Depending on the country, state and type of school in which you wish to study English as a Second Language (ESL), there may be different tests you must take to assess your proficiency level. These tests help place you in an appropriate ESL class level, usually including variations of advanced, intermediate, and beginner. Most of these tests will focus on the same basic principles of English, so no matter where you plan to enroll, you can prepare to do your best

Oral Proficiency
The oral proficiency assessment focuses on your ability to speak English. Students who wish to enter an advanced ESL class must be able to communicate with relative fluency in English and feel fairly comfortable participating in conversations on a variety of topics with native speakers. Intermediate students will be able to speak simple phrases that are relative to everyday tasks and social situations. Beginners have a minimal speaking ability and are limited to a few words and simple phrases with a simple vocabulary.

Writing Proficiency
The writing proficiency assessment focuses on your ability to write in English. Advanced students should be able to write a variety of essays, such as narratives, descriptions and summaries, with a strong display of grammar mastery. Intermediate students are able to write more simple essays, like letters and basic descriptions. Beginning ESL students should be able to copy words and phrases but have little independent writing skills.

Reading Comprehension Proficiency
Reading proficiency tests assess the student's ability to comprehend what he has read in English. Advanced students will have a high level of comprehension, being able to find specific facts and summarize both fictional stories and nonfictional essays in English. Intermediate students can find some specifics in a story when asked, but may have more difficulty summing up the main idea of an essay. Beginning ESL students may have a decent vocabulary but struggle with understanding paragraphs or essays longer than just a few sentences.

Listening Comprehension Proficiency
Listening proficiency tests assess an ESL student's ability to comprehend and respond to what they've heard. Advanced students can usually understand most of what is spoken by a native speaker, including on the phone. Intermediate students can usually catch a few phrases, but may struggle with providing the gist of a longer speech. Beginning students can often pick out individual words they know, but have difficulty keeping up with more than one spoken sentence at a time.