Level GENERAL LINGUISTIC RANGE / Fluency Vocabulary Grammar Phonology Cohesion

Overall Spoken Production

C2 Can use a comprehensive and reliable
mastery of a very wide range of
language to formulate thoughts
precisely, give emphasis, differentiate
and eliminate ambiguity. No signs of
having to restrict what he/she wants
to say. Can produce clear, smoothly
flowing well-structured speech with
an effective logical structure which
helps the recipient to notice and
remember significant points.
Can express him/herself Uses with flexibility a Maintains Uses the full range of Can create coherent and
at length with a natural, very broad range of consistent phonological features in the cohesive discourse
effortless, unhesitating vocabulary on unfamiliar grammatical target language with a high making full and
flow. Pauses only to and abstract topics control of wide level of control – including appropriate use of a
reflect on precisely the including idiomatic range of prosodic features such as variety of organisational
right words to express expressions and grammatical forms, word and sentence stress, patterns and a wide
his/her thoughts or to colloquialisms ; shows including complex rhythm and intonation – so range of connectors and
find an appropriate awareness of language. that the finer points of other cohesive devices.
example or explanation. connotative levels of his/her message are clear and A sophisticated and
meaning. precise. Intelligibility and varied range of
effective conveyance and cohesive devices is used
enhancement of meaning are to clearly indicate the
not affected in any way by links between ideas.
features of accent that may
be retained from other
language(s).

C1 Can select an appropriate formulation Can express him/herself Uses a broad Maintains a high Uses the full range of Can produce clear,
from a broad range of language to fluently and vocabulary, including degree of phonological features in the smoothly flowing,
express him/herself clearly, without spontaneously, almost idiomatic expressions grammatical target language with well-structured speech,
having to restrict what he/she wants effortlessly. Only a and colloquialisms, on accuracy; including sufficient control to ensure showing controlled use
to say. conceptually difficult unfamiliar and abstract a range of simple intelligibility throughout. Can of organisational
Can give clear, detailed descriptions subject can hinder a topics allowing gaps to and some complex articulate virtually all the patterns, connectors
and presentations on complex natural, smooth flow of be readily overcome forms. Errors are sounds of the target and cohesive devices.
subjects, integrating sub themes, language. with circumlocutions; rare and difficult to language; some features of A range of cohesive
developing particular points and little obvious searching spot. accent retained from other devices is used to clearly
rounding off with an appropriate for expressions or language(s) may be indicate the links
conclusion. avoidance strategies. noticeable, but they do not between ideas.
affect intelligibility at all.

B2 Can express him/herself clearly and Can communicate Uses a good range of Good grammatical Can generally use appropriate Can use a limited
without much sign of having to spontaneously, often vocabulary for matters control. Uses intonation, place stress number of cohesive
restrict what he/she wants to say. Has showing remarkable connected to his field simple grammatical correctly and articulate devices to link his/her
a sufficient range of language to be fluency and ease of and most general topics. forms and individual sounds clearly. utterances into clear,
able to give clear descriptions, express expression in even Can vary formulation to attempts some Accent tends to be influenced coherent discourse,
viewpoints and develop arguments longer complex avoid frequent complex ones. by other language(s) he/she though there may be
without much conspicuous searching stretches of speech. Can repetition, but lexical Occasional "slips" speaks, but has little or no some "jumpiness" in a
for words, using some complex produce stretches of gaps can still cause or minor flaws in effect on intelligibility. long contribution.
sentence forms to do so. Has a language with a fairly sentence structure
 sufficient range of language to even tempo; although hesitation and may still occur, but Some cohesive devices
describe unpredictable situations, he/she can be hesitant circumlocution. they are rare and are used to indicate the
explain the main points in an idea or as he/she searches for the speaker links between ideas.
problem with reasonable precision. patterns and self-corrects. Does
Can appropriately highlight significant expressions, there are not make mistakes
points and relevant supporting detail. few noticeably long which lead to
Can expand and support ideas with pauses. misunderstanding.
subsidiary points and relevant
examples.
B1 Has enough language to get by, with Can keep going Uses sufficient Generally good Pronunciation is generally Can link a series of
sufficient vocabulary to express comprehensibly, even vocabulary to express control of simple intelligible; can approximate shorter, discrete simple
him/herself with some hesitation and though pausing for him/herself with some forms though with intonation and stress at both elements into a
circumlocutions on topics such as grammatical and lexical circumlocutions on most noticeable mother utterance and word levels. connected, linear
family, hobbies and interests, work, planning and repair is topics pertinent to his tongue influence. Accent is generally influenced sequence of points. Uses
travel, and current events, but lexical very evident, especially everyday life. Errors occur, but it by other language(s) he/she some simple cohesive
limitations cause repetition and even in longer stretches of T is clear what speaks, and this may devices like "and" and
difficulty with formulation at times. free production. he/she is trying to occasionally affect but. Links between ideas
Can reasonably fluently sustain a express. intelligibility. are not always clear.
straightforward description of one of
a variety of subjects within his/her
field of interest, presenting it as a
linear sequence of points.
A2 Has a repertoire of basic language, Can make him/herself Uses sufficient Uses some simple Pronunciation is generally Can link groups of words
which enables him/her to deal with understood in short vocabulary to conduct structures clear enough to be with simple connectors
everyday, concrete situations with contributions, even routine, everyday correctly, but still understood with occasional like "and, "but" and
predictable content, though he/she though pauses, false transactions involving systematically repetition. A strong influence "because".
will generally have to compromise the starts and reformulation everyday situations. makes basic from other language(s)
message and search for words. are very evident. Can mistakes - for he/she speaks on stress,
Frequent breakdowns and construct phrases on example tends to rhythm and intonation
misunderstandings occur in familiar topics with mix up tenses and sometimes affects
non-routine situations. sufficient ease to handle forget to mark intelligibility.
Can give a simple description or short exchanges, agreement.
presentation of people, living or despite very noticeable Sometimes difficult
working conditions, daily routines. hesitation and false to understand.
likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of starts.
simple phrases and sentences linked
into a list.
A1 Has a very basic range of simple, Can manage very short, Uses a basic vocabulary Grammatical Pronunciation can be Can link words or groups
memorized expressions about isolated, mainly of isolated words and structure is limited understood with some effort. of words with very basic
personal details and needs of a pre-packaged phrases related to to words and Can reproduce correctly a linear connectors like
concrete type. utterances. Frequent particular concrete phrases. Errors in limited range of sounds as “and” or “then” or ideas
Can produce simple mainly isolated pausing, false starts and situations. basic patterns and well as the stress on simple, are isolated.
phrases about people and places. simple grammar familiar words and phrases.
reformulations may structures may
impede understanding. impede
understanding.