| Level 7 Adequate proficiency | Express a main idea with supporting detail in a short, moderately complex factual text. | Use common and some context-specific words to communicate meaning. | Organize related ideas into paragraphs; adequate control of complex grammar and good control of simple grammar, spelling and punctuation. | Follow most common writing conventions and convey factual information for a familiar or clearly defined audience. |
| Level 8 Good proficiency | Develop a main idea with supporting details in a short, moderately complex text. | Use common or context-specific words to communicate meaning. | Write well-organized paragraphs with good control of complex grammar, spelling and punctuation. | Use common writing conventions and convey and support main ideas for a familiar or clearly defined audience. |
| Level 9 Effective proficiency | Write short formal and informal texts of some complexity and support key ideas with relevant facts, descriptions or details. | Choose words and phrases that give accurate details, descriptions and comparisons. | Write well-organized paragraphs with control of a range of complex structures and good control of spelling and punctuation. | Use tone and style that follow some formal and most informal conventions and convey intended meaning to a defined audience. |
| Level 10 Highly effective proficiency | Support key ideas with a range of facts, descriptions and details in short formal and informal texts of some complexity. | Choose words and phrases that provide precise details, descriptions and comparisons. | Connect ideas within and between paragraphs with good control of a range of complex and diverse grammatical structures. | Follow most formal and informal writing conventions and convey intended meaning to a defined audience. |
| Level 12 Expert proficiency | Write complex formal and informal texts for a full range of purposes and develop ideas with relevant and sufficient support. | Choose specialized, formal and common words to express precise meaning. | Connect ideas within and between paragraphs with very good control of a very broad range of complex and diverse structures. | Use tone and style appropriate to the situation and communicate ideas precisely for a diverse or undefined audience. |