The LAS is the preferred English language proficiency testing system at AIAN. It is administered to prospective middle and high school systems prior to acceptance at the school. This is to ensure that their English language skills are sufficient for them to enjoy maximum engagement in the classroom and social interaction with their peers and teachers.
For acceptance into Middle School prospective students are to achieve an overall LAS score of Level 3, for High School it is Level 4. Elementary School students are accepted without the language proficiency entrance test but like all non-English speaking background students will be assessed soon after they are enrolled to ensure teachers are aware of their English language skills and how best to help them.

The LAS test measures language proficiency in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. The test for Middle and High School takes approximately two hours.

The Speaking Test is divided into three sections, vocabulary: a) where the student must identify certain objects from pictures and explain their use b) describe what is occurring in a series of pictures c) engage in a conversation with the examiner d) tell a story based on a series of picture prompts.

The Listening Test has students listening to instructions typical of those provided in a class room by a teacher. The students must then choose from a series of prompts which example best coincides with the instructions they have heard.

There are two other sections which require students to listen to a longer passage from which they must answer 3 or 4 questions.

The Reading Test requires students to read and answer questions in a variety of formats addressing four word-analysis skills: identifying rhyming words, applying letter-sound relationships to read English words, applying letter-sound relationships to read English phonemes, and applying knowledge of morphemes and syntax to word meaning.

Students must also read and answer questions in a variety of formats addressing one of two subskills: classify words and demonstrate vocabulary.

Students are then required to read a longer passage and answer associated questions which address three subskills: demonstrating reading comprehension, identifying important literary features of test and applying learning strategies to interpretation.

The Writing Test assess students’ abilities to use three standards associated with writing conventions: using appropriate grammar, using appropriate capitalization and punctuation, and using standard sentence structure.

Students are then required to make a choice between two alternatives and write two sentences about the choice they made.

The final piece of writing is an extended piece of writing. The student is expected to describe, explain, report, compare, narrate, persuade or express their ideas or impressions about the prompt provided.

An overall score based on a marking formula patented by LAS Links is then applied to the raw scores and a final overall score is computed.