Look at the following CAN DO statements and tick those which you are very confident you can do already – test yourself!
Be honest with yourself so that your final score reflects your true ability to use the language in these four skill areas – we want to make sure you are in the right class!

MY SPEAKING SKILLS

I can..

• Introduce myself
• Spell my name
• Ask and answer simple questions about myself/others (e.g. name, address, nationality)
• Ask for clarification if I don’t understand
• Order some simple food and drink in a café/restaurant without too much difficulty
• Spell words out loud quite confidently
• Ask and answer simple questions about my family and friends
• Make simple requests for items in a shop
• Make simple requests and ask permission
• Ask for simple information
• Ask for directions
• Give simple directions
• Talk about likes and dislikes
• Give simple physical descriptions of people
• Talk about what I ‘need’, ‘want’ ‘would like’
• Talk about what I ‘think’, ‘prefer’
• Make simple suggestions
• Talk about your last holiday and what you did
• Tell simple stories and relate events in sequence
• Make and respond to invitations
• Give advice
• Give instructions and explain how to use something
• Respond appropriately in certain social situations
• Talk about health problems
• Express what is wrong with products & services
• Compare and contrast ideas
• Describe change
• Talk about past experiences
• Can describe objects in detail
• Can complain

MY LISTENING SKILLS

I can..

• Understand numbers 1-50 when given very slowly
• Understand numbers 1-100 when given very slowly
• Understand basic personal questions about name, age, nationality etc
• Understand time (o’clock, quarter past/to, half past) when given slowly
• Understand it when someone tells me the time
• Understand prices when given slowly
• Understand the main points of a conversation of a familiar topic
• When people speak very slowly and clearly
• Follow some simple instructions
• Follow some simple directions given slowly
• Recognise and respond to greetings
• Recognise and respond to instructions; offers and requests for information
• Recognise and respond to offers
• Recognise and respond to requests for information
• Recognise and respond to suggestions
• Understand simple narration
• Understand advice and opinions
• Understand spoken rules and regulations, obligation and prohibition
• Understand the main ideas of a TV or radio programme
• Hold basic conversations on the telephone without a great deal of difficulty
• Understand and confidently follow clear instructions

MY READING SKILLS

I can..

• Read simple short texts with familiar vocabulary for basic understanding
• Get the gist of short, simple notices in public areas
• Understand simple food lists/menus
• Understand most of the information on everyday notices and posters in a town (sometimes need the help of additional information e.g. photos)
• Recognise the purpose & main gist of content of simple texts encountered in daily life e.g. an advert in a magazine, an appointment card, a form
• Find specific, predictable information in simple everyday materials e.g. a holiday brochure or timetable or cooking instruction on packets
• Confidently understand a variety of public signs e.g. written directions, prices, simple menus, bills, simple adverts
• Read holiday leaflets and brochures to find information
• Read and get a good understanding of labels/information on everyday supermarket products
• Recognise and generally understand written rules and regulations and guidelines
• Read and understand a simple CV or description of a person’s life experience
• Read most magazine or newspaper articles to get a basic idea of the content
• Read some authentic materials from newspapers / magazines
• Read various sets of instructions e.g. cooking instructions, washing instructions, instructions to construct flat-pack items etc.
• Read a simple story

MY WRITING SKILLS

I can..

• Write a simple shopping list (basic items)
• Fill in a simple personal information form
• Write a very simple diary
• Note down simple words when spelled out loud
• Spell some basic words of vocabulary
• Fill in a simple questionnaire (tick boxes)
• Write a simple note (assisted writing)
• Complete a registration form
• Write a simple letter / email to a friend
• Complete a questionnaire with tick boxes and places for comment
• Write a simple personal letter / postcard / email
• Write a simple invitation
• Write a simple letter of complaint
• Write a simple set or rules
• Write a variety of notes