The following shows writing examples at various proficiency levels. These were produced by real language learners and may contain errors. See Writing Section Tips at the bottom of this page.

Writing Examples

Level 1: | Novice-Low

At this level, I am able to create individual words that have no extended meaning.

I can share some simple vocabulary, which deals with the prompt/task/situation, but I tend to struggle to connect those words to create meaning.

kah del caan le kha

Level 2: | Novice-Mid

At this level, I am beginning to develop the ability to create meaning by grammatically connecting words.

Specifically, I can connect some basic subjects and verbs or verbs and objects, but I may be inconsistent at doing this.

I am often limited in my vocabulary to Novice level topics that I experience in my every-day life or that I have recently learned.

ka duh bik mi khua caan mi cu summer a ci. cawlcanghnak pawl zong mi cu ballun chuih le basket cil.

Level 3: | Novice-High

At this level, I can create simple sentences with very basic grammatical control and accuracy.

There are often errors in my responses, while at the same time I might have good control with some very simple structures and functions of the language that I have just learned or studied.

At the Novice levels, errors are expected as I try to create simple sentences. Generally, the sentences that I am able to create are very basic and simple with few, if any, added details.

Ngakchia game celh a tha lo nak cuh an mit a rawk dih. ngakchia game celh cu um har lo nak ah a tha mi a si.

Level 4: | Intermediate-Low

At this level, I can create simple sentences with some added detail; such sentences help create VARIETY.

At the Intermediate Low level, simple sentences are enhanced by use of prepositional phrases, helping verb usage, as well as some adverbs and a variety of adjectives.

I generally create independent sentences (ideas) that can be moved around without affecting the overall meaning of the response. There are still a number of errors in my response, but I have fairly good control of more basic sentences. I am feeling more confident in using different structures and expanding vocabulary and taking more risks with my responses.

Hngakchia nih TV zohnak lei le game celhnak lei ah kar an hlan tikah hngakchia a hrawh ngai hna zeicaah tiah game le TV an zoh tikah sianginn lei ca an zoh ti lo. Tv le game nih an nunnak ah rian a tuan cang tikah hngakchia a hrawh ngaihna tiah ka hmuh.

Level 5: | Intermediate-Mid

At this level, I can now create enough language to show groupings of ideas.

My thoughts are loosely connected and cannot be moved around without affecting meaning.

I can also create a few sentences with complexity and am able to use some transition words.  I am also able to use more than just simple present tense, but often make mistakes when I try to use other tenses.

My vocabulary use is expanding and I am able to use more than the usual, high frequency or most common vocabulary. I feel that I am able to create new language on my own and communicate my everyday needs without too much difficulty.

Keimah ka ruah ning ah cun, TV zoh hi cu a sual lo ka ti nain a zaa tawk cu um ve. Hngakchia nih TV zoh a that nak cu, TV kan zoh ah hin zei dah vawlei cungah a cang ti kha kan hngalh deuh. MIrang holh cawng lio mi ca zongah a tha. Hngackhia hi mirang holh cawng lio mi kan si tik ah, TV ah mirang ca a tial mi hi kan rel le a kan bawmh. Hngakchia nih TV zoh a that lo nak cu an mit a rawk kho. Caa lei ah an i zuam lo. Sianginn in tin in TV hmai ah an tthu i, an thluak kha ca lei ah a kal kho lo. Mah hi keimah ka ruah mi cu asi.

Level 6: | Intermediate-High

At this level, I have good control of the language and feel quite confident about an increasing range of topics.

There are still some occasional errors in my language production, but that does not hinder my ability to communicate what I need to share.

I can use circumlocution to explain or describe things for which I do not know specific vocabulary or structures. I can understand and use different time frames and am just beginning to develop the ability to switch most time frames with accuracy. I can use transition words and concepts with some ease. My language has a more natural flow, but I still may have some unnatural pauses or hesitations.

Kan nu le kan pa nih TV cu zoh hlah a kan ti bik nak cu kan mit arawk sual lai ti an phan caah a si. A hman mi cu a si ko nain, TV chung kan zoh mi nih cun tthathnemnak tam pi a chuah pi khawh ve. TV chung ak ngakchia zonh ding an chiah mi "PBS kids" pawl nih cun ngakcia caah "ABC" thiam nak le nifa umtu ning pawl tiang a cawnpiak khawh hna. Cartoon dang zong nih an umhar tik ah nuamhnak a pek hna. Cu tiang cu thil ttha an si ko nain a tthat lo nak le mit rawh nak a chuahpinak cu sau tuk lengmang an zoh caah a si. Ngakchia nih cun zei tluk sau an zoh cu zei ah an rel lo i, nu le pa nih a zohkhenh hna lo ahcun sau tuk a zoh tikah, mit rawh nak le ngandam lonak a chuahpi khawh. TV le games cu zoh le celh ah cun a sual nak cu a um lo, a tthat zong a ttha mi a si kho ko. Sihmanhsehlaw, an kum he tlak lo tiang in a zoh mi le an i celh mi nih cun mit rawhnak le taksa dam lo nak a chuch pi.

