ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2024

ACTFL proficiency levels explained

ACTFL's guidelines describe real-world proficiency in 11 steps: Novice, Intermediate and Advanced (each Low, Mid, High), then Superior and Distinguished. They are the standard reference in US schools and universities and underpin the OPI speaking interview.

The short answer

The ACTFL scale, used mainly in the United States, has five major levels: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior and Distinguished, with Low, Mid and High sublevels for the first three.

Organisation

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

Scale

Novice Low – Distinguished (11 levels)

Levels

Introduced

1986

Latest version

ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2024 (4th edition, April 2024)

Used for

US K-12 and university placement, Seal of Biliteracy, OPI/OPIc and AAPPL tests

Kungfucius says: Eleven levels, and most adult learners spend a surprisingly long holiday in Intermediate Mid.

Every level

ACTFL Novice Low · Novice LowIsolated words and memorised phrases at most; little real functional ability.

ACTFL Novice Mid · Novice MidCommunicates minimally with memorised words and phrases on very familiar topics.

ACTFL Novice High · Novice HighHandles some simple, predictable tasks with memorised language, starting to recombine phrases; often hard to understand.

ACTFL Intermediate Low · Intermediate LowCreates with language in short, simple sentences on familiar topics; understood by sympathetic listeners with effort.

ACTFL Intermediate Mid · Intermediate MidHandles a range of uncomplicated everyday tasks, asking and answering simple questions; strings sentences together.

ACTFL Intermediate High · Intermediate HighHandles everyday tasks with confidence and narrates and describes in paragraphs much of the time, but not consistently.

ACTFL Advanced Low · Advanced LowNarrates and describes in past, present and future in paragraph-length speech; handles a routine complication; understood by people unused to learners.

ACTFL Advanced Mid · Advanced MidNarrates and describes across time frames with good control and a broad vocabulary; deals with unexpected complications on familiar topics.

ACTFL Advanced High · Advanced HighPerforms at Advanced level with ease and can partly sustain Superior-level discussion of abstract topics, with some breakdowns.

ACTFL Superior · SuperiorDiscusses abstract and unfamiliar topics, supports opinions and hypothesises, with no pattern of errors that disrupts communication.

ACTFL Distinguished · DistinguishedUses language skilfully and precisely, tailored to audience; handles persuasive, culturally nuanced and highly abstract discourse.

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