UNRATEABLE (0)
No communicative capacity, except for an isolated word or phrase.
NOVICE (0+)
Able to satisfy immediate needs using learned utterances.
No real autonomy of expression. Answer simple questions using memorized phrases. Repetition and rephrasing are often necessary. Vocabulary is insufficient for conversation.
BASIC (1)
Able to satisfy basic survival needs and minimum courtesy requirements.
Can ask and answer simple questions. Can understand simple questions and statements if speech is slow. Can provide information and description on familiar topics such as family, leisure, education and employment. Repetition and rephrasing are necessary. Vocabulary is adequate to express most elementary needs. Errors in pronunciation and grammar are frequent.
BASIC PLUS (1+)
Able to satisfy survival needs and participate in informal conversations in areas of personal experience.
Difficulty in participating fully in an informal conversation. Can offer a sequence of comprehensible sentences, but errors in basic structures are frequent. At times, demonstrate some functions at the Intermediate level, but is not able to sustain the conversation at that level.
INTERMEDIATE (2) Audio
Able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements.
Participate fully in informal conversations on personal and topics of interest. Can handle limited, routine and current work requirements, provide information, give explanations, express facts, provide narration, describe, and express opinions. Although the use of language structure is often accurate, grammatical errors do occur and may be distracting. Able to use paraphrasing when vocabulary is inadequate.
INTERMEDIATE PLUS (2+) Audio
Able to participate fully in general conversation.
Able to participate fully in informal conversations in social and work-related contexts. Control of language structures may vary, but communication is usually clear. At times, demonstrates some functions at the Advanced level, but will not be able to sustain the conversation at that level.
ADVANCED (3) Audio
Able to speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations in both professional and social contexts.
Can discuss work-related subjects, educational pursuits and areas of interests with reasonable ease. Can justify an opinion and develop a hypothesis. Control of grammar is generally good, and errors do not impede communication. Vocabulary is adequate to deal with a variety of topics, factual and abstract, with details and precision.
ADVANCED PLUS (3+) Audio
Can speak the language with sufficient ease to participate in formal and informal exchanges in a variety of contexts.
Although there may be occasional errors in grammar and lapses in vocabulary, overall communication is not affected. At times, demonstrates the ability to function at the Superior level, but is not able to sustain the conversation at that level.
SUPERIOR (4)
Able to use the language fluently and accurately in all contexts requiring complex language structures.
Can organize extended discourse with ease and precision in social and professional discussions. The speech is formal and well organized. Demonstrates firm command of grammar and uses complex language structures. The vocabulary is rich, precise and nuanced. Can advise, persuade, negotiate and entertain different points of view.