This month, over 70 bilingual students participated in Merced County’s Seal of Biliteracy exam. The assessment is designed to recognize proficiency in both English and the student’s target language. Students who pass it are later awarded a biliteracy seal.

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given to students who can demonstrate their understanding in two or more languages. If awarded the seal, it is featured on a student’s diploma when they graduate. For students fluent in languages other than English, the seal offers an opportunity to formalize and showcase their abilities.

However, this year’s application process differed significantly from previous years. While last year students completed an application and participated in an interview conducted in their target language, this time around they had to take an exam. The assessment evaluated students across four key areas: reading comprehension, writing, speaking, and listening.

Velen Fajardo (12),  shared her thoughts on the exam, saying, “Taking the exam to be able to withhold the seal of biliteracy was an exam very different from the rest. It challenged my abilities in the Spanish language along with my test taking skills.”

Despite the challenging process, receiving the Seal of Biliteracy offers numerous benefits, potentially opening doors in college and career opportunities. 

When asked about the difficulty of the exam, Julian Guinto (12), commented, said, “I would say it was pretty easy, it was just long. The only thing I would say that was a little difficult was remembering the accents because I was just lost in thought but aside from that it was smooth sailing. I know some people have trouble with writing, whether to write a lot or a little, but just answer the questions as simply as you can.”

For those who pass the exam and earn the Seal of Biliteracy, a recognition ceremony will be held later in the year. Any bilingual students interested in taking the exam next year should contact Mrs. Leyva for more information.