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# Can LILATE assess a single language skill, such as speaking alone?

This is a question many candidates ask themselves, particularly those who use English (or another language) mainly **for speaking** in their professional life.
The answer is: **no, LILATE does not assess a single, isolated language skill**, such as speaking alone.

### ${color}[#50bd9b](Why doesn't LILATE assess just one skill ? )

**LILATE is a professional certification.**
Its purpose is to measure a candidate's ability to **work effectively in a language**, in a real professional context.
In practice, this involves several skills that can't be separated:
* understanding a situation or a conversation partner,
* interacting orally in a clear and appropriate way,
* using the language consistently in a professional setting.

| Even though speaking is central, it can't be fully assessed on its own without losing the meaning of the certification. This is why LILATE relies on a comprehensive assessment, aligned with recognized certification standards.

### ${color}[#50bd9b](What role does speaking play in LILATE ? )

Speaking plays a central role in LILATE, and **this is a deliberate choice**.
In professional life, the ultimate purpose of mastering a language is very often **spoken communication**: talking with a client, participating in a meeting, understanding instructions, handling an unexpected situation, defending a point of view. Speaking is generally where language skills are most exposed and most decisive.
In addition, usage is evolving. Technology increasingly supports written production: spell-checkers, translators, writing assistance tools, generative AI. On the other hand, **the ability to interact orally in real time remains difficult to compensate for**. It reflects a candidate's actual level far more accurately.

This is why LILATE relies on a video call with a human examiner, through professional role-play scenarios. The assessment focuses in particular on:
* listening comprehension,
* fluency and clarity of expression,
* adaptation to the professional context,
* ability to interact naturally.

Even though speaking is predominant, it's always part of a **comprehensive, coherent assessment**, in line with the requirements of a professional certification.

### ${color}[#50bd9b](What if I only need to assess speaking or writing ? )

In certain contexts, particularly **within a company**, it can be useful to assess one specific skill: speaking only, writing only, or simply to determine a general level.
In that case, it's possible to set up a **custom positioning test via FlashLevel**:
* targeted assessment of a specific skill,
* quick format,
* content tailored to the company's needs.

⚠️ Note: **FlashLevel is not a certification.**
It is a positioning tool, not a certifying test like LILATE.

### In summary

* LILATE does not assess a single, isolated language skill
* It measures the ability to work in a language as a whole
* Speaking is central but part of a complete assessment
* For a targeted need, a custom positioning test is possible, but is not certifying