STANAG 6001 Language Proficiency Levels

NATO STANAG 6001 Ed. 4 language proficiency levels explained — from 0+ Memorized to 5 Native. Accessible reference for SLP job profiles.

NATO STANAG 6001, Ed. 4

Overview of Language Proficiency Levels

NATO STANAG 6001, Ed. 4 — Standardised Language Proficiency Level Descriptors (Bureau for International Language Coordination, June 2013)
STANAG 6001 Proficiency Level	Tasks What a person can do with the language	Topics & Contexts What a person can understand, talk and write about	Accuracy How well a person can use the language
5 Highly articulate native	Proficiency equivalent to that of a well educated, highly articulate native speaker, reader, etc.
4 Expert	Can understand and produce precise and nuanced language to handle highly demanding tasks, such as negotiating, persuading, etc.	Highly complex and abstract, professional, expert-related language needs.	Uses precise, efficient and nuanced language.
3 Professional	Can understand and produce language to justify policy decisions, support opinions, speculate on outcomes, etc.	Abstract topics, policy papers, professional articles, editorials, etc.	Uses language effectively and accurately in professional and social settings.
2 Functional	Can understand and produce detailed descriptions, instructions, directions; can narrate events in past, present and future time; can understand and report on factual information; can resolve routine problems.	Personal background, interests, current events, everyday work requirements such as reports, memos, procedures, etc.	Uses language confidently in most everyday, routine work and social situations.
1 Survival	Can ask and answer simple, routine, familiar questions and participate in short conversations and written exchanges.	Everyday survival topics and courtesy expressions, such as greetings, shopping, biography, basic travel, etc.	Misunderstands frequently.
0+ Memorized	Can understand and produce isolated words & memorized phrases.	Some basic personal information, greetings, numbers, time expressions, common objects.	Miscommunicates most of the time.