WIDA & CDD
WIDA and Can Do Descriptors
The purpose of this is to help you help your English Language Learners. On this page you will find the "Can Do Descriptors" and other resources.
Unpacking Access Scores
The ACCESS for ELLs test has a low score 1.0 (no knowledge of English). The highest possible score is 6.0 (fluency) .
Any student scoring 4.5 or above is no longer eligible for ESL services. Because these students are still acquiring English, however, their progress is monitored by the ESL teacher for 2 years after exiting the program.
Can Do Descriptors
WIDA offers descriptors of what students at various levels of English Language Proficiency (ELP) "Can DO" in the 4 domains: listening, reading, speaking and writing.
Level 1 ELP (English Language Proficient) students can do the following in English:
Listening -- Point to pictures, words phrases, follow one-step directions, match oral statements to objects.
Speaking -- Name objects, people, pictures; answer WH questions (who, what, where etc).
Reading -- Match icons / symbols to words; identify text features.
Writing -- Label objects / pictures; draw in response to a prompt; produce simple phrases.
Level 2 ELP students can do the following in English:
Listening-- Sort pictures / objects; follow two-step directions
Speaking -- Ask WH questions; describe pictures, events, objects, people; re-state facts.
Reading -- Locate and classify information; identify facts and explicit messages.
Writing -- Make lists; produce drawings; short phrases, sentences, take notes.
Level 3 ELP students can do the following in English:
Listening -- Locate, select, order information; follow multi-step directions; categorize.
Speaking -- Formulate hypotheses / make predictions; re-tell stories or events.
Reading -- Sequence events; identify main ideas; use context clues to determine word meanings.
Writing -- Produce bare-bones expository or narrative texts; compare and contrast information
Level 4 ELP students can do the following in English:
Listening -- Compare / Contrast functions and relationships; identify cause and effect.
Speaking -- Discuss stories, ideas, concepts; give speeches, oral reports, offer creative solutions.
Reading -- Interpret information; find details that support the main idea; use figurative language.
Writing -- Summarize info; edit & revise writing; create original ideas & detailed responses.
Can Do Descriptors are organized by grade-level bands (K, 1, 2–3, 4–5, 6–8, and 9–12) that correspond to those in ACCESS for ELLs 2.0. Please click the following links to view the Can Do Descriptors.
Within each grade-level band, the descriptors are organized by Key Use (Recount, Explain, Argue and Discuss) and within each Key Use, there are example descriptors for WIDA’s six levels of language proficiency (ELP Levels 1–6).