English Language Proficiency Requirement (LPR)

News Flash: EDB Replaces LPAT with IELTS from 2024

With more than a decade teaching LPAT and 15 years experience helping students prepare for the IELTS exam, Impact Language is uniquely positioned to help Hong Kong teachers achieve the results they need.

The EDB discontinued the LPAT beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. From now on, teachers needing to attain the English Language Proficiency Requirement (LPR) will need to take the IELTS. However, the CLASSROOM LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT (CLA) requirement still exists.  Call us at 3188-0220 or visit our contact page to arrange a sit-down. 

Even with the LPAT gone, we can still help you with the CLA and/or IELTS! We know your concerns, we understand your situation, and we can help you develop the skills you need to hit your targets!

For more info on this page about the switch to IELTS, click here.

Or if you want to find out more about our IELTS programs, just click here to go to our IELTS page.

For details on the latest LPAT scores, scroll down or click here.

Our private and private group (1-1 and 1-2) courses are targeted at helping Hong Kong teachers with the two parts of the test that they generally find most difficult: speaking and writing.

I really like the positive and encouraging learning atmosphere that Jay creates. I failed the LPAT speaking paper 3 times. I could not figure out the reasons why I failed so many times, but Jay could always pick up the details that I missed and help me to improve. Finally, I got a pass after taking 1 on 1 classes with him for less than a year! I am really blessed to have Jay to help me with my LPAT speaking paper. Thank you! Apple Lee (2023)

Elimination of the LPAT and the switch to IELTS

The EDB unexpectedly announced on March 27 that they have eliminated the LPAT and will no longer offer it going forward. So, if you took the LPAT in January / February 2023, smile! You're part of history!

What this means is that if you don't hit your target this year when the results are released in May, you won't have the option (it appears) of just retaking a single paper. You can still request a re-marking and appeal this time around. After that, you'll need to switch to IELTS.

Though the EDB probably could have done a better job and perhaps phased the LPAT out over one or two years, they didn't. There is, however, a positive side. Because the IELTS is offered 48 times a year (more if you do the computer version), you don't have to wait an entire year before trying again. That means you have more opportunities to get feedback and, if you need to, take another test when you feel you're ready.

Click here to go to our IELTS page.

I passed FINALLY!!! Got 3-3.5 in everything. Thank you very much for your patience and thanks again in helping me pass the exam. Ms. Ng (2019)

IELTS Scoring Requirements:

The new scoring requirements are this: 1) to attain the proficiency standard, you need an overall average score of 7.5 with no sub-score less than 7.0; 2) to attain what previously was a "merit" and to be eligible for panel chair positions, you need an average 8.0 with no sub-scores under 7.5.

Is the IELTS Easier?

It seems like many teachers think this will make achieving the proficiency standard easier all around. This may or may not be completely true, though advanced language users will most likely agree.

IELTS writing should be a bit easier than LPAT because there's no need to correct and explain errors. However, the writing tasks are a bit different and do require a slightly different approach. The IELTS speaking test should also be easier because there's no group discussion, and also correct pronunciation does not carry as much weight as there is no reading aloud component. The reading test might be similar or a bit more difficult on IELTS because of the nature of the texts and the questions. The listening paper is probably a little bit easier.

I passed all the papers! Thank you so much for your guidance!!!! Thankssssss! Ms. Heidi S. (2019)

Comparison of DSE and LPAT to IELTS:

There is no direct comparison of the LPAT to IELTS in terms of score comparisons, but the HKEAA does have a score mapping for the 2019 HKDSE and IELTS. Here's how the scores match up (roughly - rounded up to the nearest 0.5):

DSE	IELTS Average	IELTS Reading	IELTS Writing	IELTS Listening	IELTS Speaking
5**	8.5	9	7.5	9	8
5*	8	8.5	7	9	7
5	7.5	8	6.5	8.5	7
4	7	7.5	6.5	8	6.5
3	6.5	7	6	7	6

Based on that and what some folks who've taken both tests have reported, we can figure that LPAT and IELTS will match up more or less as below. If you've taken the IELTS before, then you can compare your scores to this and see how accurate (or not) these estimates are:

LPAT	IELTS
5	9
4.5	8.5
4	8
3.5	7.5
3	7
2.5	6 ~ 6.5

Links to EDB

• If you're interested in reading the official announcement by the EDB, click here: EDB Announcment
• And you can read the press release with additional details here: Press Release (PDF)

And here's yet another link to click to go to our IELTS page!

