English Proficiency Assessment

Advanced Intermediate High Beginner Low Beginner

 Exhibits strong control of  Uses complex sentences but may exhibit  Handles short sentences well and with some  Makes many errors, but some simple sentences
grammar and vocabulary, making only unevenness in grammar that doesn’t interfere accuracy may be correct
& Vocabulary
Grammatical
Accuracy

occasional errors that do not interfere with with communication  Able to talk about familiar topics, but has limited  Uses limited vocabulary, but has some command
Use

intelligibility  Sufficiently controls most vocabulary with some vocabulary, often searching for or misusing of basic vocabulary in field
 Rarely searches for words searching for words words.

 May have a non-native accent but is almost  Has non-native accent that occasionally hinders  Has a considerable accent and may not always  Is somewhat difficult to understand and may
always comprehensible communication be comprehensible; requires close attention by require considerable attention by the listener
 Generally uses stress, rhythm, and intonation listener  Has problems with pausing, rhythm, stress,
Pronunciation

effectively  Uses some stress, rhythm, and intonation and/or intonation

 Has some problems with consonant and vowel patterns accurately  Has several consonant and vowel sounds that
sounds  Has several consonant and vowel sounds that are distracting to the listener and occasionally
 Omits some word endings but accurately are distracting to the listener, but does not interfere with understandability
pronounces the ones used interfere with understandability  Omits most word endings
 Omits some word endings and often
mispronounces the ones used
 Develops ideas logically and cohesively  Uses some sophisticated transitions to establish  Uses some transitions, mostly simple ones such  Ideas sometimes follow a logical order but fall
Communication of Ideas

 Uses examples and details effectively coherence as first, second… short of coherence
 Paraphrases important ideas  Uses examples and details to clarify points  Ideas follow a logical order, but may leave out  Uses few, if any, transitions
 Answers questions with ease  May use some paraphrasing of important ideas important information  Presents information with underdeveloped or
 Able to use language for more than conveying  May use some examples to clarify points unclear support
field-specific information and answer questions  Has some difficulty conveying information  Has considerable difficulty conveying information
adequately. outside field and answering questions. outside of field or answering questions

 Shows fluency and has command of English  Has fluency but may speak hesitantly or too  Has fluent delivery of erroneous English  Has little fluency
 Sounds enthusiastic & confident slowly/quickly  May exhibit a slight lack of confidence but is  Seems nervous and reluctant to speak
 Demonstrates concern about whether listener  Sounds relaxed and shows a little enthusiasm engaged in the topic  Never initiates conversation
Overall Fluency

understands his/her speech while presenting  Rarely initiates conversation  May frequently pause, hesitate, or repeat
 Initiates conversation  Might demonstrate slight concern about whether  Can converse about concrete ideas but has
 Seems able to converse confidently in both the listener understands his/her speech some difficulty talking about abstract ideas.
concrete and abstract scenarios  Sometimes initiates conversation

 Is able to understand the overall message  Is able to understand main ideas and most  Is able to interpret most conversations in  Is able to understand only simple face to face
and details of an extended discourse on a supporting detail relating to everyday standard English conversation
Comprehension

wide variety of professional, academic, and conversation and simple academic topics  Is able to identify the main idea of a short  Is able to respond to commands or requests only
Listening

every day topics.  Is able to understand oral instructions listening passage; may need to ask for after several repetitions
clarification
 Is able to understand simple instructions when
presented orally

Overall Rating:
Updated: February 16, 2015
Advanced Intermediate High Beginner Low Beginner
No additional language training Additional language training available Everyday Conversation course upon arrival Additional English language training
required upon arrival to GT to GT required before participating in J Exchange
Program at Georgia Tech