The following have been proposed as a new set of Skill Level Descriptions (SLDs) for Proficiency in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing, for use by departments and agencies in the United States Government (USG). They were developed between 2014 and 2021 by a working group of USG employees from a wide range of federal entities, including all of the USG language schools, with the ongoing support of the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) community, both USG employees and representatives of the academic, nongovernmental organization (NGOs) and proprietary sectors.

A summary of the development process, including sample comparisons between the currently existing SLDs and the proposed new ones, can be found in a PowerPoint from the May 2021 ILR plenary. It may be accessed via the May meeting entry at https://www.govtilr.org/Calendars/2020-21ILRCalendarPublic.html.

It should be emphasized that posting them here does not mean that they are required to be used within the USG. The ILR does not have control over implementation. It is up to individual agencies as to whether or not they will adopt them. However, units throughout the USG have begun the process of considering if they should be adopted, and how they may best be implemented. If you have any questions, please contact the ILR Coordinator, Scott McGinnis, at scott.g.mcginnis4.civ@army.mil