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English Proficiency by Occupation – How to Interpret

This article helps you make sense of the English Proficiency scores returned by the API and understand what those values reveal about your workforce or talent market.

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What does this chart show?

This chart shows the recommended English proficiency levels—across reading, writing, speaking, listening, and overall—for someone to perform the role effectively in a given occupation. These ranges are grounded in real-world occupational tasks and reflect the minimum and maximum expectations for communication.

Each component is shown with a minimum and maximum band (e.g. 49–57), giving you a practical window into what’s needed to function confidently in that occupation.

What do the values mean?

The values are based on Pearson Test of English (PTE) scores, which range from 10 to 90. These scores are aligned with global English benchmarks and recognized by employers, universities, and governments worldwide.

PTE Score Range General Proficiency Level
30–42 Functional / Limited working proficiency
43–58 Moderate / Intermediate working proficiency
59–75 Strong / Professional proficiency
76–90 Full professional / Near-native proficiency

A recommended score range of 49–57, for example, would mean:

  • The minimum threshold (49) reflects basic effectiveness in communication.

  • The maximum threshold (57) signals comfort with nuanced, workplace-related language.

These ranges are not fixed standards but rather a helpful benchmark to guide role design, hiring, and learning initiatives.

Why is this useful?

Understanding the recommended English proficiency range:

  • Supports global hiring by setting clear expectations for language ability.

  • Enables learning managers to design better English upskilling programs.

  • Improves workforce readiness for customer-facing or internationally collaborative roles.

  • Assists workforce planners in evaluating potential mismatches between language proficiency and job role demands.

Why use PTE benchmarks?

Unlike CEFR or IELTS, which offer broader categories or are often tied to academic contexts, PTE offers a granular, scalable scoring model ideal for occupational benchmarking.

By grounding the API's scores in PTE:

  • You get a consistent and quantitative measure across regions and roles.

  • It’s easier to track incremental language progress in learning pathways.

  • You can compare scores directly with other tools or tests already using PTE scales.

How can you use this in your system?

If you operate a learning platform, LMS, or internal upskilling portal, you can:

  • Highlight where an employee stands vs. their occupation’s required score band.

  • Recommend learning modules (e.g. “Business Writing for Scores 45–55”) tied to their skill gaps.

  • Guide managers on whether language training is a blocker to performance or promotion.