Initial ELPAC General PLDs

These performance level descriptors (PLDs), which apply across grades and grade spans, provide a general range of student performance on the Initial English Language Proficiency Assessments of California (ELPAC).

Level	Description
Initial Fluent English Proficient (IFEP)	Students at this level have well developed oral (listening and speaking) and written (reading and writing) skills. They can use English to learn and communicate in meaningful ways that are appropriate to different tasks, purposes, and audiences in a variety of social and academic contexts. They may need occasional linguistic support to engage in familiar social and academic contexts; they may need light support to communicate on less familiar tasks and topics. This test performance level corresponds to the upper range of the “Bridging” proficiency level as described in the 2012 California English Language Development Standards, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (2012 English Language Development Standards).
Intermediate English Learner	Students at this level have somewhat developed to moderately developed oral (listening and speaking) and written (reading and writing) skills. This level captures a broad range of English learners, from those who can use English only to meet immediate communication needs to those who can, at times, use English to learn and communicate in meaningful ways in a range of topics and content areas. They may need some degree of linguistic support to engage in familiar social and academic contexts (depending on the student, the level of support needed may be moderate, light, or minimal); they may need substantial-to-moderate support to communicate on less familiar tasks and topics. This test performance level corresponds to the entire “Expanding” proficiency level and to the lower range of the “Bridging” proficiency level as described in the 2012 English Language Development Standards.
Novice English Learner	Students at this level have minimally developed oral (listening and speaking) and written (reading and writing) English skills. They tend to rely on learned words and phrases to communicate meaning at a basic level. They need substantial-to-moderate linguistic support to communicate in familiar social and academic contexts; they need substantial linguistic support to communicate on less familiar tasks and topics. This test performance level corresponds to the “Emerging” proficiency level as described in the 2012 English Language Development Standards.

Questions: English Language Proficiency and Spanish Assessments Office | elpac@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0784

Last Reviewed: Thursday, May 18, 2023