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.

Samoan 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.

No example for this level.

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.

No example for this level.

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.

No example for this level.

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.

O le taaloga atata, ua fai e te fai mea leaga. Ua matata so'o o le TV, ua fai fo'i i se mea e te tigaina o lo'u va'aina. O le mea lelei ona fai i le taaloga i luga o le TV, e mafai e fesoasoani e tu'u ai le tamaiti e leai ma se pisa i le fale.

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.

O mea ona mafai e tupu i ta'aloga ma matamata ina o TV o le le mafai o tamaiti e fai ina o latou meaoga ma meaoga e ave i le fale e fai. Aisea? Taluai o tagata ma latou telefoni ma isi fo'i mea o lo'o tu'u ai tamaiti mai fai ina o latou meaoga. A fa'a pea e iai se taimi na iai o se tama po se taine o lo'o iai o le meaoga na tuuina o le faiaoga, o'o ile fale omai tamaiti matamata TV ma ta'alo latou ta'aloga. Sa tu'uina e le faiaona e fai meaona ae sai i leisi aso ae leai se mea ona tusi ma faia. If there were something good that were to be happening from Playing games and watching TV its kids making friends online or learning new things on the internet.

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.

o mea nei o taaloga ma TV ua le faasolo lelei ai olaga a tamaiti i le vaitaimi le nei, aua sa lavea ai foi a'u. O le mea nei o taaloga e i ai itu pa e lelei ai e i ai foi le itu pa fa'alelelei. O taaloga ma TV e lelei auā e fa'anonofo ai tamaiti i le fale ma faifaifa'atasi latou ta'aloga mai i ai le fealofani ma latou fiafia ai foi se taimi, a'o le mea e tau le fa'alelei ai nei mea o ta'aloga taku ai e fiu e faakogu se kaimi le fia faalogo mai auā o lae fai le ta'aloga ma le matamataina o le TV, o mea fo'i nei o taaloga ua le alu ai se ulu i meaaoga e fai le fale, ia a'u ia ma lou malamalama i lea autū, e tatau ga taofi mea nei o taaloga aua e alu ai le uila, lē ai gi meaaoga ia ae pau ga se mea o lo'o ia te a'u fo'i.

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.

I lou lava manatu i lenei mataupu e uiga i tamaiti,aua sa latou faaogaina o taaloga e tauga o le video. O le video o se taaloga e fiafia tele ai tupulaga ma le aofia e taalo iai aua e tele latou vaega esese. E iai foi lona lelei, e iai foi lona leaga. O le taaloga, e iai lona leaga, o se mea e faaleagaina ai mafaufauga o tamaiti ,ma, o le a avea foi nei taaloga ma mea o le a le faia ai latou matafaioi i totonu o potuaoga,e afaina ai foi latou mata. O isi tupulaga talavou o latou lava ia manatu, e fai mai e lelei le taaloga video, aua e fai vaega e fesoasoani foi lesi ia lesi. O le taaloga foi e iai lona aoga aua e tofu taaloga ma latou uiga e maua ai mea lelei i lenei taaloga.

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.

E iai mea e lelei ai le mata mata o tamaiti ile televise ae e iai foi mea e leaga ai. O mea e leaga ai, Muamua ole mata mata ina ole Televise e mafai ona afaina ai lou vaai. Ae leo lena e aveeseina ai le mafaufau ole tamaititi mai le faiga o meaoga ae mua ona a'no ile matamataina ole Televise. O isi taimi e iai ata lē talafeagai e omai i luga ole televise lea e lē tatau ai ona matamata ai tamaiti. O isi taimaiti o mea latou te vaai ai luga ole televise, e latou te ō faatino ma o na e aafia ai latou i auala le lelei. O le isi itu e a'oga ai pe lelei ai ona matamata tamaiti ile televise, ina ia mafai ai ele tamaititi iloa mea oloo tutupu i totonu o lona atunuu, ma mea oloo siosiomia ai o ia. O se faataitaiga ole televise e faasau ai, faasasalauga ole tau pe timu pe la foi. E faailoa ai foi tagata oloo solia tulafono poo oi latou foi o sola ese mai le falepuipui. E faasau ai tala o taaloga, siva, tauvaga pese, o samoa festival poo le taua o lou aganuu faigalotu poo tala foi ole soifua maloloina. Ole aoga la ole televise i tamaiti e mafai ai e laitou ona iloa ma malamalama pe ao'a'o mai ni mea taua e mafai ona faleleia ai lona olaga, ma avea ai o ia ose faataitaiga lelei i ona uso a tagata.

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!