Performance band descriptions for English EAL/D

Band 6

The typical performance in this band:

• demonstrates comprehensive knowledge and insightful understanding of the ways meanings are shaped and conveyed by context, audience, purpose, cultural values and medium of production in a variety of texts and contexts
• displays highly developed skills in engaging with the details of texts and analysing and evaluating language forms, features and structures of academic, personal, social, historical, cultural and workplace texts
• presents highly developed interpretive, critical, reflective and imaginative responses that incorporate refined understanding of ideas, attitudes and culturally-based values in texts
• sustains clear, fluent communication of ideas, information and values, using language forms and features appropriate to audience, purpose and context.

Band 5

The typical performance in this band:

• demonstrates thorough knowledge and perceptive understanding of the ways meanings are shaped and conveyed by context, audience, purpose, cultural values and medium of production in a variety of texts and contexts
• displays well-developed skills in engaging with the details of texts and explaining and analysing language forms, features and structures of personal, social, cultural and workplace texts
• presents well-developed interpretive, critical and imaginative responses, that incorporate considered understanding of ideas, attitudes and culturally-based values in texts
• sustains clear communication of ideas, information and values, using language forms and features appropriate to audience, purpose and context.

Band 4

The typical performance in this band:

• demonstrates clear knowledge and understanding of the ways meanings are shaped and conveyed by context, audience, purpose, cultural values and medium of production in different texts and contexts
• displays sound skills in engaging with the details of texts and describing and explaining language forms, features and structures of personal, social, cultural and workplace texts
• presents developed interpretive and imaginative responses, showing broad understanding of ideas, attitudes and culturally-based values in texts
• communicates ideas and information clearly, using language forms and features appropriate to audience, purpose and context.

Band 3

The typical performance in this band:

• demonstrates generalised knowledge and understanding of the ways meanings are shaped and conveyed by context, audience, purpose, cultural values and medium of production in specific texts and contexts
• identifies and describes language forms, features and structures of some personal, social, cultural and workplace texts
• presents responses showing evidence of literal interpretation of texts and a basic understanding of the main ideas in texts
• communicates basic ideas and information in personal, social, cultural and workplace texts.

Band 2

The typical performance in this band:

• demonstrates elementary knowledge and understanding of the ways meanings are shaped and conveyed by context, audience and purpose in some texts
• identifies and comments on some language forms, features and structures of personal, social, cultural and workplace texts
• presents simple, undeveloped responses showing awareness of the main ideas in texts
• composes simple texts characteristic of everyday communication.

Band 1

Performance reported as Band 1 indicates that the minimum standard expected was not demonstrated.