Au Pair in America iTEP English Ability Guide

Use this table to see at a glance howwell an individual can use English
to communicate in the “real world” at each of Au Pair in America iTEP’s seven levels.

LEVEL LISTENING SPEAKING

• Comprehends overall meaning and • Communicates accurately and effectively

virtually all details of discussions and on virtually any topic
6 conversations on diverse topics
ADVANCED
• Speaks in a culturally appropriate manner
• Often infers meaning of unfamiliar • Pronunciation is close to that of native speakers
vocabulary fromcontext

• Grasps main ideas and most details from • Expresses moderately complex ideas
5 discussions and conversations, especially • Exhibits some errors in grammar, word choice,
ADVANCED those on familiar topics and cultural appropriateness
(LOW) • Grasps many complex social and • Pronunciation demands only slight extra
cultural references effort fromlisteners

• Understands main ideas fromdiscussions • Expresses some abstract concepts, especially

4 and conversations, but may miss some on familiar topics
INTERMEDIATE significant details • Fluency may be affected by gaps in vocabulary,
(HIGH)
• Occasionally needs to ask for repetition grammar
or clarification • Is sometimes asked to repeat words or phrases

• Grasps general outline of topics discussed • Manages day-to-day communications in most

in everyday conversations, but complex settings, although speech contains some errors
3 structures and higher-level vocabulary in grammar and vocabulary
INTERMEDIATE
are challenging • Pronunciation may require extra effort from
listeners

2
• Understands very basic exchanges when • Generates simple questions, greetings,
spoken slowly using simple vocabulary expressions of needs, and preferences
INTERMEDIATE
(LOW) • May require repetition and non-verbal • Pronunciation may occasionally obscure
cues to enhance understanding meaning

1
• Understands simple greetings, statements, • Communicates with single words and short
and questions when spoken with extra phrases at a "survival" level
ELEMENTARY
clarity • Considerable listener effort may be required

0 • Understands a fewisolated words or • Produces a few, isolated words and phrases

phrases spoken slowly • Pronunciation is frequently unintelligible
BEGINNING

Abilities described are for the typical Au Pair in America iTEP test-taker.
The International Test of English Proficiency is developed by Boston Educational Services. Please visit us on the webat www.bostoneducational.com.

© 2011 by Boston Educational Services, LLC. All rights reserved. CMD-AP0511