Interpreting Diagnostic Test Scores

The VLC Diagnostic Test provides a way to compare your score with a range of band descriptors as used by various international English examinations. For this to be most meaningful you should complete all 200 questions of both grammar and listening sections of the test, keep a record of your scores in each part of the test and then compare your total score with the following graphs and band tables to see where you stand.

Band descriptors with scores

You can refer to the table below to see some of the generally used band descriptors and corresponding scores for this test.

Score	Band	Descriptor	IELTS
		Native speaker - fully bilingual
190	9	Near-native speaker: expert user	9
185	8	Professional user (ESL teacher)	9
180	8	Very advanced highly proficient user	8
170	7	Advanced proficient user	7
160	6	Advanced competent user	6
150	6	Post intermediate competent user	5
145	5	Upper intermediate	5
140	5	Mid-intermediate independent user	5
135	4	Lower intermediate	4
130	4	Pre-intermediate adequate user	4
120	3	Post elementary - threshold level	4
110	3	Elementary - limited user	3
100	2	Foundation level	2
90	2	Basic - very limited user	2
80	1	False beginner - minimal user	1
		Absolute beginner - non-user	0

Comparing your VLC Diagnostic Test Score with Cambridge English exams

**1. Comparing your VLC Test Score with various Cambridge Proficiency exams**

**2. Comparing your VLC Test Score with other Cambridge Communication Skills exams**

Graphs created by Voyce Li

CPE:		Certificate of Proficiency in English
CAE:		Certificate of Advanced English
FCE:		First Certificate in English
PET:		Preliminary English Test
CCSE:		Certificate of Communication Skills in English
CEIBT:		Certificate in English for International Business & Trade