Last words - and old LPAT info:

For reference, here is the information we have for the LPAT. Though it's not completely relevant anymore, you get an idea of what we do and how we have been helping teachers achieve their language proficiency goals!

LPAT Page Menu. Click below for:

1. Some recent comments by happy customers
2. Results summary for the 2024 LPAT
3. And some more happy customers!
4. Course modules and fee schedule at Impact Language

A selection of recent comments:

Jay is a very passionate and patient teacher. He is willing to help with all his heart and he gives practical advice so that you can do better. Moreover, he gives positive encouragement, which means quite a lot to me because I didn't use English or have formal English practice for 10 years. I was totally not confident at all. But Jay is really a professional teacher who I can trust. Gwen Chan (2023)

Every lesson was fun and engaging! I love how Jay doesn’t simply tell you the grammar rules but he guides you to discover and understand them. The lessons are student-centered and instead of asking you “what”, he asks the “why”. Learning becomes very natural and easy. In the past, I always studied LPAT through memorization but Jay taught me otherwise. I observed myself making significant improvements lesson after lesson! If you’re still unsure about whether you need his lessons, try one with him and I guarantee you that you will understand what I mean! :) Janice Choi (2023) - Merit

The lessons far exceeded my hopes for how I could benefit from them. Jay took the time to understand my goals as a prospective LPAT candidate, and the depth of learning I experienced as a result helped me aim higher and perform better on all papers (I sat for all five!). Whether written or verbal, Jay's feedback and teaching is detailed and thoughtful. If I put in an ounce of effort, he put in 10 ounces' worth in the form of guidance and feedback! And that just made me want to work smarter and do better. :D I'm so glad I came to Impact. Thank you so much for all the time, thought and resources! Ms. N.P. (2023) - Merits (all papers)

The skills I was taught were essential for me to attain the results I needed, and the lesson notes were precise and inspiring. His lessons are suitable for anyone who's looking for a breakthrough in LPAT. Ms. F. Kwok, 2020 LPATE

Results Summary for the 2024 LPAT (May 22, 2024)

The 2024 LPAT was conducted in January and February 2024, and the results released May 22.

The pass rate for speaking dropped again, slightly, while writing improved slightly. Reading and listening showed no significant change again.

The writing paper remained the lowest performer, followed by the speaking test. The fail rate for speaking was about 50% again, and the failure rate for speaking was about 40%. For listening and reading, the failure rates were only around 20%.

It was my 3rd time to take the writing paper and I finally attained it, thanks to Impact. My teacher helped me a lot on preparing for the exam in such a short period of time, from basics to useful techniques. I enjoyed the lessons and appreciated him for giving me confidence to take the exam. If you're interested to take the LPAT exam, I'd recommend Jay without hesitation! Mr. J. Fong (2023)

Data source for 2024: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202405/22/P2024052200150.htm

The reading and listening scores in 2024 were right at the long term average, so nothing unexpected there. The speaking paper had previously increased for three years running but then dropped back both last year and this year. Long-term, we can probably expect about a 60% passing rate in speaking. The writing paper pass rates remain quite stubbornly around 50%.

Averages for 20 years of LPAT (2004-2024)

The average passing rates, from low to high, for the past two decades (wow!) 2004 through 2023, are:

• reading paper: 82%
• writing paper: 45%
• listening paper: 77%
• speaking paper: 54%

Performance in productive skills -- writing and speaking -- is weaker. No surprise there. However, roughly half of all test takers in Hong Kong have failed the writing and speaking portions over the years. The speaking score had improved previously, but writing remains highly problematic.

A side-note for native speakers

You guys are lucky! The LPAT had a grammar terminology section, and that had caused a lot of problems before for those who weren't English majors or weren't really into grammar. But with the switch to IELTS, you don't have to worry about that anymore. We can still help you with the IELTS writing or reading test if you want to get the equivalent of a merit. You need to average an 8 with no single score under 7.5.

