When you think about your own level, it might be that for some skills your level is higher than for other skills (e.g. your speaking and listening is better than your reading and writing). This is normal and as long as there isn’t a big gap, nothing to worry about. If there is a big gap between certain skills, speak to your teacher to get extra help in the areas you need to improve. 

Read the level descriptions on the next pages and think about which parts describe your ESOL level.

Access 2 Literacies, Stage 1 (Complete Beginner)

Speaking and listening

Can communicate only through gestures and a few basic words.

Reading and Writing

Cannot fully recognise or use the English alphabet and unable to write independently or sound out unfamiliar words when reading.

Employability

Employment choices will be extremely limited.

Access 2 Literacies, Stage 2 (Starter)

Speaking and listening

Can use and understand simple English for personal and social purposes and ask and respond to basic phrases spoken slowly and repeated if necessary.

Reading and Writing

Can recognise and write letters and numbers.  Can read and understand simple written texts and common sight words. Can produce simple written English on lines with correct spacing and punctuation.

Employability

Can manage routine jobs which do not require spoken or written communication in English and in which all tasks can be demonstrated.

Access 2 (Elementary)

Speaking and listening

Can understand, request and provide short, simple spoken information in familiar and predictable personal, social, work and study contexts.

Reading and Writing

Can understand basic notices, instructions or information. Can complete basic forms, and write notes and short letters including times, dates

Employability

Can manage routine jobs which involve basic spoken or written communication in English and in which tasks can be demonstrated.

Access 3 (Pre-Intermediate)

Speaking and listening

Can talk to others on topics of immediate interest in personal, social, work and study contexts. Can understand instructions or public announcements

Reading and Writing

Can read and write short, straightforward texts. Can write letters, emails or articles on predictable matters. At this level, although the writing conveys meaning, it may contain errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Employability

Can manage mainly manual jobs which involve simple spoken and written communication but in which tasks can also be demonstrated and/or clarified orally.

SCQF:  4

Intermediate 1 (Intermediate)

Speaking and listening

Can follow or give a talk on a familiar topic or keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics in personal, social, work and study contexts.  Communication will be sufficiently fluent and coherent to convey meaning and interaction will be maintained as appropriate to purpose.

Can understand speakers in a range of listening situations and can identify clearly expressed opinions and attitudes. 

Reading and Writing

Can read a variety of texts to identify purpose and main points as well as clearly expressed opinions and attitudes.  Can write different types of text such as emails, letters or articles in which grammar, spelling and punctuation are sufficiently accurate to convey meaning on a first read.  The structure and layout of the written communication will be appropriate to purpose.

Employability

Can manage jobs and/or training which involve following basic spoken and written instructions and diagrams.

SCQF:  5

Intermediate 2 (Upper-Intermediate)

Speaking and listening

Can interact with reasonable fluency, using an adequate range of structures with an appropriate level of accuracy to communicate the message and showing knowledge of general and some specialised vocabulary in personal, social, work and study contexts.  Can understand idiomatic language in familiar situations and explain a viewpoint on an issue.  Can maintain the conversation and produce organised speech with limited hesitation which does not detract from communication.

Reading and Writing

Can understand the purpose and content of straightforward texts and produce structured texts in personal and social, study-related or work-related topics. Can read quickly enough to cope with an academic course.  Can use an adequate range of structures with a level of accuracy appropriate to the task, showing knowledge of general and some specialised vocabulary.  There may be some inaccuracies in grammar, spelling and punctuation, but these do not impede understanding on a first reading. Register, style and layout will be mostly appropriate.

Employability

Can manage jobs and job training situations which involve following oral and written instructions. 

SCQF:  6

Higher (Advanced)

Speaking and listening

Can interact with fluency and spontaneity and recognise different registers, operating appropriately in personal and social, study or work-related contexts.  Can use a range of structures with an appropriate level of accuracy to clearly communicate the message. Can show knowledge of a wide range of general and some specialised vocabulary and use this accurately and appropriately within the context of a task.  Can understand complex and idiomatic language in familiar situations and identify opinions and attitudes. Speaking output is organised with limited hesitation which does not detract from the communication.

Reading and Writing

Can understand the purpose and content of complex documents, correspondence and reports, identifying points of information including opinions and attitudes.  Can use a range of structures with a level of accuracy appropriate to the task and showing knowledge of a range of general and specialised vocabulary.  Can produce clear, detailed texts in personal and social, study or work-related contexts explaining a viewpoint on an issue and giving the values of various options.

Employability

Can understand routine work-related conversations and can manage work that involves following oral and written instructions.   Can perform reading and writing tasks, such as forms and reports with reasonable accuracy to meet work needs.