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.

Yup’ik 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.

Aiparnikucaraq assirtuq kenkuyuruq cali asituq millpararaq kina ikaurkata asirtuq. Kitngiq asituq.

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.

Yugnikucaramek qanrutqataramken. Kenkulluci tamarpeci. Yuk pingraaten uitalluku, taugaam assikurturluki. Camek qanerpeknak uniilluki taukut yuut asitellriit. Akinauqsaunaki yuut pingratgen.

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.

Yuut atam ilait asirtut, taugaam yugnikengqerquvet asiitellrianek canek pituulinek asiituq. Ilait yuut yugnek allanek asiinaki pilarait. Ayuqsuitut yuut ilait asiilkucetuut ilait-llu assirluteng. wiinga kiingan ataucimek yugnikengqertua.

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.

Yugnikekngaq. Angliurallemteni, tamamta yugnikekngangqelartukut. Yugnikekngarput makut arcaqertut yullemteggun avavet tuqullerkamtenun. Yugnikekngarput ikayularaakut umyuamteggun cali ircaqumteggun. Taugaam, ayainanemteni yugnikekngarput ilait asriuciqut. Ellpet cucuukeciiqaten kinkut yugnikeksukuvki. Yugnikekngangqellerkaq ellpet yuguluuten pituan.

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.

Yugnikucaraq arcaqertuq. Yugnikekngangqelleq ikayuutnguuq cakneq. Ikayuryugnaakun canek capernarqellrianek ikayuryugaqamta. Cingumalaraakut assilrianun. iliini-llu cakviuramta umyuamtnek, ikayutuakut qalarulluuta wall'u niicugniluuteng. Kina tangerkuvgu angniitellriamek wall'u ikayuryulriamek ikayuryarturaqluki, aipaagni yugnikekngangyugnauten tuaten. Wiinga cakviuraqama ilanka wiinga qalarutelaranka iliini-llu ikayurcetaatuunga camek cakviuraqama. Tauna tua-i arcaqertuq yugnikeksariiyaraq.

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.

Kiivet-qaa yukuvet yugnikekngaunak anglanaqsartuq? Wangnun anglanaqsanrituq. Yugnikengat pitciatun ikayuryugngatgen. Ikayuryugngatgen ellavni assitaqavet, ikayurluten pingnatusqeciqaaten. Anglanarqevkatuit-llu yuulput, kiivet anglaniillerkaq capernarquq. Elpet assilrianek yugnikekngangyukuuvet, elpet qalarutarkaugaten ciumek, taull' cali calallrit murilkelluki. Assiitellrianek yugnikekngaqelleq assinritut, tua-i-gua pitciatun ilaliulata cali assiilngunek aturyugngaata. Taukunek yugnikekngaqekuuvet, tuaten ayuqliriiyugngauten. Taumek assilrianek pingnaqarkaulriaten, assirluten yuuniartuten, anglaniluten-llu. Iliini nakutlartut yuut, taugaam cali assikarkaugaten, teganret qanlartut, "Calten ataam ellpenun tailartut." Tamaana wii ukvekaaqa, tua-i-gua wiinga yugnikekngaqa-llu nakukutelguukuk. Qenngutelguukuk-llu, taugaam assircarluku pilaraqa wangnun ataam tutnayuklluku. Kiingan-llu atauciuguq taun yuk, yugnikekngaqenrillkevgu ataam yugnikekngairucugngaten. Yugnikekngaqa wii assikaqa wangtun ayuqngan. Assilngurnek yugnek assikiyuituq, tua-i-gua ellaitcetun ayuqsagiiyuaran. Assirluten yugnek kenkikuuvet, assikiluten-llu assilirianek yugnikekngangciquten.

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.

Mikelnguut qessanquurcugngaut kiingan aqumgaurluteng suuqcaarluteng kallugkun-llu naanguarumaluuteng. Taugaam ilait suurcuutni elitnaqellrianek pitangqetuuq, canek elitnaurvigmi elicungcalrianek. Cali mikelnguut nakukucugluteng pilartut. Aipaa kallugkun naanguaqan tauna pissqevkenaku nakukucugngauk taukuk. Niicuirusngiinaatuut-llu kiingan suuryugluteng wall' naanguaryugluteng angayuqait caukevkenaki. Mikelnguut cali aipaagni tv-tuut kallugkun-llu naanguarluteng nepaunateng. Nepaunateng suurluteng wall' naanguarluteng piaqata caarkat enemi piyugngaaput taukut mikelnguut uvamutevkenaateng. Taugaam canek piciatun tangvagaaqata nakuukutellrianek, assitellrianek canek, elicugngaut nakukucaramek wall' arivtaanermek. Maairpak arivtaalrianek, tuqucilrianek, wall' nakukutelllrianek pitangqertuq kallugkun naanguani suurcuutni-llu. Tamaakut aturyugngait ayuqeliluki. Ilait-llu cali anyuirunaateng enemetaurluteng cavkenateng. Maktamaaqluteng-llu tuaten ilait pinaurtut elitnaurarkaungraata unuakumi. Mikelnguum angayuqaagni cali aipaagni qigcikenritua allat-llu cali mikelnguut.

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!