Writing
1 (Elementary Proficiency) Has sufficient control of the writing system
to meet limited practical needs. Can create by writing statements
and questions on topics very familiar to him/her within the scope
of his/her very limited language experience. Writing vocabulary is
inadequate to express anything but elementary needs; writes in simple
sentences making continual errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation
but writing can be read and understood by a native reader used to
dealing with foreigners attempting to write his/her language. Writing
tends to be a loose collection of sentences (or fragments) on a given
topic and provides little evidence of conscious organization. While
topics which are "very familiar" and elementary needs vary considerably
from individual to individual, any person at this level should be
able to write simple phone messages, excuses, notes to service people
and simple notes to friends. (800-1000 characters controlled.) (Has
been coded W-1 in some nonautomated applications.) [Data
Code 10]
Writing
1+ (Elementary Proficiency, Plus) Sufficient control of writing system to meet
most survival needs and limited social demands. Can create sentences
and short paragraphs related to most survival needs (food, lodging,
transportation, immediate surroundings and situations) and limited
social demands. Can express fairly accurate present and future time.
Can produce some past verb forms but not always accurately or with
correct usage. Can relate personal history, discuss topics such as
daily life, preferences and very familiar material. Shows good control
of elementary vocabulary and some control of basic syntactic patterns
but major errors still occur when expressing more complex thoughts.
Dictionary usage may still yield incorrect vocabulary or terms, although
the individual can use a dictionary to advantage to express simple
ideas. Generally cannot use basic cohesive elements of discourse
to advantage (such as relative constructions, object pronouns, connectors,
etc.). Can take notes in some detail on familiar topics, and respond
to personal questions using elementary vocabulary and common structures.
Can write simple letters, summaries of biographical data and work
experience with fair accuracy. Writing, though faulty, is comprehensible
to native speakers used to dealing with foreigners. (Has been coded
W-1+ in some nonautomated applications.) [Data Code16]
Writing
2 (Limited Working Proficiency) Able to write routine social correspondence
and prepare documentary materials required for most limited work
requirements. Has writing vocabulary sufficient to express himself/herself
simply with some circumlocutions. Can write simply about a very limited
number of current events or daily situations. Still makes common
errors in spelling and punctuation, but shows some control of the
most common formats and punctuation conventions. Good control of
morphology of language (in inflected languages) and of the most frequently
used syntactic structures. Elementary constructions are usually handled
quite accurately and writing is understandable to a native reader
not used to reading the writing of foreigners. Uses a limited number
of cohesive devices. (Has been coded W2 in some nonautomated applications.) [Data
Code 20]
Writing
2+ (Limited Working Proficiency, Plus) Shows ability to write with some precision and
in some detail about most common topics. Can write about concrete
topics relating to particular interests and special fields of competence.
Often shows surprising fluency and ease of expression but under time
constraints and pressure language may be inaccurate and/or incomprehensible.
Generally strong in either grammar or vocabulary but not in both.
Weaknesses or unevenness in one of the foregoing or in spelling result
in occasional miscommunication. Areas of weakness range from simple
constructions such as plurals, articles, prepositions and negatives
to more complex structures such as tense usage, passive constructions,
word order and relative clauses. Normally controls general vocabulary
with some misuse of everyday vocabulary evident. Shows a limited
ability to use circumlocutions Uses dictionary to advantage to supply
unknown words. Can take fairly accurate notes on material presented
orally and handle with fair accuracy most social correspondence.
Writing is understandable to native speakers not used to dealing
with foreigners' attempts to write the language, though style is
still obviously foreign. (Has been coded W-2+ in some nonautomated
applications.) [Data Code 26]
Writing
3 (General Professional Proficiency) Able to use the language effectively in most
formal and informal written exchanges on practical, social and professional
topics. Can write reports, summaries, short library research papers
on current events, on particular areas of interest or on special
fields with reasonable ease. Control of structure, spelling and general
vocabulary is adequate to convey his/her message accurately but style
may be obviously foreign. Errors virtually never interfere with comprehension
and rarely disturb the native reader. Punctuation generally controlled
Employs a full range of structures. Control of grammar good with
only sporadic errors in basic structures, occasional errors in the
most complex frequent structures and somewhat more frequent errors
in low frequency complex structures. Consistent control of compound
and complex sentences. Relationship of ideas is consistently clear.
(Has been coded W-3 in some nonautomated applications.) [Data
Code 30]
Writing
3+ (General Professional Proficiency, Plus) Able to write the language in a few prose styles
pertinent to professional/educational needs. Not always able to tailor
language to suit audience Weaknesses may he in poor control of low
frequency complex structures. vocabulary or the ability to express
subtleties and nuances. May be able to write on some topics pertinent
to professional/educational needs. Organization may suffer due to
lack of variety in organizational patterns or in variety of cohesive
devices. (Has been coded W-3+ in some nonautomated applications.) [Data
Code 36]
Writing
4 (Advanced Professional Proficiency) Able to write the language precisely and accurately
in a variety of prose styles pertinent to professional/educational
needs. Errors of grammar are rare including those in low frequency
complex structures. Consistently able to tailor language to suit
audience and able to express subtleties and nuances. Expository prose
is clearly, consistently and explicitly organized. The writer employs
a variety of organizational patterns, uses a wide variety of cohesive
devices such as ellipses and parallelisms, and subordinates in a
variety of ways. Able to write on all topics normally pertinent to
professional and educational needs and on social issues of a general
nature. Writing adequate to express all his/her experiences. (Has
been coded W-4 in some nonautomated applications.) [Data
Code 40]
Writing
4+ (Advanced Professional Proficiency, Plus) Able to write the language precisely and accurately
in a wide variety of prose styles pertinent to professional/educational
needs. May have some ability to edit but not in the full range of
styles. Has some flexibility within a style and shows some evidence
of a use of stylistic devices. (Has been coded W-4+ in some nonautomated
applications.) [Data Code 46]
Writing
5 (Functionally Native Proficiency) Has writing proficiency equal to that of a well
educated native. Without non-native errors of structure, spelling,
style or vocabulary can write and edit both formal and informal correspondence,
official reports and documents, and professional/ educational articles
including writing for special purposes which might include legal,
technical, educational, literary and colloquial writing. In addition
to being clear, explicit and informative, the writing and the ideas
are also imaginative. The writer employs a very wide range of stylistic
devices. (Has been coded W-5 in some nonautomated applications.) [Data
Code 50]