How can you assess your English proficiency on your own?
I have been conducting English proficiency tests for people for many years. I believe I have conducted over 5,000 of these (yes, really). As I became more skilled in this area, I created a tool that helps me quickly and accurately assess each person's English level. There are many ways to assess English proficiency, and most of them are quite vague. The feeling is that they do not truly reflect a person's actual status, but rather describe very dry data. My goal in this article is to make this knowledge easily accessible to you, so you can finally understand your current situation and, more importantly, what you need to do to reach the next level.An important note: From my experience, anyone can improve their English and advance in the proficiency levels. This doesn't mean it happens overnight, but with the right effort, it is very much possible.I assess English proficiency by asking questions of increasing difficulty. A person's ability to understand these questions, respond correctly, and elaborate on their answers is the key to understanding their English level. I categorize the levels into six:
- Level 1: People who are "tabula rasa." They are like a blank slate.
They don't know the ABCs and don't know any words in English, perhaps only "yes" or "no."
- Level 2: People who are in the very early stages of the language.
They can answer questions like:- What is your name?
- How old are you?
- Where do you live?
This doesn’t necessarily mean they know how to respond correctly in English, but they will manage to tackle such questions.
- Level 3: People who can hold a very basic conversation. They can answer questions like:
- What do you like to do in your spare time?
- How many brothers and sisters do you have?
Abroad, they may struggle to communicate, but they will manage, for example, to order food in a restaurant or ask for directions on the street.
Level 4: People who can engage in small talk. They can answer questions like:
? what did you do on the weekend
?What are your plans for the next few years
They will feel that they understand what is being said to them, but when they respond, they greatly limit themselves. They are busy translating every word from Hebrew to English, and when they can't find the exact word, they get stuck. They shy away from business situations and avoid jobs that require English. They feel very tired after managing a conversation in English, even if it's just the briefest one.
Level 5: People who can hold a high-level conversation. They can answer questions such as:
What is the role of education in shaping society and
?individuals
What are your thoughts on the current state of the environment
?and what can be done to address environmental concerns
They have a good grasp of common tenses, but still feel that they are not authentic.
They struggle to recall high-level vocabulary, even though they know many words. They can manage in English in business situations, but if they need to present in a meeting, they will avoid it as much as possible or simply memorize the presentation.
Level 6: People who communicate in English with confidence, fluency, and professionalism. They are able to answer questions such as:
What are your thoughts on the role of government in addressing
?social and economic issues
What is your opinion on the role of education in shaping society
?and individuals
They use expressions and idioms. They master all tenses in English. They do not translate in their heads from English to Hebrew and vice versa. They think in English. They retrieve words quickly. They express themselves with complete authenticity. They are capable of delivering a presentation in English and conducting an effective sales conversation. They navigate every business situation in English with confidence and fluency.