Languages self-assessment chart

Stage 1 module 1 - Year 1

Choose this stage if you have no knowledge of the language.

Stage 1 module 2 - Year 1

Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately 3 months (20 hours) or if you can:

  • understand by listening or reading a few familiar words and phrases
  • say and write short simple phrases, and such as stating your name and nationality
  • understand letters/symbols of the alphabet/sound system.

Stage 1 module 3 - Year 1

Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately 6 months (40 hours) or if you can:

  • understand by listening or reading a range of familiar spoken phrases (greetings, personal introduction etc.)
  • answer simple questions and/or give basic information orally or in writing (e.g. personal details, nationality, job etc.).

Stage 2 lower - Year 2

Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately 1 year or if you can:

  • hold a simple conversation and ask and answer simple questions on a variety of everyday topics (e.g. personal introduction, shopping, directions, time and numbers etc.)
  • read and write sentences or a short passage on a variety of everyday topics (e.g. personal introduction, shopping, directions, time and numbers etc.)
  • use present, basic past tenses and future.

Stage 2 upper - Year 3

Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately 2 years or if you can:

  • take part in a simple conversation on a variety of everyday topics
  • express your likes, dislikes and simple opinions
  • write and/or understand a piece of formal or informal writing (e.g. a short letter, note or summary)
  • accurately use a range of present, future and past tenses.

Stage 3 lower - Year 4

Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately 3 years or if you can:

  • understand the gist of a range of authentic conversations and produce a detailed oral or written summary of a given text
  • take part in a discussion, giving and justifying opinions and ideas
  • understand a wide range of authentic texts (e.g. press articles) and produce a summary or translation of a given text
  • use a wide range of grammar structures including conditional and subjunctive tenses, pronouns etc.

Stage 3 upper - Year 5

Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately 4 years or if you can:

  • understand authentic passages of moderate length and complexity involving one or more speakers (e.g. interviews, adverts, news broadcast etc.)
  • give a presentation on a theme and argue viewpoints with some degree of confidence
  • understand articles from the press or other authentic sources and produce a written summary covering the majority of points
  • confidently use a wide range of grammar structures including conditional and subjunctive tenses, pronouns etc.

Stage 4 - Year 6

Choose this stage if you have studied the language for approximately 5 years or if you can:

  • understand authentic, long passages of some complexity and abstraction involving a number of speakers (e.g. interviews, adverts, news broadcast etc.)
  • participate in authentic discourse deploying a very good range of generally accurate language and argue a viewpoint convincingly
  • understand authentic texts (e.g. articles from the press, literary extract etc.) and write extended texts using a wide range of grammar structures accurately.

Stage 5 - Year 7

Choose this stage if you have studied the language for over 5 years or if you have recently achieved an A Level with a high grade (A-B), graduated in the language or if you can:

  • do everything in stage 4 with confidence, accuracy and fluency
  • use and understand common idioms and colloquialisms.

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