What's Your ESL Level?

I always tell my students they should be more concerned with learning than with their ESL benchmark levels. Benchmarks are just numbers, but they do provide a common set of standards for measuring language learning. There are four types of benchmarks and each describes ability within a specific area of language skill or combination of skills. The four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The Canadian Centre for Language Benchmarks (CCLB) offers "Can Do Checklists" to help students informally assess what they can do or need to learn at a particular benchmark level. If all you want is to get an idea of your ESL level, have a look at the checklists below:

Canadian Centre for Language Benchmarks

Can Do Checklists

Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Level 4     Level 5

  Level 6     Level 7     Level 8     Level 9     Level 10

Remember a checklist assessment is no substitute for a proper benchmark test administered by an expert practitioner.