Rating Ability to communicate orally
6 Excellent: on a par with an educated native speaker. Completely at
ease in his use of English on all topics discussed.
5 Very good: although he cannot be mistaken for a native speaker, he
expresses himself quite clearly. He experiences little difficulty in understanding English, and there is no strain at all in
communicating with him.
4 Satisfactory verbal communication causing little difficulty for native
speakers. He makes a limited number of errors of grammar, lexis
and pronunciation but he is still at ease in communicating on
everyday subjects. He may have to correct himself and repattern his
utterance on occasions, but there is little difficulty in understanding
him.
3 Although verbal communication is usually fairly satisfactory, the
native speaker may occasionally experience some difficulty in
communicating with him. Repetition, re-phrasing and re-patterning are sometimes necessary; ordinary native speakers might find it difficult to communicate.
2 Much difficulty experienced by native speakers unaccustomed to
'foreign' English. His own understanding is severely limited, but communication on everday topics is possible. Large number of .errors of phonology, grammar and lexis.
1 Extreme difficulty in communication on any subject. Failure to
understand adequately and to make himself understood.