Ten Levels of Language Skill I created a ten level scale for assessing a person's language skill in English or any other language. I use schools to further clarify but remember many adults fit into the elemetary school level and there are rare examples of child geniuses who fit into the university level. Level 10 great writers poets and other word masters Level 9 same as level 8 with additional proficiency such as great speaker Level 8 professional with greatly increased active vocabulary Level 7 professional with large passive vocabulary Level 6 advanced level, ready for university studies, can pass TOEFL Level 5 2nd intermediate level, laborers, high school students Level 4 1st intermediate level Level 3 beginner level 3 elementary school Level 2 beg. level 2 500 word vocabulary some communication possible Level 1 absolute beginner very limited vocabulary cannot communicate Some comments: the percentage of the population that fit into any level can be represented on a graph showing a modified Bell curve. This to say that the great majority will fall within the 3rd 4th and 5th levels..yes even adults. The transition to a higher level can be difficult or easy or impossible, depending on several factors. This is a subject for another notebook entry!