Clarification details
Updated December 2019. This document addresses issues that have arisen from moderation.
Demonstrating independent competence (Guidance Information 5)
Learners may use a bilingual and/or a monolingual English dictionary, but not electronic devices, to help them read and evaluate the extended written texts. Monolingual dictionaries should be those designed for English language learners at level 4.
Vocabulary levels (Guidance Information 8 (ii))
The vocabulary of the text must be guided by the first 2500 words of the New General Service List (NGSL).
New General Service List (external link)
This means that most of the words will be within the first 2500 high frequency words. However, it is expected that texts will also include specialised vocabulary and fiction will include many proper nouns. (external link)
Assessors may find the NGSL/NAWL Vocabulary Profiler or English Profile Text Inspector tools useful for analysing the vocabulary level of texts to confirm suitability.
NGSL/NAWL Vocabulary Profiler (external link)
English Profile Text Inspector (external link)
Text types (Outcome 1 Range statement)
Details of the four extended written texts read should be documented. Sample pages from texts or webpage links should be kept to verify the suitability of texts for this level 4 standard. Visual or oral texts cannot be used for assessment against this standard.