Proficiency Level Descriptions

The Scale of Second Language Proficiency Levels for the College Student describes the development of second language proficiency in 10 levels. For each level, it defines what the learner is able to understand orally and in writing.

The proficiency test is made up of a number of items divided into two categories:

• Items that focus on audio recordings and measure the respondent’s degree of proficiency in oral comprehension;
• Items that focus on texts and measure the respondent’s degree of proficiency in written comprehension.