Course description

What is CCL test
As part of certain points-based visa applications made to the Department of Home Affairs, individuals who pass the NAATI CCL Test can claim Credentialed Community Language (CCL) points (sometimes referred to as the ‘five bonus points’).


CCL Test Format
CCL tests are conducted from a recording which is played to the candidate by a testing officer. A chime will indicate the end of each segment. Candidates should wait until they hear the chime before providing their response in the other language. The candidate’s responses are recorded for marking. The recording will include two dialogues. Each test dialogue is based on a conversation between an English speaker and a speaker of your LOTE (Language other than English).
The testing officer will pause the test recording at each chime and allow the candidate to complete their response to the segment. The testing officer will restart the recording and play the next segment only when the candidate has finished.
The dialogues used within the test will reflect real-life domains which typically form part of daily life in Australian society. This may include health, legal, community, immigration/settlement, education, social services, financial, housing, business, employment, insurance or consumer affairs situations.
In the test, the candidate is required to transfer the meaning of what is said by each speaker into the other language (i.e. English into LOTE and LOTE into English). Each dialogue is about 300 words, approximately half in English and half in LOTE. These are divided into segments that do not exceed 35 words each.
The dialogues are designed to assess the candidate’s ability to serve as a channel of communication between two persons who do not speak the same language.


Test Assessment
Two significant factors that contribute to the CCL Assessment Test are:

  • Language Quality
  • Language Register



    • ‘Language Quality’ refers to a candidate’s competency in both English and LOTE and, ‘Language Register’ refers to the level of formality with which a candidate transfers the meaning.
    CCL test is assessed individually by two examiners using a Deductive Marking System. Here, the type of errors in a candidate’s performance is taken into account by the examiners. Based upon the impact of these errors on the actual meaning of a sentence or a dialogue, the marks are deducted.


    Errors for which the examiners deduct a candidate’s score are:

  • Accuracy (correctness of information)
  • Distortions (misrepresentation of information)
  • Omissions (removal of information)
  • Insertions (addition of information)

    • If two or three of these errors are detected per dialogue, the examiner declares the result as FAIL.

    Candidates must be able to

  • Participate effectively in exchanges where relatively simple information is exchanged without any great deviation from the norms of pronunciation, with reasonable accuracy, the standard of expression, style and register; and
  • Give the sense of what is said by the speakers and demonstrate good quality language in both English and the LOTE.



    • How the test is marked
    Each dialogue receives a mark out of 45. In order to pass, a candidate needs to score at least 29 out of 45 for each dialogue and score at least 63 out of 90 overalls.
    When NAATI issues the result for the CCL test it will be based on the mark achieved:

  • PASS: 63 or higher (out of 90)
  • MARGINAL FAIL: between 55 and 62.5 (out of 90)
  • CLEAR FAIL: less than 55 (out of 90)

    • In situations where a candidate achieves 23 out of 45 in Dialogue 1, 41 out of 45 in Dialogue 2 and an Overall Score of 64 out of 90, the result given will be CLEAR FAIL as the candidate hasn’t achieved the required score in Dialogue 1 (i.e. 29).


    Difference between CCL test and previous NAATI test
    Compare to other NAATI tests, CCL enjoys many advantages; saving your time, money and effort.

  • You do not have to do the 1) ethical test 2) Intercultural test in CCL test
  • You only need to do the interpreting test for approx. 20-25 minutes in CCL test (2 dialogues)
  • CCL test doesn’t allow you to work as an interpreter. NAATI Test does allow you to work



    • Offered Languages

    Arabic Filipino Korean Nepali Thai Vietnamese
    Bangka French Italian Punjabi Turkish Macedonian
    Burmese Hindi Khmer Spanish Sinhalese
    Cantonese Indonesian Malay Portuguese Urdu
    Czech Japanese Mandarin Tamil Persian


    What we will cover
    In this course we will train you very specifically with transcripts and examples from your native language, so you can easily understand the explanation of all types of possible errors in interpreting.
    You are expected to have a moderate level of competency in English as well as your language. We can only help you with the comprehension errors of the source speech and the possible interpreting techniques to convey that sense of meaning.


    Course Content

  • Common types of interpreting errors in interpreting from English to LOTE
  • Major techniques to convey one speech from LOTE to English and vice versa


    • Course Objective

  • Students will understand major techniques to convey one source speech from one language to the target speech in another language.
  • Students are provided with knowledge about common types of interpreting errors to avoid making them in CCL Test
  • Students will learn tips and strategies to handle the test Who should attend?
  • People who want to get extra 5 points for their residency application
  • People who intend to take a CCL Test and have a rough understanding of the test
  • University Students who want to gain a better understanding of translation & interpreting



    • Course Details
    Duration Class size Where Fee
    Time Requirement
    6 weeks x 3 hours (face to face) OR 1.5 hours (Online) 8 – 10 students
    In campus, Online
    $795 (including all materials and Mock test)
    Refer to individual language group* IELTS ≥ 6.5 or PTE > 65
    Contact us via email: nas@ptestudycentre.com.au or call 0448 074 373 for further enquiries.


    Frequently asked questions:
    Is the trainer native speaker?
    Yes, the trainer for all of our courses is a native speaker who works full time as an Interpreter or Translator in respective fields.
    Does the course fee include the course materials?
    Yes, the course fee includes the course materials, so you don’t need to pay anything extra.
    I am not good at learning a language, but I want to try. Do you think I can do it?
    We strongly believe that everyone can learn it with accurate strategy. Our aim is to help students, who have different learning style and capacity, learn their native languages and reach their goal.


    Important Notice
    Usually, for all CCL Courses, the demand is not always high therefore if it is less than 3 students in the course it will be conducted ONLINE. However, ONLINE classes are even more convenient (one to one live session through SKYPE/WHATSAPP, schedule your own time). Please kindly always put your TEST DATE in the comment of your enrollment form. So we can decide what is the latest date we can open the course for you. Please Note:
    – The enrolment fee must be paid at least one week in advance of the course commencement date.
    – If face to face class does not have enough students, we may re-schedule the course to get more enrolment or still offer the course for 3- 4 students with a slightly smaller number of hours with the original agreement.
    -This course is not run by NAATI and we are not affiliated with NAATI nor do we represent NAATI. Completing this course does not grant you with NAATI accreditation.
    -PTE Study Centre only helps you, through this CCL preparation course, to prepare for your CCL exam (for 5 migration points).
    After you finish the course, you need to sit for the TEST and obtain your CCL POINTS from NAATI.
    NAATI contact number: 1300 557 470