HOME > Candidate > New ICAO English Language Standards
 
LEVEL
EXPERT LEVEL 6
PRONUNCIATION
Pronunciation, stress, rhythm, and intonation, though possibly influenced by the first language or regional variation, almost never interfere with understanding.
STRUCTURE
Both basic and complex grammatical structures and sentence patterns are consistently well controlled.
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary range and accuracy are sufficient to communicate effectively on a wide variety of familiar and unfamiliar topics. Vocabulary is idiomatic, nuanced, and sensitive to register.
FLUENCY
Able to speak at length with a natural, effortless flow.
Varies speech flow for stylistic effect, e.g.to emphasize a point. Uses appropriate discourse markers and connectors spontaneously.
COMPREHENSION
Comprehension is consistently accurate in nearly all contexts and included comprehension of linguistic and cultural subtleties.
INTERACTIONS
Interacts with ease in nearly all situations. Is sensitive to verbal and non-verbal cues, and responds to them appropriately.
 
LEVEL
EXTENDED LEVEL 5
PRONUNCIATION
Pronunciation, stress, rhythm, and intonation, though influenced by the first language or regional variation, rarely interfere with understanding.
STRUCTURE
Basic grammatical structures and sentence patterns are consistently well controlled, Complex structures are attempted but with errors which sometimes interfere with meaning.
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary range and accuracy are sufficient to communicate effectively on common, concrete, and work related topics.
Paraphrases consistently and successfully.
FLUENCY
Able to speak at length with relative ease on familiar topics, but may not vary speech flow as a stylistic device. Can make use of appropriate discourse markers or connectors
COMPREHENSION
Comprehension is accurate on common, concrete and work related topics and mostly accurate when the speaker is confronted with a linguistic or situational complication or unexpected turn of events. Is able to comprehend a range of speech varieties (dialect and/or accent) or registers.
INTERACTIONS
Responses are immediate, appropriate, and informative. Manages the speaker/listener relationship effectively.
 
LEVEL
OPERATIONAL LEVEL 4
PRONUNCIATION
Pronunciation, stress, rhythm, and intonation are influenced by the first language or regional variation but only sometimes interfere with understanding
STRUCTURE
Basic grammatical structures and sentence patterns are used creatively and are usually well controlled, Errors may occur, particularly in unusual or unexpected circumstances, but rarely interfere with meaning.
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary range and accuracy are usually sufficient to communicate effectively on common, concrete and work related topics, Can often paraphrase successfully when lacking vocabulary in unusual or unexpected circumstances.
FLUENCY
Produces stretches of language at an appropriate tempo. There may be occasional loss of fluency on transition from rehearsed or formulaic speech to spontaneous interaction, but this does not prevent effective communication. Can make limited use of discourse markers or connector. Fillers are not distracting.
COMPREHENSION
Comprehension is mostly accurate on common, concrete, and work related topics when the accent or variety used is sufficiently intelligible for an international community of users. When the speaker is confronted with a linguistic or situational complication or an unexpected turn of events, comprehension may be slower or require clarification strategies.
INTERACTIONS
Responses are usually immediate, appropriate and informative. Initiates and maintains exchanges even when dealing with an unexpected turn of events.
Deals adequately with apparent misunderstandings by checking confirming or clarifying.
 
LEVEL
PRE-OPERATIONAL LEVEL 3
PRONUNCIATION
Pronunciation, stress, rhythm, and intonation are influenced by the first language or regional variation and frequently interfere with understanding.
STRUCTURE
Basic grammatical structures and sentence patterns associated with predictable situations are not always well controlled. Errors frequently interfere with meaning.
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary range and accuacy are often sufficient to communicate on common, concrete, or work related topics but range is limited and the word choice often inappropriate. Is often unable to paraphrase successfully when lacking vocabulary.
FLUENCY
Produces stretches of language, but phrasing and pausing are often inappropriate. Hesitations or slowness in language processing may prevent effective communication. Fillers are sometimes distracting.
COMPREHENSION
Comprehension is often accurate on common, concrete, and work related topics when the accent or variety used is sufficiently intelligible for an international community of users of users. May fail to understand a linguistic or situational complication or an unexpected turn of events.
INTERACTIONS
Responses are sometimes immediate appropriate, and informative.
Can initiate and maintain exchanges with reasonable ease on familiar topics and predictable situations.
Generally inadequate when dealing with an unexpected turn of events.
 
LEVEL
ELEMENTARY LEVEL 2
PRONUNCIATION
Pronunciation, stress, rhythm, and intonation are heavily influenced by the first language or regional variation and usually interfere with understanding.
STRUCTURE
Shows only limited control of a few simple memorized grammatical structures and sentence patterns.
VOCABULARY
Limited vocabulary range consisting only of isolated words and memorized phrases.
FLUENCY
Can produce very short, isolated, memorized utterances with frequent pausing and a distracting use of fillers to search for expressions and to articulate less familiar words.
COMPREHENSION
Comprehension is limited to isolated, memorized phrases when they are carefully and slowly articulated.
INTERACTIONS
Response time is slow, and often inappropriate. Interaction is limited to simple routine exchanges.
 
LEVEL
PRE-ELEMENTARY LEVEL 1
PRONUNCIATION
Performs at a level below the Elementary level.
STRUCTURE
Performs at a level below the Elementary level.
VOCABULARY
Performs at a level below the Elementary level.
FLUENCY
Performs at a level below the Elementary level.
COMPREHENSION
Performs at a level below the Elementary level.
INTERACTIONS
Performs at a level below the Elementary level.