TEST FOR MEDICAL INTERPRETERS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The written test (90 Minutes) - Answer-The written test for medical interpreters has five
sections, all-in multiple-choice formats.
Section one — code of ethics: In this section, statements regarding professional code of
conduct are written in the English language, and the candidate will need to determine
whether each statement is true or false.
Section two — medical terminologies: This section covers such areas as parts of the
body, symptoms, disease/illness/injury/physical disorder, treatment, prescription,
medical personnel, and miscellaneous health related expressions. All stems in section
two are in the English language while all options are in a non-English language. For
each question, the candidate will
need to identify the target language equivalent of the English word/term in the stem.
Section three — clinical/medical procedures: Both stems and options in this section are
in the English language. The candidate will need to choose from those given options the
one that
best describes each procedure.
Section four — brief writing test in the English language: The candidate will need to
choose an option to best complete each unfinished sentence.
Section five — brief writing test in a non-English language: The format of this section is
exactly the same as that of Section four, except that all items are written in a language
other than English.
The written test total possible score is 150. Candidates must receive 85% or better of
the total
possible score to pass the written test.
Test Day Reminders - Answer-Candidates should bring a picture I.D. to present to the
test proctors at the sign-in desk.
* Candidates should arrive early for sign-in. This will insure that the test will begin and
end on time.
* The written test will begin and end as scheduled. Therefore, if candidates arrive late
for
the written test but still decide to go ahead and take it, they will be taking the test at the
loss of their own time. Late arrival for the oral test may result in loss of the assigned
time slot.
* Reference materials, including dictionaries and any electronic device, will NOT be
allowed for Employee's Test and Interpreter's Test. Answer sheets, pencils, and erasers
will be provided. For Document Translator's Test, reference materials, including
dictionaries, will be allowed. However, electronic devices of any kind will NOT be
allowed.
* Any scratch paper used during the oral test by the candidate for note taking or
otherwise must be submitted to the Test Proctors before the candidate leaves the test
, room.
* Any cheating behavior, if discovered by Test Proctors, may result in the
cancellation of a candidate's eligibility for taking the test.
Test score reporting - Answer-Test scores will normally be available within four (4)
weeks for the written test, and six (6) weeks for the oral test from the test date. Test
scores are considered confidential information and will not be released over the
telephone. Once the scores are available, a score report letter will be mailed to the
mailing address provided by the candidate. If the candidate wishes to have test scores
sent to a
specific organization or individual, the request must be made by the candidate
personally. LTC will verify the candidate by checking identification information, and the
candidate needs to provide the
name and mailing address of the organization or individual to whom the score report
letter will be sent.
Any candidate who has not received a score report letter within the time frame quoted
above should
contact LTC at 800-605-5126.
Once candidates pass the required testing. - Answer-They will be notified how to
complete the required prerequisite
new interpreter/translator orientation and interpreter/translator professional ethics
training before they are considered certified (for certified languages) or authorized (for
screened languages).
These trainings will be available online and free of charge. Candidates who pass the
written and oral tests for medical interpreters need to complete the orientation for
medical interpreters besides the
ethics training. A certificate (for certified languages) or authorization letter (for screened
languages) will be mailed within a month to those who have met all requirements above
Certification - Answer-For certified languages, certified status will be granted to DSHS
bilingual employees, interpreters,
and translators once they pass the required examinations and complete the required
pre-requisite
trainings. Certificates will be mailed to candidates within a month from the date they
meet all
examination and pre-requisite training requirements. It is the responsibility of the
candidate to inform
LTC of any change of name and address, to check the accuracy of information
presented on the
certificate, and to contact LTC if a certificate is not received within the normal time
frame.
Test Evaluation Oral Test (Sight Translation) - Answer-Objective evaluation (80%):
Pronunciation --- phoneme, tone, stress, intonation
Fluency --- hesitation, fragmentation, incomplete sentence
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The written test (90 Minutes) - Answer-The written test for medical interpreters has five
sections, all-in multiple-choice formats.
Section one — code of ethics: In this section, statements regarding professional code of
conduct are written in the English language, and the candidate will need to determine
whether each statement is true or false.
Section two — medical terminologies: This section covers such areas as parts of the
body, symptoms, disease/illness/injury/physical disorder, treatment, prescription,
medical personnel, and miscellaneous health related expressions. All stems in section
two are in the English language while all options are in a non-English language. For
each question, the candidate will
need to identify the target language equivalent of the English word/term in the stem.
Section three — clinical/medical procedures: Both stems and options in this section are
in the English language. The candidate will need to choose from those given options the
one that
best describes each procedure.
Section four — brief writing test in the English language: The candidate will need to
choose an option to best complete each unfinished sentence.
Section five — brief writing test in a non-English language: The format of this section is
exactly the same as that of Section four, except that all items are written in a language
other than English.
The written test total possible score is 150. Candidates must receive 85% or better of
the total
possible score to pass the written test.
Test Day Reminders - Answer-Candidates should bring a picture I.D. to present to the
test proctors at the sign-in desk.
* Candidates should arrive early for sign-in. This will insure that the test will begin and
end on time.
* The written test will begin and end as scheduled. Therefore, if candidates arrive late
for
the written test but still decide to go ahead and take it, they will be taking the test at the
loss of their own time. Late arrival for the oral test may result in loss of the assigned
time slot.
* Reference materials, including dictionaries and any electronic device, will NOT be
allowed for Employee's Test and Interpreter's Test. Answer sheets, pencils, and erasers
will be provided. For Document Translator's Test, reference materials, including
dictionaries, will be allowed. However, electronic devices of any kind will NOT be
allowed.
* Any scratch paper used during the oral test by the candidate for note taking or
otherwise must be submitted to the Test Proctors before the candidate leaves the test
, room.
* Any cheating behavior, if discovered by Test Proctors, may result in the
cancellation of a candidate's eligibility for taking the test.
Test score reporting - Answer-Test scores will normally be available within four (4)
weeks for the written test, and six (6) weeks for the oral test from the test date. Test
scores are considered confidential information and will not be released over the
telephone. Once the scores are available, a score report letter will be mailed to the
mailing address provided by the candidate. If the candidate wishes to have test scores
sent to a
specific organization or individual, the request must be made by the candidate
personally. LTC will verify the candidate by checking identification information, and the
candidate needs to provide the
name and mailing address of the organization or individual to whom the score report
letter will be sent.
Any candidate who has not received a score report letter within the time frame quoted
above should
contact LTC at 800-605-5126.
Once candidates pass the required testing. - Answer-They will be notified how to
complete the required prerequisite
new interpreter/translator orientation and interpreter/translator professional ethics
training before they are considered certified (for certified languages) or authorized (for
screened languages).
These trainings will be available online and free of charge. Candidates who pass the
written and oral tests for medical interpreters need to complete the orientation for
medical interpreters besides the
ethics training. A certificate (for certified languages) or authorization letter (for screened
languages) will be mailed within a month to those who have met all requirements above
Certification - Answer-For certified languages, certified status will be granted to DSHS
bilingual employees, interpreters,
and translators once they pass the required examinations and complete the required
pre-requisite
trainings. Certificates will be mailed to candidates within a month from the date they
meet all
examination and pre-requisite training requirements. It is the responsibility of the
candidate to inform
LTC of any change of name and address, to check the accuracy of information
presented on the
certificate, and to contact LTC if a certificate is not received within the normal time
frame.
Test Evaluation Oral Test (Sight Translation) - Answer-Objective evaluation (80%):
Pronunciation --- phoneme, tone, stress, intonation
Fluency --- hesitation, fragmentation, incomplete sentence
