At the Beginner level, you have limited functional ability.  With difficulty, you can give simple information.  You can only use individual words or learned phrases in familiar situations. Communication is very limited. You might be silent or use your native language. Your first language very strongly influences your pronunciation.  People who are used to speaking with nonnative speakers will find you difficult to understand. When listening, you have limited functional ability. With difficulty, you can understand simple information in familiar situations. You often have wrong responses because you don’t understand. You need much repetition, rewording and slowed speech in order to have a limited understanding.

At the Beginner High level, you have basic survival ability. You can give simple information using individual words or learned phrases in familiar and immediate situations. Your vocabulary is basic. You omit many function words. You make many errors. Communication is limited. People who are used to speaking with nonnative speakers may find you difficult to understand. Your first language strongly influences your speech. When listening, you can understand memorized words and phrases. You can understand simple questions and information. You can understand the main idea of basic topics. There are misunderstandings. You need much repetition and slowed speech in order to understand.

At the Intermediate Low level, you can give general meanings on familiar topics for basic everyday needs.  You can make polite, simple exchanges.  Communication is difficult.  Your English includes many grammar and word order errors. Your native language strongly affects your speech. Native English speakers who are used to speaking with nonnative speakers can understand you, but with difficulty. When listening, you need to hear the language spoken slowly. You need much repetition and rephrasing.

At the Intermediate level, you can maintain simple conversations on a variety of familiar topics.  You can perform routine tasks with relative comfort. You cannot go into great detail. You can’t use complex language or speak at length about abstract topics. You often hesitate while speaking. You make many grammatical errors. You may not be able to say everything you want to say.  Your native language influences your speech. Native English speakers who are used to speaking with nonnative speakers can understand you with some difficulty. When listening, you can survive in a second language environment.  If you have some background knowledge you are able to handle limited everyday situations.

At the Intermediate High level, you are able to function beyond your immediate survival needs. You can start and continue conversations with short utterances. You can speak about most transactional needs and some social situations. You have difficulty using complex language, going into detail, speaking at length, and expressing your needs. Your basic grammar is accurate but inconsistent. You will have difficulty finding the right words in all situations. Using repetition, you can be understood by native English speakers who are used to speaking with nonnative speakers. When listening, you may have some problems in understanding details, complex language, and longer discourse. You may change the subject due to your inability to understand.

At the Advanced Low level, you can confidently, although with errors, converse at paragraph length in a variety of situations. These situations involve routine social needs and transactions, current events, and more complex work-related topics. With some mistakes, you demonstrate good control of simple grammar and syntax, using the past, present, and future tenses. You have a good use of vocabulary, although it is sometimes inaccurate. Most native English speakers can understand you. When listening, you can grasp overall meanings in a variety of routine situations and practical discussions. With some repetition and rephrasing, you can understand normal native speech.

At the Advanced level, you can function well in everyday life and work situations in a second language environment, including situations with complications. You will be fairly comfortable in most social situations. You can understand and participate in conversations on current events topics. You can handle most work information and factual content. You can narrate and describe at paragraph length using the past, present, and future tenses. Although some errors are present, you are strong in vocabulary and syntax. Native English speakers easily understand you. When listening, some misunderstandings may occur, but you can understand most normal, native speech. Native English speakers may need to adjust their speech in order for you to understand, as you may not grasp all details. You may also not understand regional or cultural differences.

At the Advanced High level, most of the time you can effectively use complex language and communicative strategies on general topics, and also on familiar, specific topics. You demonstrate a high level of fluency and precision in syntax or vocabulary. Errors are only more evident when you are under pressure. There is an emerging ability for you to convey and understand subtle variations in meaning. Native speakers can easily understand you. When listening, you understand normal, native speech. You understand most complex language, especially on familiar topics. Your understanding may decrease when you are under pressure. Native English speakers may need to adjust their speech in order for you to understand fully, as you may not grasp all details and regional or cultural differences.