The benefits of language verification

Toloka is an international platform where authors from all over the world post tasks, and Tolokers from different countries perform them. The platform has tasks in several languages.

Initially, Tolokers indicate the languages in which they are ready to perform tasks in their profile. This step determines which tasks they will see in the feed. However, often specifying the language is not enough to allow access to projects in a certain language. Tolokers need to verify languages to:

• Get access to more projects.For example, tasks of external platforms are only open to Tolokers with verified languages. Authors of projects posted on Toloka are also increasingly adding this criterion when selecting Tolokers.
• Get access to tasks with higher rewards. Usually, payment is higher for projects in a rare language or with high literacy requirements. In order for such atypical tasks to be performed well their authors are also looking for performers with proven knowledge—the better the Toloker's language skill, the more responsible and highly paid tasks will be available to them.

There are two types of tests available in Toloka to confirm language proficiency. Let's see where to find them and how they differ.

Step one: comprehension test

This is a test that checks a Toloker's basic understanding of the language. Can they read the instructions without using online translation tools? Will they understand the task correctly? Can they handle simple actions like marking, sorting, and classifying goods? If the Toloker speaks the language at a conversational level but is not perfect at grammar and punctuation, the test will be easy to pass.

How to find the test in Toloka:

• In the profile. If there is a text for the chosen language, then the "Confirm knowledge" button will appear on the language card.

• In the task feed. It is possible to use the "Language test" filter on the right of the task feed to find all the available tests.

The tests are available for the following languages:

Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Ukrainian, Hungarian, and Chinese (Simplified). We are gradually adding new languages.

What opportunities does it open up?

Simple tasks in the selected language and tasks on external platforms.

Test Features:

• Tolokers are given 2 minutes to pass the test. During the test Tolokers are asked to match numbers and figures, and sort pictures by description.
• It is better not to select and verify more than 3 languages. Some task authors do not assign tasks to performers who have identified too many languages in their profiles and passed a lot of tests. It is unclear at what level Toloker knows each language. Therefore, if there are more than three confirmed languages, the Toloker may lose access to some of the tasks.
• If the test is failed, it is possible to try again in 3 months. A card in the profile will indicate the date when the test opens for a retake. Tolokers can use this time to improve language skills.

Where the test result is indicated

The result is shown immediately on the language card in the profile. There are only two statuses: the test may be passed or failed.

Step two: grammar test

This is a more difficult test that evaluates the Toloker's in-depth knowledge of the language. Grammar test tasks verify not only the understanding of the text but also the knowledge of spelling and punctuation in a foreign language.

How to find the grammar tests in Toloka

You can access the grammar test only after successfully taking the basic comprehension test. Grammar tests can be found in the task feed. Select the "Requester: Toloka" filter on the right to see the available tests.

Grammar tests are available for the following languages: English, French, German, and Spanish.

What opportunities does the test open up?

The grammar test opens up difficult tasks that require special language skills, such as translation and proofreading projects.

Features of the grammar test that are worth knowing about

• A Toloker is given 15 to 30 minutes to complete the test, depending on the complexity of the language.
• The test consists of 9 tasks, and the worker needs to complete all the tasks correctly to pass the test successfully.
• There is only one attempt to pass the test, and Toloka workers cannot retake the test.

Tip: If you are unsure about the answers, it is better not to submit the task and close the test. This will not affect your stats or skills in any way. Review the topics that were difficult, such as vocabulary, punctuation marks, and grammatical connectives, and try taking the test later.

Where to see test results

The test result will appear in the profile, in the Skills block, under the language cards. There are two possible values: 100 - test passed successfully, 0 - test failed.

Summary: things to keep in mind about language tests in Toloka

• There are two types of language tests in Toloka: a simple one for basic understanding of the language and a complex grammatical one.
• It is not recommended to identify more than three languages in the profile and pass more than three language tests.
• The grammar test is available only after successfully taking the basic test. Grammar tests are more complex and require better language knowledge.
• If you fail the basic test, you can retake it in three months. You cannot retake the grammar test.
• It is not allowed to use online translation services when taking language tests.
• Tolokers who pass language tests successfully get more tasks with potentially higher rewards.