CAO language proficiency scale

1
ICAO LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY RATING SCALE
LEVEL PRONUNCIATION
Assumes a dialect and/or
accent intelligible to the
aeronautical community.
STRUCTURE
Relevant grammatical
structures and
sentence patterns are
determined by
language functions
appropriate to the
task.
VOCABULARY FLUENCY COMPREHENSION INTERACTIONS
Expert
6
Pronunciation, stress,
rhythm, and intonation,
though possibly influenced
by the first language or
regional ariation, almost
neer interfere ith ease
of understanding.
Both basic and
complex grammatical
structures and
sentence patterns are
consistently ell
controlled.
Vocabulary range and
accuracy are sufficient
to communicate
effectiely on a ide
ariety of familiar and
unfamiliar topics.
Vocabulary is
idiomatic, nuanced, and
sensitie to register.
Able to speak at length
ith a natural, effortless
flo. Varies speech flo
for stylistic effect, e.g. to
emphasize a point. Uses
appropriate discourse
markers and connectors
spontaneously.
Comprehension is consistently
accurate in nearly all contexts and
includes comprehension of
linguistic and cultural subtleties.
Interacts ith ease in
nearly all situations. Is
sensitie to erbal and
non-erbal cues and
responds to them
appropriately.
5
Pronunciation, stress,
rhythm, and intonation,
though influenced by the
first language or regional
ariation, rarely interfere
ith ease of
understanding.
Basic grammatical
structures and
sentence patterns are
consistently ell
controlled. Complex
structures are
attempted but ith
errors hich
sometimes interfere
ith meaning.
Vocabulary range and
accuracy are sufficient
to communicate
effectiely on common,
concrete, and ork-
related topics.
Paraphrases
consistently and
successfully.
Vocabulary is
sometimes idiomatic.
Able to speak at length
ith relatie ease on
familiar topics but may
not ary speech flo as a
stylistic deice. Can make
use of appropriate
discourse markers or
connectors.
Comprehension is accurate on
common, concrete, and ork-
related topics and mostly accurate
hen the speaker is confronted
ith a linguistic or situational
complication or an unexpected
turn of eents. Is able to
comprehend a range of speech
arieties (dialect and/or accent) or
registers.
Responses are immediate,
appropriate, and
informatie. Manages the
speaker/ listener
relationship effectiely.
Operational
4
Pronunciation, stress,
rhythm, and intonation are
influenced by the first
language or regional
ariation but only
sometimes interfere ith
ease of understanding.
Basic grammatical
structures and
sentence patterns are
used creatiely and
are usually ell
controlled. Errors
may occur,
particularly in unusual
or unexpected
circumstances, but
rarely interfere ith
meaning.
Vocabulary range and
accuracy are usually
sufficient to
communicate
effectiely on common,
concrete, and ork-
related topics. Can
often paraphrase
successfully hen
lacking ocabulary in
unusual or unexpected
circumstances.
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 preent effectie
communication. Can
make limited use of
discourse markers or
connectors. Fillers are not
distracting.
Comprehension is mostly accurate
on common, concrete, and ork-
related topics hen the accent or
ariety used is sufficiently
intelligible for an international
community of users. When the
speaker is confronted ith a
linguistic or situational
complication or an unexpected
turn of eents, comprehension
may be sloer or require
clarification strategies.
Responses are usually
immediate, appropriate,
and informatie. Initiates
and maintains exchanges
een hen dealing ith an
unexpected turn of eents.
Deals adequately ith
apparent
misunderstandings by
checking, confirming, or
clarifying.
Levels 1, and are on subsequent page.
CAO language proficiency scale
2
Note. The Operational Level (Level 4) is the minimum required proficiency level for radiotelephony communication. Levels 1 through describe Pre-
elementary, Elementary, and Pre-operational levels of language proficiency, respectively, all of which describe a level of proficiency below the ICAO language
proficiency requirement. Levels and describe Extended and Expert levels, at levels of proficiency more advanced than the minimum required Standard. As a
whole, the scale will serve as benchmarks for training and testing, and in assisting candidates to attain the ICAO Operational Level (Level 4).
LEVEL PRONUNCIATION
Assumes a dialect and/or
accent intelligible to the
aeronautical community.
STRUCTURE
Relevant
grammatical
structures and
sentence patterns are
determined by
language functions
appropriate to the
task.
VOCABULARY FLUENCY COMPREHENSION INTERACTIONS
Leels 4, 5 and 6 are on preceding page.
Pre-
operational
3
Pronunciation, stress,
rhythm, and intonation are
influenced by the first
language or regional
ariation and frequently
interfere ith ease of
understanding.
Basic grammatical
structures and
sentence patterns
associated ith
predictable situations
are not alays ell
controlled. Errors
frequently interfere
ith meaning.
Vocabulary range and
accuracy are often
sufficient to communicate
on common, concrete, or
ork-related topics, but
range is limited and the
ord choice often
inappropriate. Is often
unable to paraphrase
successfully hen lacking
ocabulary.
Produces stretches of
language, but
phrasing and pausing
are often
inappropriate.
Hesitations or
sloness in language
processing may
preent effectie
communication.
Fillers are sometimes
distracting.
Comprehension is often
accurate on common, concrete,
and ork- related topics hen
the accent or ariety used is
sufficiently intelligible for an
international community of
users. May fail to understand a
linguistic or situational
complication or an unexpected
turn of eents.
Responses are sometimes
immediate, appropriate, and
informatie. Can initiate and
maintain exchanges ith
reasonable ease on familiar
topics and in predictable
situations. Generally
inadequate hen dealing
ith an unexpected turn of
eents.
Elementary
2
Pronunciation, stress,
rhythm, and intonation are
heaily influenced by the
first language or regional
ariation and usually
interfere ith ease of
understanding.
Shos only limited
control of a fe
simple memorized
grammatical
structures and
sentence patterns.
Limited ocabulary range
consisting only of isolated
ords and memorized
phrases.
Can produce ery
short, isolated,
memorized utterances
ith frequent pausing
and a distracting use
of fillers to search for
expressions and to
articulate less familiar
ords.
Comprehension is limited to
isolated, memorized phrases
hen they are carefully and
sloly articulated.
Response time is slo and
often inappropriate.
Interaction is limited to
simple routine exchanges.
Pre-
elementary
1
Performs at a leel belo
the Elementary leel.
Performs at a leel
belo the
Elementary leel.
Performs at a leel belo
the Elementary leel.
Performs at a leel
belo the Elementary
leel.
Performs at a leel belo the
Elementary leel.
Performs at a leel belo
the Elementary leel.