English

What the interview listens for: How the candidate describes, explains and argues on their own: a sustained answer about their work, a process or a view.

1. Level 1Answers with short, simple phrases about familiar things; longer answers break down.
2. Level 2Weak barDescribes their work and experiences in a simple, connected way, as a linear sequence of points.
   • Ability to describe their own work in connected sentencesMust-have
   • Ability to recount an experience as a sequence of events
3. Level 3Moderate barGives clear, detailed descriptions on familiar and job-related topics, supporting points with reasons and examples.
   • Ability to support a point with reasons and examples
   • Ability to explain a viewpoint with advantages and disadvantages
4. Level 4Strong barGives clear, well-structured explanations of complex subjects, developing sub-themes and rounding off with a conclusion.
   • Ability to structure a long answer on a complex subject
   • Ability to develop sub-points and round off with a conclusion
5. Level 5Every strong indicator, plus speech that is effortless, precise and adapted to the listener throughout.

What the interview listens for: How the candidate takes part in the exchange: answering what was asked, asking for clarification, following up and keeping the conversation going.

1. Level 1Handles very short exchanges; depends on the interviewer repeating or rephrasing.
2. Level 2Weak barTakes part in a conversation on familiar topics and answers the question that was asked.
   • Ability to answer the question that was actually askedMust-have
   • Ability to ask for clarification or repetition when needed
3. Level 3Moderate barInteracts with fluency and spontaneity, responds to follow-ups and keeps the exchange going without strain.
   • Ability to respond to follow-up questions without losing the thread
   • Ability to keep the conversation going without strain
4. Level 4Strong barUses language flexibly in the exchange, relates their answers skilfully to the interviewer's points and handles a challenge.
   • Ability to relate their answer skilfully to the interviewer's point
   • Ability to handle a challenge or a counter-argument smoothly
5. Level 5Every strong indicator, plus ease with nuance, idiom and tone, as in their first language.

What the interview listens for: How smoothly the candidate speaks: pausing, false starts and how often they have to search for words.

1. Level 1Speech is slow and fragmented, with frequent pauses to search for words.
2. Level 2Weak barKeeps going comprehensibly, with noticeable pauses for planning and repair in longer stretches.
   • Ability to keep going comprehensibly through a longer answerMust-have
3. Level 3Moderate barProduces stretches of speech at a fairly even tempo; hesitates when searching for expressions, with few long pauses.
   • Ability to speak at a fairly even tempo
   • Ability to avoid long pauses when searching for words
4. Level 4Strong barExpresses themselves fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly; only a conceptually difficult subject slows them.
   • Ability to speak fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly
   • Ability to recover from a slip without the listener noticing
5. Level 5Every strong indicator, plus a natural, effortless flow with no hesitation on any subject.

What the interview listens for: Whether the candidate has the words and structures to say what they mean, including about their own field, without circumlocution.

1. Level 1Has a basic repertoire for simple, everyday needs.
2. Level 2Weak barHas enough language to get by on familiar and work topics, with some circumlocution.
   • Knowledge of enough vocabulary to talk about their workMust-have
3. Level 3Moderate barHas a sufficient range to give clear descriptions and express viewpoints, using some complex sentence forms.
   • Knowledge of the vocabulary of their own field
   • Ability to vary how they formulate a point
4. Level 4Strong barHas a broad range that lets them choose a formulation to express themselves precisely without restricting what they say.
   • Ability to choose a formulation that says exactly what they mean
   • Ability to discuss abstract topics without restricting what they say
5. Level 5Every strong indicator, plus a command of idiom and nuance that conveys finer shades of meaning.

What the interview listens for: How accurately the candidate uses grammar, and whether errors ever get in the way of what they mean.

1. Level 1Uses simple structures with basic mistakes that sometimes obscure the meaning.
2. Level 2Weak barUses frequent routines and patterns reasonably accurately; errors occur but the meaning is clear.
   • Ability to keep the meaning clear despite errorsMust-have
3. Level 3Moderate barShows a relatively high degree of grammatical control; errors do not cause misunderstanding and are often self-corrected.
   • Ability to use grammar without errors that cause misunderstanding
   • Ability to notice and correct their own mistakes
4. Level 4Strong barConsistently maintains a high degree of accuracy; errors are rare and difficult to spot.
   • Ability to maintain a high degree of grammatical accuracy throughout
5. Level 5Every strong indicator, plus consistent control of complex language even when attention is elsewhere.

What the interview listens for: How the candidate links ideas: whether a longer answer hangs together, and how they signal the connections between points.

1. Level 1Links words and groups of words with very basic connectors such as and or then.
2. Level 2Weak barLinks a series of shorter elements into a connected sequence of points.
   • Ability to link points into a connected sequenceMust-have
3. Level 3Moderate barUses a range of linking words to mark clearly the relationships between ideas.
   • Ability to mark the relationship between ideas clearly
   • Ability to use varied linking words beyond and, but and so
4. Level 4Strong barProduces clear, smoothly flowing, well-structured speech, controlling organisational patterns and connectors.
   • Ability to produce well-structured speech that flows smoothly
   • Ability to signpost the structure of a long answer
5. Level 5Every strong indicator, plus a coherent, cohesive discourse that uses a full range of organisational patterns.

What the interview listens for: Whether the candidate is easy to understand. An accent is not marked down: what counts is intelligibility, stress and intonation.

1. Level 1Pronunciation can be understood with some effort by a listener used to speakers of their language group.
2. Level 2Weak barPronunciation is generally intelligible, though mispronunciations occur and the listener sometimes asks for repetition.
   • Ability to be understood without the listener asking for repetitionMust-have
3. Level 3Moderate barPronunciation is clearly intelligible; stress and intonation support the meaning, even with a noticeable accent.
   • Ability to be clearly intelligible throughout the interview
   • Ability to use stress and intonation to support the meaning
4. Level 4Strong barVaries intonation and places sentence stress correctly to express finer shades of meaning.
   • Ability to vary intonation to express finer shades of meaning
5. Level 5Every strong indicator, plus articulation that is clear and natural throughout, with full control of prosody.