Summary of Language Proficiency Level Descriptors |
| |
Skill |
Score |
Description |
Listening |
4 |
Sufficient comprehension to meet most basic survival needs. Comprehends and follows simple commands, directives and instructions related to general military situations. Identifies the gist and details of recorded messages such as announcements. Understands directives and instructions such as a brief describing details of a visit containing no more that five key pieces of information. |
Listening |
5 |
Able to function at a basic social level of comprehension. Comprehends and states specific data from the initial phrase of a recorded interview and comprehends and identifies the gist of and main ideas from a short recorded conversation between two participants. |
Listening |
6 |
Able to satisfy all basic social needs and a limited number of work-related requirements. Comprehends and identifies key points from short briefs on work-related topics. Comprehends and states specific data from recorded interviews between two participants. Comprehends and identifies the gist of and main ideas from a recorded conversation between two participants. |
Listening |
7 |
Able to adequately cope with most work-related requirements. Accurately follows discussions and social conversation, provided it involves familiar, non-abstract subject matter. Struggles to follow discussion of abstract subject matter. Has some difficulty following rapid conversation involving idiomatic language and slang. Fully comprehends lectures on strategic or academic matters in own areas of expertise. |
Listening |
8 |
Very effective listener in all spheres. Comprehends all key details of briefs and public lectures on non-abstract, general topics, both military and non-military. Demonstrates some ability to comprehend presentations on abstract topics. Can follow and take an effective part in most discussions and social conversation although may have some difficulty taking part in discussion on unfamiliar abstract subject matter. |
Listening |
9 |
Highly effective listener in all spheres. Takes an effective part in all discussions, both abstract and non-abstract, and social conversation, on any topics. Strong sensitivity to nuance, subtlety and culture-bound expression. Able to comprehend briefs and lectures on any topic, both abstract and non-abstract subject matter and informal and social conversations/discussions on any topic. |
Reading |
4 |
Sufficient comprehension to satisfy most survival and some social needs. Identifies gist and key information from texts dealing with very familiar social or work-related topics. Identifies all key information in routine military orders. Requires constant use of a dictionary to ascertain word meaning. Comprehends passages of up to 100 words in length, routine orders containing no more than five key pieces of information on routine military-related subjects, and handwritten or printed texts. |
Reading |
5 |
Sufficient comprehension to cater for most social and a limited number of work-related needs. Identifies main ideas and key information from articles dealing with current issues or events. Demonstrates understanding of operating instructions for uncomplicated pieces of equipment. Requires frequent use of a dictionary to ascertain word meaning. Comprehends passages of up to 200 words in length and sequenced simple instructions for tasks such as operating equipment. |
Reading |
6 |
Sufficient comprehension to deal with most simple work-related needs. Identifies gist and summarises most key points of a newspaper editorial on familiar topics. Identifies and correctly orders key points of a short text describing a detailed procedure. Uses contextual clues to predict (missing) vocabulary from a short passage. |
Reading |
7 |
Sufficient comprehension to adequately deal with all work-related needs. Able to identify the main ideas, supporting details and specific information in Service essays and articles on non-abstract, general military topics. Able to recognise and deduce the meaning of some subtlety, inference and bias. Able to use word attack skills to decode difficult vocabulary although may require frequent use of a dictionary when reading more complex texts. Able to read Service essays and articles, texts of moderate to high linguistic density containing common military expressions, technical language, jargon and idiomatic expressions up to 35 words in length. |
Reading |
8 |
Very effective reader. Able to use skimming and scanning, correctly identifies gist and main ideas, and when using detailed reading correctly identifies most key information. Able to paraphrase and summarise correctly presenting all key points and most supporting detail. Able to deduce most subtleties, inference and bias in complex texts on Defence related topics and identifies indirect quotes. Able to use contextual clues and other word attack skills to decipher meaning of specialist or unfamiliar vocabulary. Able to read texts of up to 700 words in length and extended texts in own field of expertise. |
Reading |
9 |
Highly effective reader. Uses skimming and scanning, correctly identifies gist, main ideas and all key information. Able to paraphrase and summarise presenting all key points and supporting details. Recognises and readily deduces subtle meaning, inference and bias in complex texts on both Defence-related and general topics. Able to use contextual clues and other word attack skills to decipher meaning of specialist or unfamiliar vocabulary. Able to read texts of any length on any topic, abstract or non-abstract, and extended texts in own field of expertise. |
Speaking |
4 |
Limited communicative effectiveness with strong reliance on context to convey meaning. Range and accuracy are restricted and both speaker and interlocutors may experience frustration due to the slow and difficult nature of interactions. Non-verbal language often used to assist communication. Can state basic facts about self, family and work. Gives simple directions and makes very basic comparisons between two situations. |
Speaking |
5 |
Communication is effective when talking about familiar topics. When dealing with unfamiliar areas, communication is inconsistent and meaning is only partially transmitted. Tone and style may often seem inappropriate. Provides detailed information and takes part in conversations on familiar subjects eg. self, family, work, military, weather, environment. |
