Interpretation of Proficiency Scale
Levels 1-6
1. On what basis are students in the Language and Culture Center (LCC) placed in their levels?
When students enter the program, they are given three placement tests: (1) the Michigan English Placement Test (a multiple choice exam that tests a student’s listening comprehension, grammar mastery, and reading comprehension), (2) the LCC Oral Interview (administered by two instructors, one asking questions and the other scoring for content and overall fluency), and (3) the LCC Writing Sample (graded holistically by two instructors independently according to a grading guide that evaluates grammar, vocabulary, organization, content, and mechanics). The Michigan counts 50 percent, and the Oral Interview and the Writing Sample each count 25 percent toward the placement score. That score, on a 100-point proficiency scale, is a weighted average, which is used as a guide for initial placement.
2. How are students evaluated for promotion or for exit from the program?
At the end of the semester, students are given a different version of the Michigan English Placement Test and a Writing Sample on another topic. The Michigan counts 50 percent of the student’s final evaluation. The Writing Sample counts 25 percent, and the teacher evaluation score counts 25 percent. These scores combine to create a weighted average, which is used as a guide for placement and level progression. The evaluation score ranges, on a 100-point proficiency scale, are listed below.
| 13/14 WEEK COURSE PLACEMENT AND PROMOTION |
7 WEEK COURSE PLACEMENT ONLY |
||||||
| LEVEL | WEIGHTED AVERAGE | LEVEL | WEIGHTED AVERAGE | LEVEL | WEIGHTED AVERAGE | LEVEL | WEIGHTED AVERAGE |
| 1 | 0 - 26 | 4 | 59 - 71 | 1 | 0 - 35 | 4 | 66 - 76 |
| 2 | 27 - 43 | 5 | 72 - 81 | 2 | 36 - 51 | 5 | 77 - 83 |
| 3 | 44 - 58 | 6 | 82 - 100 | 3 | 52 - 65 | 6 | 84 - 100 |
3. What student outcomes (in reading, writing, and speaking/listening) are expected for levels 1 through 6?
LEVEL 1
A student who successfully completes level 1 (27 weighted average or higher) will demonstrate the ability to recognize the letters of the English alphabet and the sounds they represent; follow simple written directions; locate information in a passage; read and comprehend short passages; answer simple comprehension questions about a reading; write simple sentences with correct capitalization, punctuation, and word order; write related sentences on a given topic; recognize and use correct paragraph form; produce the sounds of the English language; recognize and pronounce contractions, plurals, third person singular, and past tense endings; say numbers, dates, addresses, and telephone numbers; ask and answer simple questions using appropriate intonation; describe people, places, and things; produce appropriate responses in basic survival situations; understand and respond to greetings, introductions, directions, and requests; carry on a simple conversation.
LEVEL 2
A student who successfully completes level 2 (44 weighted average or higher) will demonstrate the ability to use a monolingual English dictionary; read material within assigned time limits; follow written directions; locate information in a passage; answer comprehension questions; recognize the main idea, supporting details, and conclusion; use context clues to guess the meaning of unknown words; recognize word forms; write simple and compound sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation; recognize and write topic sentences, supporting details, and conclusion; recognize and use correct paragraph form; write a simple essay with an introduction and support; proofread for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization; produce the sounds of the English language; recognize and pronounce contractions, plurals, third person singular and past tense endings; ask and answer questions using appropriate intonation; describe people, places, things, and events; give and receive information in survival situations; follow simple instructions given at a normal rate of speech; carry on a simple social conversation; understand meaning through tone of voice.
LEVEL 3
A student who successfully completes level 3 (59 weighted average or higher) will demonstrate the ability to use a monolingual English dictionary; recognize word forms; read and follow written directions; use context clues to ascertain word meanings; recognize the main idea; skim and scan a passage in search of specific details; recognize facts and opinions; make inferences; demonstrate comprehension by answering questions or paraphrasing; understand simple charts and graphs; write simple, compound, and complex sentences; recognize and avoid fragments and run-on sentences; recognize and write a topic sentence; select details that support a topic sentence; write a paragraph with a topic sentence containing a controlling idea, supporting details, and a conclusion; write narrative and descriptive paragraphs; write a simple essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion; proofread for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization; produce the sounds of the English language; use adequate stress and intonation; understand meaning through tone of voice; recognize formal and informal English; follow instructions given at a normal rate of speech; ask relevant questions and give appropriate answers; initiate and sustain simple social conversation with a native English speaker; talk about familiar topics; participate in group discussions.
