ICAO Rating scale

Pronunciation Structure Vocabulary Fluency Comprehension Interactions

Level Assumes a dialect and/or Relevant grammatical structures and
accent intelligible to the sentence patterns are determined by
aeronautical community. language functions appropriate to the
task.

Pronunciation, stress,
Vocabulary range and Able to speak at length with a
rhythm, and intonation,
accuracy are sufficient to natural, effortless flow. Varies Interacts with ease in nearly
though possibly Both basic and complex Comprehension is consistently
communicate effectively on a speech flow for stylistic effect, all situations. Is sensitive to
influenced by the first grammatical structures and accurate in nearly all contexts
Expert 6 wide variety of familiar and e.g. to emphasize a point. verbal and non-verbal cues,
language or regional sentence patterns are and includes comprehension of
unfamiliar topics. Vocabulary Uses appropriate discourse and responds to them
variation, almost never consistently well controlled. linguistic and cultural subtleties.
is idiomatic, nuanced, and markers and connectors appropriately.
interfere with ease of
sensitive to register. spontaneously.
understanding.
Comprehension is accurate on
Vocabulary range and common, concrete, and work
Pronunciation, stress, Basic grammatical structures Able to speak at length with
accuracy are sufficient to related topics and mostly
rhythm, and intonation, and sentence patterns are relative ease on familiar
communicate effectively on accurate when the speaker is Responses are immediate,
though influenced by consistently well controlled. topics, but may not vary
Extended common, concrete, and work confronted with a linguistic or appropriate, and informative.
the first language or Complex structures are speech flow as a stylistic
5 related topics. Paraphrases situational complication or an Manages the speaker/listener
regional variation, attempted but with errors device. Can make use of
consistently and successfully. unexpected turn of events. Is relationship effectively.
rarely interfere with which sometimes interfere appropriate discourse
Vocabulary is sometimes able to comprehend a range of
ease of understanding. with meaning. markers or connectors.
idiomatic. speech varieties (dialect and/or
accent) or registers.
Produces stretches of Comprehension is mostly
language at an appropriate accurate on common, concrete, Responses are usually
Pronunciation, stress, Basic grammatical structures Vocabulary range and tempo. There may be and work related topics when the immediate, appropriate, and
rhythm, and intonation and sentence patterns are accuracy are usually sufficient occasional loss of fluency on accent or variety used is informative. Initiates and
are influenced by the used creatively and are to communicate effectively on transition from rehearsed or sufficiently intelligible for an maintains exchanges even
Operational first language or usually well controlled. common, concrete, and work formulaic speech to international community of users. when dealing with an
4 regional variation but Errors may occur, particularly related topics. Can often spontaneous interaction, but When the speaker is confronted unexpected turn of events.
only sometimes in unusual or unexpected paraphrase successfully when this does not prevent effective with a linguistic or situational Deals adequately with
interfere with ease of circumstances, but rarely lacking vocabulary in unusual communication. Can make complication or an unexpected apparent misunderstandings
understanding. interfere with meaning. or unexpected circumstances. limited use of discourse turn of events, comprehension by checking, confirming, or
markers or connectors. Fillers may be slower or require clarifying.
are not distracting. clarification strategies.

Responses are sometimes

Vocabulary range and Produces stretches of
Comprehension is often accurate immediate, appropriate, and
Pronunciation, stress, accuracy are often sufficient language, but phrasing and
Basic grammatical structures on common, concrete, and work informative. Can initiate and
rhythm, and intonation to communicate on common, pausing are often
and sentence patterns related topics when the accent or maintain exchanges with
Pre- are influenced by the concrete, or work related inappropriate. Hesitations or
associated with predictable variety used is sufficiently reasonable ease on familiar
Operational first language or topics but range is limited and slowness in language
3 situations are not always well intelligible for an international topics and in predictable
regional variation and the word choice often processing may prevent
controlled. Errors frequently community of users. May fail to situations. Generally
frequently interfere with inappropriate. Is often unable effective communication.
interfere with meaning. understand a linguistic or inadequate when dealing
ease of understanding. to paraphrase successfully Fillers are sometimes
situational turn of events. with an unexpected turn of
when lacking vocabulary. distracting.
events.

Pronunciation, stress, Can produce very short,

rhythm, and intonation isolated, memorized
Shows only limited control of Limited vocabulary range Comprehension is limited to Response time is slow, and
are heavily influenced utterances with frequent
Elementary a few simple memorized consisting only of isolated isolated, memorized phrases often inappropriate.
by the first language or pausing and a distracting use
2 grammatical structures and words and memorized when they are carefully and Interaction is limited to simple
regional variation and of fillers to search for
sentence patterns. phrases. slowly articulated. routine exchanges.
usually interfere with expressions and to articulate
ease of understanding. less familiar words.
Pre- Performs at a level
Performs at a level below the Performs at a level below the Performs at a level below the Performs at a level below the Performs at a level below the
Elementary below the Elementary
1 Elementary level. Elementary level. Elementary level. Elementary level. Elementary level.
level.