Interpretation of Proficiency Scale
AY 2025 2026
This scale indicates what students are able to do in the different skill areas after successfully completing each level.
| Level | Study Skills | Reading and Listening | Writing and Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations | After Foundations, students know the importance of bringing supplies and organizing their time, materials, and grades. | Students can read 1-page texts of 1-2 paragraphs at 3-5 grade level by using several strategies and answer questions about the texts. They can listen and comprehend 70% of short, repeated listenings on weekly topics and answer questions about them. They can follow written instructions and speak and respond to questions. | Students can write questions and simple and compound sentences in answer to questions in a manner that is both concise (grammatically correct) and accurate (thoughtful and complete). They recognize and use basic verb tenses, prepositions, and parts of speech. |
| Level 1 | After level 1, students have proficiency in taking basic notes on simple readings and lectures. They can apply basic organizational and time management strategies including the use of binders, planners, and calendars and demonstrate technological literacy. | Students can read and analyze a grade 5-6 page-length text through the application of reading strategies. They can identify key points and use approximately 65 new words from AWL. Students can take notes on repeated listenings of five minutes or less, participate in discussions, and raise questions. Students can use reading to Respond and Answer (From the R.A.C.E method) | Students can effectively produce simple, compound and complex sentences on a variety of topics and write short answers to prompts. They learn a shortened version of the writing process as applied to a narrative or descriptive paragraph. Students understand and use basic verb tenses, pronouns, modals, parts of speech, conditionals, and adverbial time clauses. |
| Level 2 | Students can effectively use graphic organizers and outlines to organize information. They are able to apply strategies for test-taking and stress management. They will demonstrate technological literacy. | Students can read and analyze grade 6-7 of 1-2-page length texts through the application of reading strategies. They can recognize and use 71 new words from the Academic World List. They can produce notes identifying key and supporting ideas from listenings and can discuss and ask questions about reading and listening themes. Students can use readings to Respond, Answer, and Cite (from R.A..C.E) method) | Students can use the full writing process to write a standard listing order paragraph and a compare and/or contrast short paragraph response. Students can correctly use verb tenses, conditionals, passive voice, gerunds and infinitives, and adjective clauses. |
| Level 3 | Students can organize information from readings and lectures into notes and apply strategies for organization and time management. | After this level, students can read and analyze a grade 7-8 of 2-4-page length text through the application of reading strategies. They can actively use at least 75 new words from the Academic World List. Students can produce notes identifying key and supporting ideas from a listening. Students will use evidence to support claims through discussion and impromptu activities. Students can use readings to the Respond, Answer, Cite, and Explain (from the R.A.C.E Method) | Students can produce short form opinion effect essays with a thesis statement, two focused and detailed body paragraphs, and a brief conclusion using appropriate structure, format, and citation in simplified APA format. They understand and use perfect tenses, noun clauses, passive voice, and conditionals |
| Concurrent Enrollment | Students can organize information into notes and study guides, which they use individually and in study groups. They apply strategies for organization and time management. | Students can read and analyze a grade 8-10+ text of at least a chapter long (5+ pages) through the application of reading strategies. They can repair comprehension problems through grammatical analysis of clauses (adjectival, adverbial, noun) and phrases (noun, gerund, participle, infinitive, and preposition). They can understand and participate coherently in discussions of readings and lectures in English spoken at normal speed. | Students can produce well-supported multi-paragraph formal argumentative essays, and short read and response reports with appropriate structure, format, citation (APA and Vancouver method), and grammatical awareness, including clause and sentence structure. They will be able to actively use at least 50 new words from Academic World List. |