LEVEL 4
A student who successfully completes level 4 (72 weighted average or higher) will demonstrate the ability to use a monolingual English dictionary; recognize word forms; follow written directions; use context clues to ascertain word meanings; recognize the main idea.; skim and scan a passage in search of specific details; recognize facts and opinions; make inferences; demonstrate comprehension by answering questions and paraphrasing; understand charts and graphs; write complex sentences using coordinating conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions; avoid run-on sentences and fragments; write a paragraph with a topic sentence containing a controlling idea, supporting details, and a conclusion; write a strong thesis statement that reflects the development of the essay; write a unified and coherent essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion; use transitions appropriately; proofread for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization; produce the sounds of the English language; use appropriate stress and intonation; understand meaning through tone of voice; recognize formal and informal English; follow instructions given at a normal rate of speech; ask relevant questions and give appropriate answers; rephrase and clarify statements; initiate and sustain social conversation with a native English speaker; talk about a wide range of subjects; participate in group discussions.
LEVEL 5
A student who successfully completes level 5 (82 weighted average or higher) will demonstrate the ability to use a monolingual English dictionary effectively; use context clues to deduce meaning; read and understand material within assigned time limits; vary reading speed to suit the type of text and task; apply appropriate skill (skimming, scanning, close reading) to the task; understand main ideas and supporting details, make inferences, conclusions, deductions, and judgments; read and understand academic material including charts, graphs, and diagrams; read and understand journalistic writing such as in newspapers and news magazines; write complex sentences using coordinate conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs, and subordinate conjunctions; write a multi-paragraph essay, using a variety of organizational methods, with an introduction, body, and conclusion in preparation for academic writing, including university placement exams; take notes, paraphrase, summarize, and acknowledge reference sources; avoid plagiarism; proofread for errors in grammar, spelling; produce a document in an academic format using a word-processing program; produce the sounds of the English language; ask relevant questions and give appropriate answers; understand and follow oral instructions; initiate and sustain social conversation; give information and express opinions and ideas accurately; change topic and style of communication according to the situation; speak at some length without assistance; participate in group discussions; recognize changes of tone, discourse markers, and features of stress, rhythm, and intonation common to academic and social discourse; make an extended academic presentation on approved topics; take accurate notes from academic lectures; understand authentic English from a variety of broadcast sources.
LEVEL 6
A student who successfully completes level 6 (85 weighted average or higher) and exits the program will demonstrate the ability to read and understand material within assigned time limits; vary reading speed to suit the type of text and task; apply appropriate skill (skimming, scanning, close reading) to the task; understand main ideas and supporting details, inferences, conclusions, deductions, and judgments; read and understand academic material including charts, graphs, and diagrams; read and understand journalistic writing such as in newspapers and news magazines; demonstrate the reading competence needed at the undergraduate and graduate level; write complex sentences using coordinate conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs, and subordinate conjunctions; write a multi- paragraph composition with an introduction, body, and conclusion; take notes and acknowledge reference sources using a recognized professional format; express ideas taken from a number of texts with proper acknowledgement of sources and without plagiarism; write a short academic research paper using a variety of academic resources; proofread for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization; produce a document in an academic format using a word- processing program; demonstrate the writing competence needed at the undergraduate and graduate level; produce the sounds of the English language; ask relevant questions and give appropriate answers. understand and follow detailed oral instructions; initiate and sustain social conversation; give information and express opinions and ideas accurately; speak at length without assistance; change topic and style of communication according to the situation; participate in group discussions; recognize changes of tone, discourse markers, and features of stress, rhythm, and intonation common to academic and social discourse; make an extended academic presentation on approved topics; take and organize accurate notes from academic lectures; understand authentic English from a variety of broadcast sources; demonstrate the speaking and listening competence needed at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
NOTE: Students who have successfully completed Level 6 in the Language and Culture Center are not required to present a TOEFL score when seeking undergraduate admission to the University of Houston.