In the LPAT, the problem area for native speakers was, almost without fail, task 2B in the writing paper: explanation of errors. If your grammar explanations are along the lines of "well, that's just the way we say it", or if you start sweating at the thought of a student asking for a slightly more formal answer, then you might want a little help.

So, in the past, even native speakers failed the LPAT, and it usually would come as a bit of a shock. You probably won't have that experience in the future with IELTS, though it's probably still better not to plan on winging the test.

If you do need to brush up on grammar explanations for anything else though, we can still help you. Being able to talk confidently about this can improve your career prospects in Hong Kong, and it also makes you look more competent to both your colleagues and your students.

LPAT English and Mandarin -- Total Exam Candidate Numbers:

There has been a moderate sustained decline since 2010 in the number of candidates sitting for the English LPAT. That number rose slightly in 2023 and in 2024, perhaps reflecting perceived opportunities by new teachers or requests by schools for non-English teachers to fill vacancies due to recent emigration trends or educators leaving the field. This is conjecture, though.

On the other hand, EDB stats do show an increase in the percentage of teachers leaving the profession, for whatever reason (retirement, emigration, career change, etc), beginning in the 2021 school year. Leading up to that year, the "wastage" for trained teachers was under 5% each year, and that increased by increased to around 8% and over for secondary and 7% and over for primary since then.

That doesn't mean that total teacher numbers are necessarily declining. Since 2021, there has been a drop of a little over 1000 teachers employed in primary schools, while the number for secondary is basically unchanged, suggesting that there are enough new teachers taking the places of those who leave. These figures are also across all academic subjects, not just English.

What the LPAT results summary really means for you:

The figures show that Hong Kong teachers are generally better at the receptive skills but unfortunately fall short when it comes to the productive skills.

If that describes you, and if you are planning on taking the IELTS now that LPAT has been discontinued, you need to make sure your speaking and writing skills can pass muster. A little guided practice could give you that extra boost you need.

The lessons were highly enjoyable and productive. I admire how my teacher always has a variety of questions to throw back at his students to test and reconsolidate their knowledge. It has been a fun and rewarding few months! Thanks so much for helping me boost my confidence and encouraging me throughout the process. Ms. Maggie W., 2020 LPATE

More comments and results from a few of our test takers

If you're an English teacher planning on taking IELTS to meet your language proficiency requirement, you can be confident knowing that we've been teaching IELTS since 2009 and helping teachers in Hong Kong with the LPAT since 2012. With more than a decade of experience, helping teachers in particular, we know what it takes!

Here's what one of our very happy course-takers (he had taken it multiple times before coming to us for help) said:

Yes!!! I PASSED the writing paper, finally!! The scores were very heartening too - all 3 for the composition and all 4 for the error correction. It was the best birthday present ever!! Of course I wouldn't have such an exciting result without your help and support. I am grateful to have had you to guide me to overcome the LPATE. Thank you sooooooooo much. Mr. M. Mak, 2015 LPATE

And here are more:

The lessons were really practical and straight to the point - specifically targeting our weaknesses and giving us concrete suggestions concerning pronunciation and intonation. Great lessons to help us improve! Ms. T. Sit, 2019 LPATE

Learning with Impact was my great pleasure. My tutor was an enthusiastic teacher who not only taught me the skills and contents of the assessment, but also encouraged me to face difficulties. Thanks, Jay! Ms. J. Wong, 2019 LPATE

The lessons were relaxing and the teacher was encouraging. The teacher could spot my weaknesses in writing and helped me overcome them. I could make improvements in a really short time. Thanks a lot! Ms. T. Wong, 2019 LPATE

Here's a sampling of a few of our other LPATE takers from not long after we started helping teachers prepare for the LPATE:

• Ms. C.Y. Ng attained speaking test scores of 3.5 on most sub-scores and 4s "Reading aloud with meaning" and "Discussing educational matters with peers": "I'm happy with what I've got. The proficiency requirement was attained. I'm happy that I didn't get any 2.5 or 3 :) Thanks for your tutoring!!!!!"
• Mr. W.T Law, an HKU student preparing for a career in education, said: "Thanks for your care and support. I got 3.5 in all areas (except a 3 in discussing educational matters). It is better than last year and better than I expected!"
• Mr. KS Luk struggled with the speaking test but said: "This is the best result I have ever had. And the total score reveals a big jump over last year."

