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.

Haitian Creole Proficiency Tests and Resources

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.

jwe manje chen dòmi

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.

timoun jwe timoun dòmi

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.

timoun yo jwe jwèt. timoun yo ale lekòl epi yo ak yo jwe foutbòl

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.

Jwet la gende fwa li bon pou timoun nan epi gende fwa li pa bon. tele bon pou timoun nan le lap gade tele a li apran apil bagay ke paran pat jamn te ka moutre yo . men enpe fwa li pa bon paske timoun nan kon pran tout jounen ladan, men yo beswen sot deyo a pou yal jwe, yo beswen soley pou yo grandi bien.

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.

Le yon timoun gade televizyon avek jwè videyo gen anpil bagay li ka aprenn na program yo ki ka positif o negatif. Un nan bagay positif yon timoun ka aprenn na jwè videyo se ki jan pou li fè strateji le li rankontre yon problem dificil nan la vi-a. Nan jwèt videyo, gen anpil strateji ki fet pou yon moun ka genyen, si yon moun pa konye kijan pou li devlope yon bon strateji li pap reusi, sa se menmja ke la vi-a ye. Men, an menm tan si timoun la pa reálize ke jwèt videyo se pa reálite li ye yo ka escye fe menm aksyon ke yo we yo, sa pap bon sìtu si son jwèt vwola. Pou televizyon a, timoun gen yon abitude pou yon kope nepot bagay ke yon tande o we, si se yon bagay bon yo we yap kope li e si se yon bagay mal yo we yap kope li twò. Sa vle di ke fòke paren timoun pran anpil prekosyon avek ki bagay yo kite timoun gade e jwè.

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.

Mwen kwè ke enfliyans televizyon ak jwèt videyo genyen sou timoun jodia pa kite timoun grandi e aprann potensial yo. Le timoun vin sot lekol e antre lakay primye bagay yo fè se ale sou televizyon epi jwe juskaske yo paka ouvri zwè yo. Menm si jwèt sa yo ka impoze yo enfliyans ki pa bon sou timoun, genyen bagay timoun ka aprann nan jwèt sa yo ki ka detwi tet yo. Bagay ke nou pa tap janm konnen yo ta konpran. Timoun konnen yo epi le yo soti deyò a ak zanmi yo se yon lot kalite timoun ou wè kap jwe. Yap jwe jwèt tire ak youn lòt o ou wè yap jwe jwèt goumen epi nan yon ti moman anko yap goumen tout bon vre. Mwen kwe si yon timoun ta genyen tout fòs sa pou yo leve chak matin pou yo ale nan televizyon e nan jwèt videyo, yo ka gen menm fòs sa pou yo etidyè e mètè tout tèt yo nan yon liv e aprann, paske televizyon e jwèt videyo pap la pou tout tan, yo paka montrè ou bagay esansiyal pou ka gen yon vi en conduit. Montre timoun ou se pa jwet ak televizyon k-ap ede yo avansè nan lavi, men se tet yo ka ede yo.

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.

Jwèt videyo ak televizyon gen yon gwo efè sou timoun yo. Gen kèk ki bon ak kèk ki move. Lè yon timoun gen jwèt videyo lakay li, li pa gen anpil tan pou l fè lòt bagay. Pa egzanp, frè m nan te gen yon jwèt videyo nan chanm li ki te pran tout tan li. Li te pase jounen an ak aswè tou nan chanm jwèt li. Li soti sèlman lè li te bezwen manje, ak lè tout moun nan kay la soti. Li pa t dòmi anpil, li pa t manje anpil, li pa t pale ak fanmi l. Manman m ak papa m te eseye retire jwèt videyo a nan men l epi li te fache anpil. Li pa t sèlman fache kont paran m yo, men tou ak rès mond lan. Li te kriye chak jou e li te fè tout moun santi yo mal. Men, se pa tout timoun ki reyaji menm jan ak ti frè m nan. Mwen kwè ke paran yo ta dwe mete plis limit sou konbyen tan pitit yo pase jwe jwèt videyo. Okontrè, mwen pa kwè ke televizyon se move tankou jwèt videyo. Anpil fwa, lè ou gade televizyon, ou aprann yon bagay. Lè yo gade televizyon, timoun yo ka aprann valè ki gen anpil valè ak leson lavi ki gen anpil valè. Gade televizyon kapab amizan anpil e li kapab yon bon fason pou pase bon kalite tan fanmi. Finalman, gade televizyon ka enfòmatif epi ede moun yo konnen sa k ap pase nan mond lan, peyi a, ak kominote a.

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.

Televizyon ak jwèt videyo ka pa bon pou timoun yo lè timoun nan fè twòp. Si timoun nan pase twòp tan ap gade televizyon ak jwe jwèt videyo, timoun nan pap jwenn ase aktivite fizik. Pou timoun yo devlope nòmalman, yo dwe ale deyò nan tan pou fè egzèsis. Si yo toujou chita devan televizyon an, yo ka pran anpil pwa. Sa a pa bon pou sante timoun nan. Yon lòt enpak negatif sa ka genyen sou timoun yo se ke timoun yo ap pèdi entèraksyon ak lòt timoun yo. Sa enpòtan anpil pou timoun yo devlope kapasite pou yo pale ak moun. Si timoun nan toujou devan televizyon an, li pral pèdi kapasite sa a. Finalman, lè timoun yo pase twòp tan devan yon ekran tankou jwe jwèt videyo ap gade televizyon, oswa itilize telefòn yo toujou ap devlope sentòm mantal ak fizik. Kèk nan sentòm sa yo se diminye fonksyon kognitif, bwouya mantal, span atansyon redwi, pwoblèm memwa, chanjman atitid, estrès, chimerik, enkyetid, depresyon, pwoblèm vizyon kout tèm ak iritasyon je, dòmi pòv, ak domaj vizyon alontèm. Okontrè, gade televizyon pa toujou move pou timoun yo si yo pa pase twòp tan sou li. Li ka gen yon enpak pozitif sou yon timoun. Gade televizyon epi jwe bon jwèt videyo pou timoun yo paske timoun nan ka jwi li. Bagay sa yo ka fè timoun nan kontan. Pou sante timoun nan, li enpòtan pou li jwi bagay li renmen yo e pou l kontan. Yon lòt enpak pozitif gade televizyon ka genyen sou yon timoun se ke li ka anseye timoun yo valè enpòtan ak leson lavi. Pwogram edikatif kapab devlope ladrès sosyalizasyon ak aprantisaj timoun piti yo. Nouvèl, evènman aktyèl yo ak pwogram istorik yo ka ede fè jèn yo vin pi konsyan de lòt kilti ak lòt moun.

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!