Language

The Language criterion evaluates the student’s use of grammar, vocabulary, and spelling. It considers both accuracy and range — how correctly and how ambitiously the student uses English.

What It Measures

• Is the grammar accurate? Are tenses, articles, prepositions used correctly?
• Does the student use a range of vocabulary appropriate for the level?
• Is spelling and punctuation correct?
• Does the student attempt complex structures, or rely only on simple sentences?

What a High Score Looks Like

A student scoring well on Language will:

• Use grammar accurately with only minor errors
• Demonstrate a range of vocabulary appropriate to the topic and level
• Attempt more complex sentence structures (conditionals, relative clauses, passive voice)
• Spell and punctuate correctly throughout

Common Areas for Improvement

• Repeated grammar errors — e.g. consistent mistakes with articles, tenses, or subject-verb agreement
• Limited vocabulary — using the same words repeatedly instead of varying expression
• Only simple sentences — avoiding complex structures entirely
• Spelling mistakes — especially with common words
• Word choice errors — using words that don’t quite fit the context

Tips for Students

• Proofread your work before submitting — look specifically for grammar and spelling errors
• Try to use vocabulary that matches the topic (e.g. formal vocabulary for reports, descriptive language for stories)
• Challenge yourself to use at least some complex sentence structures
• If you’re unsure about a word, try a simpler alternative that you know is correct