Have you ever asked this? Maybe to your English teacher, tutor, or native speaker friend? It's a good question! But what answers do you get, and are they helpful to you? "Your English is really good!" some might say, or "you seem advanced to me!" These kinds of answers, although nice to hear, might not be very useful, especially if you want to take your English to the next level. Levels of English Are you now wondering which level you're at? It's another way of asking our original question, I know, but maybe the answer to this more specific question (if asked to the right person) might be more helpful to you. In general, there are three levels of English: basic, intermediate, and advanced. Depending on who evaluates or tests you (eg. teacher, exam, or college), these levels can be split up (eg. Basic 1 & 2, Intermediate 1 & 2, etc.) or be labeled with a number. It's a good idea to get a "scoring" every once in a while, just so you can see how you're improving. Keep in mind, though, that your level can go up or down, depending on how much you practice and use your English. You can also have a higher "score" in one skill than another. For example, you might read at an intermediate level but have a basic level in listening. Who to ask for an English evaluation You could ask a certified TESOL instructor/coach like myself, but if you do...
With this in mind, hopefully you can see how unfair it is to ask anyone to evaluate your English based on a short conversation with you. Sure, this conversation might say something about your listening and speaking skills (sometimes grammar), but not everything. To get a full evaluation, you'll need to invest a little time, not only for the evaluation, but a discussion on what to do with that evaluation afterwards. How about the IELTS or TOEFL? Have you taken the IELTS or TOEFL? (Maybe both?) These tests (and others like them) can give you a good idea of where you're at, too. If you are okay with paying some money or are planning to go to school in an English-speaking country anyway, you might consider taking one of these formal examinations and see where you are! Keep in mind that these tests not only have different purposes, but they also have different ways of scoring. Also note that they test all of your skills. (See images below; links to learn more about each available, just click the tables.) Score Yourself
Yes, it is possible to figure out your own level, either by trying out different activities online or challenging yourself with harder and harder material. (For example, check out engoo articles!) This kind of free-styling is often challenging for students since they don't always know where to go for activities or have a hard time deciding if something is basic, intermediate or advanced. That's when it's nice to get an official "scoring," from a test or teacher. But if you're looking for a general answer for "how's your English?" you probably can evaluate yourself. Which areas do you usually feel weak in? Reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar... vocabulary? Which areas do you feel comfortable and confident? Evaluating yourself can be as simple as deciding how "comfortable" you feel when asked to write, read, listen, or speak in English. It's okay if your answer changes from day to day. ;) So what do you think? How's your English today?
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