The results of the LPATE speaking were beyond my expectations: Pronunciation 3, reading with meaning 3.5, grammar 4, organization 4, interacting with peers 3.5, and discussing educational issues 4.

Without your teaching, I could not have had the results I wanted. I feel very lucky to have attended the lessons with you in Impact Language as you helped me come closer to my goal! Joseph C. 2014 LPATE

2024 LPAT Exam Dates

The LPATE tests are usually scheduled around the Chinese New Year holiday. The Reading, Listening, and Writing (RLW) tests are held prior to CNY and the Speaking test after CNY, most often in the last week of February.

	Dates
CNY Holidays in 2024	February 10-13, 2024
Reading / Listening / Writing	January 28 (Sunday)
Speaking	Feb 26 to Mar 1 (Mon-Fri)
CLA	Oct 30 '23 - Apr 3 '24

Registration Dates for the 2024 LPAT

Registration for the LPAT is in September of each year. Registration can ONLY be done via the Internet. The HKEAA no longer accepts hard copies of entry forms. The registration dates for the 2024 LPAT were released very late (just a few days before the start of registration). The registration dates for the past several years are included here for future reference:

• 2022 LPAT: Sept. 1 (09:00) - 20, 2021 (21:59)
• 2023 LPAT: Sept. 6 (09:00) - 19, 2022 (21:59)
• 2024 LPAT: Sept. 8 (09:00) - 22, 2023 (21:59)

For more details and a link to the online registration form, simply click here to go to the registration page on the HKEAA website.

Impact Language - LPAT Course Modules

• Module 1 - Speaking - Reading Aloud
• Module 2 - Speaking - Recounting / Presenting
• Module 3 - Writing - Essay Writing
• Module 4 - Writing - Correcting and Explaining Error in Student Writing
• Module 5 - Reading - Comprehension and Decoding Skills

The teacher was knowledgeable, approachable, and friendly, and he taught in an interesting manner. He used an interesting method to teach stress and intonation, and through his instruction, I have become more aware of stress and intonation in speaking and reading aloud in English. H.Y. Chan, Secondary School Teacher

Course Notes and Fee Schedule:

Choose what you wish to study. Most test candidates focus on either speaking or writing, but you may do both. You may also take lessons as often as you like, though there is a minimum of once a week.

Our LPAT courses are available during the daytime between 12 noon and 5:00 PM and on select evenings on a limited basis. We have a limited number of slots on Saturdays.

Course	Class Length	Lessons	Fee* - Off Peak	Fee* - Peak
		4	$600	$650
LPAT	50 Minutes	8	$550	$600
		12	$525	$575

*NOTES:

• The above rates are on a PER LESSON basis. For each additional student add $50 / lesson.
• Peak hours are after 5:00 PM and all day Saturday.
• These rates for reference only and may change without notice.
• Off-peak rates become unavailable to new students 50 days prior to first exam.
• Single lessons are priced a flat rate of $700-$750 / lesson.

Please note that all options have a time limit. The course length, in consecutive weeks, cannot be more than the number of lessons you purchase, and the maximum course length is 8 weeks from the start date.

I wanted to learn "natural" English, and that's why I came to Impact Language. I saw a definite improvement in my English, and the teacher was very keen on helping students, so I would certainly recommend that others try here! Ms. C.L. Ng, Primary School Teacher

Each lesson lasts for 50 minutes with the last 5 minutes for wrapping up and exiting the classroom. Classes start on time, so students should try to arrive at least 5 minutes early.

Fees are paid in advance. Lessons that fall on a public holiday can be rescheduled to an alternate day or the following week.

Other Courses

We can also help you if you want to prepare for IELTS or perhaps an exciting new job interview. And if you just want to work on improving general conversation skills - a must for career development! - then join one of our fun small group discussion classes.