Language Proficiency Levels (English & French)

Written Proficiency Levels (English & French)

Level 0 (No proficiency / Aucune connaissance)

• Cannot write simple words or sentences.

Level 1 (Beginner / Débutant)

• Writes simple words and sentences on familiar or work-related topics to ask questions or provide basic information.
• Completes simple forms with simple words and phrases.
• Very little knowledge of the written language; sentences are simple with regular errors.
• Lack of familiarity with grammar and spelling rules often makes the meaning difficult to grasp.

Level 2 (Intermediate / Intermédiare)

• Writes short, simple texts and deals with specific information on familiar or work-related topics.
• Requires frequent corrections of grammar and spelling errors.
• Sentence structure is sometimes awkward and meaning difficult to grasp.

Level 3 (Advanced / Avancé)

• Writes coherent texts with well-developed ideas.
• Writes on a variety of familiar or work-related situations.
• Vocabulary, grammar, and spelling are usually error free; sentences are usually clear and require few corrections.
• Meaning is rarely unclear.

Level 4 (Fluent / Usage courant)

• Writes different types of texts to communicate complex ideas. Sentences are clear and well constructed.
• Extensive vocabulary and mastery of grammar and sentence structure.
• Often error free.
• Meaning is never unclear.

Spoken Proficiency Levels (English & French)

Level 0 (No proficiency / Aucune connaissance)

• Cannot communicate simple ideas.
• Interaction is incoherent with frequent misunderstandings.

Level 1 (Beginner / Débutant)

• Asks and answers simple questions with simple, often incorrect sentences.
• Delivery is often slow.
• Understands only basic, familiar or work-related questions.
• Cannot follow a change of topic. May convey an unintended message and is often difficult to understand.
• Speaks the language very little with much difficulty.

Level 2 (Intermediate / Intermédiare)

• Can have informal conversations on familiar or work-related topics.
• Hesitates when using complex structures. Has limited vocabulary for less familiar situations.
• Understands most of what is said and usually can follow a change of topic.
• May be misunderstood because of imprecise vocabulary and sentence structure.
• Speaks the language with some difficulty.

Level 3 (Advanced / Avancé)

• Participates in discussions on a variety of topics and can expand on them with relative ease.
• Delivery is fluid with ability to convey more complex ideas with little hesitation.
• Understands what is being said and easily follows a change of topic. May lack some vocabulary but has sufficient vocabulary to be understood.
• Meaning is usually understood.
• Speaks the language with little difficulty.

Level 4 (Fluent / Usage courant)

• Expresses ideas effectively in all situations.
• High level of conversation and hesitates only to reflect.
• Very few minor errors, if any.
• Meaning is always understood.
• Speaks the language with ease.