI will award you the Certified Provisional Interpreter credential. If you fail the supplementary test, this means you have failed the test. You can apply for another Certified Provisional Interpreter test with NAATI if you want to sit the test again.
Downloads
Checklist
Candidate instructions
