ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements

Pre-operational Level 3
Pronunciation Structure Vocabulary Fluency
Pronunciation, stress, Accent at this Pre- Basic grammatical A weak command of Vocabulary range and Gaps in vocabulary Produces stretches of The slowness of
rhythm and intonation operational Level 3 is structures and basic grammatical accuracy are often knowledge and/or language, but phrasing speech flow at this
are influenced by the so strong as to render sentence patterns structures at this level sufficient to choice of wrong or and pausing are often level is such that
first language or comprehension by an associated with will limit available range communicate on non-existent words are inappropriate. communication lacks
regional variation and international predictable situations of expression or result common, concrete or apparent at this level. Hesitations or concision and
frequently interfere community of are not always well in errors which could work-related topics, This has a negative slowness in language efficiency. Long silent
with ease of aeronautical controlled. Errors lead to but range is limited and impact on fluency or processing may pauses frequently
understanding. radiotelephony users frequently interfere misunderstandings. the word choice often results in errors which prevent effective interrupt the speech
very difficult or with meaning. inappropriate. Is often could lead to communication. Fillers flow. Speakers at this
impossible. It should be unable to paraphrase misunderstandings. are sometimes level will fail to obtain
noted that native or successfully when The frequent inability to distracting. the professional
second language lacking vocabulary. paraphrase unknown confidence of their
speakers may be words or in the process interlocutors.
assessed at this level in of clarification makes
cases where a regional accurate
variety of the language communication
has not been impossible.
sufficiently attenuated.

Source: Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements – 2nd edition v2.00
 ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements

Operational Level 4
Pronunciation Structure Vocabulary Fluency
Pronunciation, stress, Operational Level 4 Basic grammatical Operational Level 4 Vocabulary range and An Operational Level 4 Produces stretches of Speech rate at this
rhythm and intonation speakers demonstrate structures and speakers have good accuracy are usually speaker will likely not language at an level may be slowed by
are influenced by the a marked accent, or sentence patterns are command of basic sufficient to have a well-developed appropriate tempo. the requirements of
first language or localized regional used creatively and are grammatical communicate sensitivity to register There may be language processing,
regional variation, but variety of English. usually well controlled. structures. They do not effectively on common, (see glossary on page occasional loss of but remains fairly
only sometimes Occasionally, a Errors may occur, merely have a concrete and work (ix)). A speaker at this fluency on transition constant and does not
interfere with ease of proficient listener may particularly in unusual memorized set of related topics. Can level will usually be able from rehearsed or negatively affect the
understanding. have to pay close or unexpected words or phrases on often paraphrase to manage formulaic speech to speaker’s involvement
attention to understand circumstances, but which they rely but successfully when communication on spontaneous in communication. The
or may have to clarify rarely interfere with have sufficient lacking vocabulary in work-related topics, interaction, but this speaker has the
something from time to meaning. command of basic unusual or unexpected but may sometimes does not prevent possibility of speaking
time. Operational Level grammar to create new circumstances. need clarification. effective a little faster than the
4 is certainly not a meaning as When faced with a communication. Can ICAO
perfect level of appropriate. communication make limited use of recommended rate of
proficiency; it is the They demonstrate local breakdown, an discourse 100 words per minute if
minimum level of errors and infrequent Operational Level 4 markers or connectors. the situation requires
proficiency determined global errors and speaker can Fillers are not (Annex 10, Volume II,
to be safe for air traffic communication is paraphrase and distracting. 5.2.1.5.3 b).
control effective overall. Level negotiate meaning so
communications. While 4 speakers will not that the message is
it is not an Expert level, usually attempt understood. The ability
it is important to keep complex structures, to paraphrase includes
in mind that and when they do, quite appropriate choices of
pronunciation plays the a lot of errors would be simple vocabulary and
critical role in aiding expected resulting in considerate use of
comprehension less effective speech rate and
between two non- communication. pronunciation.
native speakers of
English.

