City of Ottawa - Language Proficiency Levels
Beginner level - step 1
Oral expression
Uses a few isolated words and memorized expressions of two or three words with little accuracy. Isolated words only. Pronunciation is unintelligible. No Fluency.
Oral comprehension
Understands a few isolated words and simple short sentences on personal topics, spoken slowly, with frequent repetitions in face-to-face situations.
Reading comprehension
Reads and understands words on familiar topics.
Writing
Writes words on personal topics with little accuracy.
Beginner level - step 2
Oral expression
Uses a few simple, unconnected sentences on personal and general topics with little accuracy. Pronunciation difficulties impede comprehension significantly. Vocabulary is limited to personal experience and one or two general topics. Delivery has long pauses. Often repeats self.
Oral comprehension
Understands slow and simple speech on personal and general topics, with frequent repetitions in face-to-face situations.
Reading comprehension
Reads and understands words and simple/complex sentences in short general texts.
Writing
Writes words and simple sentences on personal and general topics with little accuracy.
Beginner level - step 3
Oral expression
Uses linked simple and complex sentences on personal and general topics with frequent errors. Pronunciation difficulties may significantly impede comprehension. Conversations are limited. Can speak, in simple terms, about personal experiences and some general topics. Delivery is slow and uneven.
Oral comprehension
Understands slow and simple speech on personal, general, and some work-related topics, with frequent repetitions in face-to-face situations.
Reading comprehension
Reads and understands short paragraphs on general and some work-related topics with clarification.
Writing
Writes simple and complex sentences to form paragraphs on personal and general topics with little accuracy.
Intermediate level - step 1
Oral expression
Uses linked simple and complex sentences on personal/ general and simple work-related topics with frequent errors. Pronunciation difficulties may often impede comprehension. Speaks on familiar personal and general topics at a descriptive level. Demonstrates some knowledge of work-related vocabulary but does not appear comfortable using it yet. Delivery is hesitant and jerky, with numerous unnatural pauses.
Oral comprehension
Understands simple speech spoken at close to normal rate on personal/general and some work-related topics with frequent repetitions in face-to-face situations.
Reading comprehension
Reads and understands paragraphs made up of simple and complex sentences on general and some work-related topics with some clarification.
Writing
Writes simple and complex sentences on general and some work-related topics with frequent grammatical and spelling errors.
Intermediate level - step 2
Oral expression
Uses complex sentences on general and work-related topics with frequent errors. Makes self-understood in some routine work situations. Pronunciation difficulties may sometimes impede comprehension. Use of basic general and work-related vocabulary. Frequent use of English words. Can be understood in some routine work-related situations. Delivery is frequently hesitant, with some unevenness caused by rephrasing and searching for words.
Oral comprehension
Understands speech delivered at a normal rate on personal, general, and routine work-related topics in different situations, with frequent repetitions.
Reading comprehension
Reads and understands the gist of texts on general and some work-related topics.
Writing
Writes simple and complex sentences to form paragraphs on general and some work-related topics with frequent grammatical and spelling errors.
Intermediate level - step 3
Oral expression
Uses complex sentences in general and work-related situations with frequent errors. Makes self-understood in most routine work situations. Pronunciation difficulties rarely impede comprehension. Use of enough vocabulary to express self on personal, general, and routine work-related topics. Occasional use of circumlocutions. Some use of English words. Can be understood in most routine work situations. Delivery is occasionally hesitant. Some use of rephrasing when there is uncertainty as to appropriate words and structures.
Oral comprehension
Understands speech delivered at a normal rate on personal, general, and routine work-related topics in different situations with occasional repetition.
Reading comprehension
Reads and understands some details in texts on a variety of general and work-related topics.
Writing
Writes simple and complex sentences to form paragraphs on general and work-related topics with frequent grammatical or spelling errors.
Advanced level - step 1
Oral expression
Uses complex structures in general and some unexpected and complex work situations with frequent errors. Makes self-understood in all routine work situations. Errors in pronunciation do not impede comprehension. The use of work-related vocabulary enables dealing with unexpected and complex work-related situations with some hesitation. May resort to English words or circumlocutions. Can be understood in all routine work situations. Delivery is relatively effortless. The candidate hesitates on unfamiliar words and structures only.
Oral comprehension
Understands speech delivered at the normal rate in different situations on personal, general, and work-related topics and some rapid speech on personal and general topics.
Reading comprehension
Reads and understands most details in texts on a variety of general and work-related texts.
Writing
Writes complex sentences on general and work-related topics with occasional grammatical and spelling errors.
Advanced level - step 2
Oral expression
Uses complex structures in general and all work-related situations with frequent errors but always makes self-understood. No conspicuous mispronunciations. The use of work-related vocabulary enables dealing with unexpected and complex work-related situations with some hesitation. Delivery is usually effortless but perceptibly non-native in speed and evenness. Rare hesitations when searching for a specific work-related word.
Oral comprehension
Understands most rapid speech on personal, general, and work-related topics in different situations. May experience some difficulty with work-related topics when slurred speech is involved.
Reading comprehension
Reads and understands details in a variety of complex texts on general and work-related topics.
Writing
Writes complex sentences with detailed reasoning on general and work-related topics with occasional grammatical or spelling errors.
Advanced level - step 3
Oral expression
Uses complex structures in all types of situations with occasional errors. Close to native-like pronunciation. The use of work-related vocabulary enables dealing with all work-related situations comfortably. Delivery is almost as effortless and smooth as a native speaker.
Oral comprehension
Understands all rates of speech and slurred speech on general and work-related topics in all situations.
Reading comprehension
Reads and understands all types of texts.
Writing
Writes general and work-related texts with few errors.