Speaking |
6 |
Communication is generally effective although attempts to communicate subtle meanings fail. Tone and style may at times appear inappropriate or strongly influenced by the native language. Uses longer, more complex grammatical structures although syntactical errors may frequently occur and occasionally inhibit communication of meaning. Flow of speech may be interrupted while speaker searches for appropriate vocabulary. Able to provide detailed information on familiar subjects, present an account of a simple procedure or event, gives opinions during conversations, can outline key points of a brief on concrete topics only. |
Speaking |
7 |
Confidently and effectively communicates meaning across most social registers and the more familiar specialist register. Demonstrates cultural sensitivity and although style may appear 'foreign', the speaker readily engages the listener. Able to give presentations, military briefs and takes part in conversations on familiar military, academic or general topics. |
Speaking |
8 |
Highly effective in communicating meaning in most situations. Non-verbal language is used effectively and the speaker displays a sophisticated awareness of registers and cultural features of English. Speech is impressive and fluent, the speaker rarely has to grope for a word and moves between registers and topics with ease. Able to give presentations and military briefs on familiar military and academic topics. Able to take part in conversations on any topic |
Speaking |
9 |
Highly effective in communicating meaning in all situations. The speaker has complete register flexibility and both verbal and non-verbal language is culturally and situationally appropriate. Virtually no syntactical error. Language is varied, flexible and creative across all registers. Speech is free flowing, flexible and spontaneous with apparent effortless use of language. Pronunciation, intonation, stress, rhythym and accent appear completely natural. Able to give oral presentations of any type and on any topic, prepared or unprepared. Able to converse on any topic with abstract or concrete subject matter. |
Writing |
4 |
Able to satisfy most survival needs and some social requirements. Meaning is adequately communicated in simple structures but longer texts frequently lack logical sequencing and content is simplistic and poorly developed. The reader may experience strain and the meaning is sometimes obscured even after several readings. Able to form very simple sentences although syntactical errors regularly occur. Vocabulary is limited and its usage inconsistent although the writier is able to use words from outside familiar tasks and experiences. Words are commonly misspelt and punctuation errors frequently occur. Able to complete simple forms, notes and descriptions |
Writing |
5 |
Able to satisfy social and personal needs and a limited number of work-related requirements. The writing may fall short of fulfilling the task due to overall lack of cohesion, the number of grammatical errors and lexical limitations. A few main ideas are communicated but, in general, content is insufficient and may be poorly developed. Able to write short simple passages consisting of more than one paragraph on very familiar or work-related topics with some evidence of logical sequencing of information. Able to use simple but appropriate formats for letter writing although errors in layout and usage may occur. |
Writing |
6 |
Communicates adequately on familiar subjects and on work-related, concrete topics. Main ideas and supporting details are evident although writing may seem undeveloped or inconsistent with occasional strain for the reader. Able to use complex sentences although with numerous syntactical errors. Vocabulary is sufficiently broad to cover most areas although inappropriacies of word choice often occur. Able to use some circumlocution to cover gaps in vocabulary. Letter writing uses appropriate formats with only minimal errors in layout and usage. |
Writing |
7 |
Competently handles all personal, social and work-related requirements. Communicates thoughtfully and with some depth on a range of subjects. Main ideas and supporting details are clear and text generally shows logical development, any inconsistencies of development place only occasional strain on the reader. Effectively uses a range of language which is sufficiently complex to sustain extended passages of writing. Able to write about non-abstract issues from a number of perspectives and to develop a line of argument although subtleties and nuances are poorly expressed. Aware of appropriate academic conventions eg. paraphrasing, quoting, citing, referencing, logically sequencing ideas. (Writes reports, summaries, academic papers, briefs, research papers and letters with minimal errors in layout and usage.) |
Writing |
8 |
Task is fulfilled across a wide range of subject matter. Writing is very effective with all main ideas and supporting details clearly expressed and clear, convincing conclusions reached. Text is convincing and engaging although tone and style may seem slightly inappropriate or foreign at times. Able to express and support complex and abstract thought, including opinion, hypothesis and argument. Text is well organised and sequenced with information, ideas and arguments logically developed and well linked. Able to structure writing using effective paragraphing. Writes reports, summaries, academic papers, briefs, research papers and letters. |
Writing |
9 |
Writing is thorough and substantive. Ideas, information and opinions are expressed with great skill and ease and are compelling and impressive. Able to compose extended discourse and express and support complex and abstract thought, including opinion, hypothesis and argument. Uses appropriate academic conventions eg. paraphrasing, quoting, citing, referencing, logically sequencing ideas. Information, ideas and arguments are thoroughly developed, balanced and well supported with compelling and impressive conclusions reached. Writes reports, summaries, academic papers, briefs, research papers and letters. |