Source: Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements – 2nd edition v2.00
 ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements

Extended Level 5
Pronunciation Structure Vocabulary Fluency
Pronunciation, stress, Extended Level 5 Basic grammatical Extended Level 5 Vocabulary range and Extended Level 5 Able to speak at length Rate of speech and
rhythm and intonation, speakers demonstrate structures and speakers demonstrate accuracy are sufficient speakers may display with relative ease on organization of
though influenced by a marked accent, or sentence patterns are greater control of to communicate some sensitivity to familiar topics but may discourse at this level
the first language or localized regional consistently well complex grammatical effectively on common, register, with a lexical not vary speech flow as approach natural
regional variation, variety of English, but controlled. Complex structures than do concrete and work- range which may not be a stylistic device. Can fluency. Under
rarely interfere with one which rarely structures are Operational Level 4 related topics. sufficient to make use of appropriate
ease of understanding. interferes with how attempted but with speakers and may Paraphrases communicate appropriate discourse circumstances, rates
easily understood their errors which commit global errors consistently and effectively in as broad a markers or connectors. significantly higher
speech is. They are sometimes interferes from time to time when successfully. range of topics as an than the ICAO
always clear and with meaning. using complex Vocabulary is Expert Level 6 speaker, recommended rate of
understandable, structures. The critical sometimes idiomatic. but a speaker with 100 words per minute
although, only difference between the Extended proficiency can be achieved
occasionally, a Level 4 and Level 5 will have no trouble without negatively
proficient listener may requirements concerns paraphrasing whenever affecting intelligibility.
have to pay close the use of basic necessary.
attention. grammatical structures
and sentence patterns
compared to the use of
complex structures
(see the glossary of
basic and complex
structures in Appendix
B, Part IV). At Level 5,
the structure
descriptors refer to
consistent control of
basic structure, with
errors possibly
occurring when
complex structures and
language are used.
There is actually a big
jump between Level 4
and Level 5. Level 5
speakers will have a
more sophisticated use
of English overall, but
will exhibit some errors
in their
use of complex
language structures,
but not in their basic
structure patterns.

Source: Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements – 2nd edition v2.00
 ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements

Expert 6
Pronunciation Structure Vocabulary Fluency
Pronunciation, stress, An Expert Level 6 Both basic and Expert Level 6 Vocabulary range and Level 6 speakers Able to speak at length Fluency at this level is
rhythm and intonation, speaker may be a complex grammatical speakers do not accuracy are sufficient demonstrate a strong with a natural, nativelike or near
though possibly speaker of English as a structures and demonstrate to communicate sensitivity to register. effortless flow. Varies native-like. It is notably
influenced by the first first language with a sentence patterns are consistent global effectively on a wide Another marker of speech flow for stylistic characterized by a high
language or regional widely understood consistently well structural or variety of familiar and strong proficiency effect, e.g. to degree of flexibility in
variation, almost never dialect or may be a very controlled. grammatical errors but unfamiliar topics. seems to be the emphasize a point. producing language
interfere with ease of proficient second- may exhibit some local Vocabulary is idiomatic, acquisition of, and Uses appropriate and in adapting the
understanding. language speaker, errors. nuanced and sensitive facility with, idiomatic discourse markers and speech rate to the
again with a widely to register. expressions and the connectors context of
used or understood ability to communicate spontaneously. communication and the
accent and/or dialect. nuanced ideas. As purposes of the
The speakers’ accent such, use of idioms speaker.
or dialect may or may may be taken into
not identify them as account in assessment
second language procedures designed
users, but the to identify Level 6
pronunciation patterns users in a non-
or any difficulties or radiotelephony
“mistakes” almost context. This is not
never interfere with the however intended to
ease with which they imply that idiomatic
are understood. Expert usages are a desirable
speakers are always feature of aeronautical
clear and radiotelephony
understandable. communications. On
the contrary, use of
idioms is an obstacle to
intelligibility and mutual
understanding between
non-expert users and
should therefore be
avoided by all users in
this environment.

Source: Manual on the Implementation of ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements – 2nd edition v2.00