Level 7: | Advanced-Low

At this level my response contains a number of complexities with higher degree of accuracy.

Such language allows me to address each aspect of the prompt more completely and with more depth of meaning.

I am able to use Advanced vocabulary or Advanced terms, conjugations etc. with confidence. I feel that I can create natural flow using as much detail and descriptive language as possible to create a clear picture. Errors with more complex structures may still occur. My ability to switch time frames begins to increase in accuracy.

Ngakchia nih TV zohnak le video games i celh nak in that nak tampi a chuah pi kawh, a ruang cu hngakchia thil pakhat pakhat a cawn tik ah khualrang in a cawn nak cu hmuhnak le tuahnak hin a si. TV in thil tha cawn ding tampi zohkhawh an si. Hrial ding thil tha lo zong hmuhkhawh an si caah ngakchia nih ralrin ding thil an theih. TV in vawlei cungah zeidah a cang timi an thanh caah vawlei cung i a cangmi thawngpang theihkhawh a si. Cu nih cun, theihhngalhnak tampi a pek hna. Games celh zong hi thluak hman a hau. A tha tein tuaktan lo cun, games celh tikah tei khawh a si lo. Nuamhnak a pek lawng si loin, zeitin ka tei lai timi zuam duhnak zong games celhnak in an cawn. TV le video games nih that nak tam pi a pek kawh hna. Mah hna cu holh an thiam zau; khua hmuhnak in an cawn mi tam; cun an khuaruah a rangter deuh kawh. Thatnak tampi a pek kawh hna bantuk in chiatnak tampi zong a chuah pi ve, tahchunnak ah TV le video game an i celh/an zoh tuk nak ah hawi kawmhnak ah an der, ca lei cawnnak ah hawi dangnak in an thiam deuh lo kho, cun caan tuak tan an thiam lo. A hlei in lung zawtnak (social depression/bully) an tong kho. TV le video games nih thatnak tam pi a chuahpi bang, chiatnak tampi a chuah pi ve. TV le games hi a hmanzia an thiam ding a bia pi.

Level 8: | Advanced-Mid

At this level my response demonstrates my ease with the language.

I am able to create a response which not only addresses each aspect of the prompt, but delves into each point with clarity and concise language.

I am able to incorporate a number of more complex structures as well as Advanced vocabulary and Advanced phrases with a higher degree of accuracy throughout the majority of the response.

The language I create has a natural flow due to the way I incorporate a variety of patterns and complexities into my response. My response shows my ability to create language that has sophistication of language skills and syntactical density. My ability to switch time frames accurately is evident, if called for in the prompt.

Hawikom tha ngeih khawh ti hi thluahchuah pakhat bak ah ka hmuh. Zeiruangah dah hawikom tha ngeih hi a biapi ti si ah cun, minung kan si bantuk in, harnak kan tong kho, ngeihchiatnak zong kan tong kho i, cu harnak kan ton lio ah, kan pawng te ah a kan umpi kho tu le thazaang a kan pe kho tu ngeih hi kan herh. Hawikom tha ngeih kan duh a si ahcun, kan mah pumpak ah hin a thawk ti in ka hmuh. Keimah hi ka that ah le zumhawktlak mi ka si ah cun, ka pawngkam nih khin an ka zumh khawh lai. Keimah ka um tuning hi, mi kong ceih duh takmi, hawi le he i sik i velh peng mi khi hei si ning law, hawikom tha kan hmuh kho lai lo. Hawikom tha ngeih na duh a si ah cun, nangmah na nunnak kha duhning tein um hnasa. Hawikom tha ah ka zoh hmasa bik mi cu, mah mi nu, mah mi pa hi ka zum kho lai maw ti khi ka zoh. Mi pakhat khi, biathli na chim tik hna ah, a dang paw nih khin tah an hngal ve maw hngal lo ti khi ngia. Mi dang sin ah a chim lo, cun nangmah khi na palh mi chung ah thazaang an pek ah cun, ka hawikom tha ding ah ka ser kho ti mi kha aa fiang. Hawikom kawl tikah hin, a tha thu tukmi khi kawm hlah. Na caah san tlaihnak a um lai lo. Hawikom tha cu an mah caah a tha mi an ruah mi khi an in chimh ve i, nangmah khi a tha mi khi hngal seh law a tha mi khi tuah ve seh ti an in duh lai. Hawikom tha nih cun, lam tha lo ah an in pial pi lai lo i na lung zong an in nuamhter lai. Ka hawitha ka ti mi pawl hi, keimah nih ka zumh khawh hna i, ka lung duh bia zong za lawng te in ka chimh khawh hna. Ka hawitha nih cun, sianginn lei ah siseh, biakinn lei ah siseh, a tha mi khi an tuah i, thazaang tam pi a kan pek.

Writing Section Tips

Additional resources can be found in the Power-Up Guide and on our Video Tutorials page.

  • Be a ‘show-off’ – this is the time to show what you can do!
  • Be organized in your writing.
  • Challenge yourself to go above and beyond what you normally write.
  • Be creative and don’t stress out over possible errors. Perfection is not the goal!

Simply do your best and enjoy creating and communicating in the language that you are learning.

Good Luck!