English A2 (Elementary) test
Summary of the English A2 (Elementary) test
The A2 English language test evaluates candidates’ English skills at the A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It helps you hire employees who can communicate about simple, routine tasks that require basic literacy and direct information exchanges.
Covered skills
Grammar and vocabulary
Simple sentence composition
Reading comprehension
Listening comprehension
Use the English A2 (Elementary) test to hire
Security personnel, maintenance workers, housekeeping staff, warehouse workers, food service employees, hospitality staff, and any other role requiring a basic use of English.
About the English test (A2)
This A2 English test for hiring assesses fundamental English language skills at the A2 level of the CEFR level framework. It measures how your applicants use basic and pre-intermediate English in everyday professional situations.
The A2 English level test evaluates candidates in basic vocabulary, English grammar, and simple sentence composition. It also assesses reading and listening comprehension skills through multiple-choice questions.
Check out the preview multiple-choice questions here.
English speakers with an A2 English level can:
Understand straightforward sentences, frequently used expressions, and business-related conversations in basic English.
Interact in routine scenarios, such as sharing instructions or asking for clarification
Comprehend straightforward written texts, like simple instructions and documents
Produce basic written communication, such as filling out forms or writing short messages
Candidates with high test results make themselves understood, even if they commit a few mistakes. These candidates can speak and understand elementary English and are well suited to positions that don’t require advanced language knowledge, for example, in manufacturing and other industrial areas.
The test is made by a subject-matter expert
TestGorilla’s tests are created by subject matter experts. We assess potential subject-matter experts based on their knowledge, ability, and reputation.Before being published, each test is peer-reviewed by another expert, then calibrated using hundreds of test takers with relevant experience in the subject.
Our feedback mechanisms and unique algorithms allow our subject-matter experts to constantly improve their tests.
Jan S.
A native of California, U.S.A. and a holder of a Master’s degree in Education, Jan has recently retired as Professor of English and Multi-Media at a small women’s university in Japan after an extensive teaching career of twenty-five years. Jan has also worked as an editor and copyeditor for academic articles, novels, children’s books, and many other types of projects. Jan currently lives in Japan.
Reliability: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = .86
Face validity: Candidates rated this test as accurately measuring their skills (average score of 4. out of 5.00).
Criterion-related validity: Candidates with higher scores on this test received higher average ratings from the hiring team during the selection process (r = .34, N = 154).
For an in-depth look at interpreting test results, please take a look at our Science series articles: How to interpret test fact sheets (part 1): Reliability, and How to interpret test fact sheets (part 2): Validity.
For an explanation of the various terms, please refer to our Science glossary.
Reliability and validity | Sufficient data available | Analyses and checks conducted | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
Reliability | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Content validity | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Face validity | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Construct validity | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Criterion-related validity | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Group differences | |||
Age differences | Pending | Pending | Pending |
Gender differences | ✔ | ✔ | Acceptable |
Ethnicity differences | Pending | Pending | Pending |
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Why are English A2 skills important to employers?
English A2 skills are crucial to employers because they ensure employees can follow instructions accurately, share basic work concepts, and discuss responsibilities. Without basic English skills, they couldn’t perform their roles effectively.
Using our English test A2 speeds up the recruitment process, boosts hiring ROI, and enables you to screen as many candidates as you want simultaneously, which is a great way to find talent with the right language skills at scale.
For example, Click&Boat, a boat rental company, used our language skills tests to assess its candidates’ English communication skills. This approach helped the company identify and hire customer support agents who performed 30% better than average.
What job roles can you hire with our A2 level English test?
Use our English language test level A2 to screen candidates’ language skills for various job roles that don’t require advanced English proficiency.
For example, you can use our basic English test before job interviews to hire:
Security personnel: Ensure candidates can understand and follow basic instructions to maintain safety protocols effectively
Maintenance workers: Evaluate the ability to comprehend equipment maintenance manuals and report issues accurately
Housekeeping staff: Verify their capability to understand cleaning instructions and communicate with supervisors and guests
Warehouse workers: Measure how well they understand safety guidelines, inventory labels, and basic work instructions
Food service workers: Evaluate potential to take orders and follow food handling protocols
Hospitality staff: Confirm the ability to communicate with guests, assist with check-ins, and provide essential hospitality services
Remember that this basic English test for employment covers only elementary English skills. For more customer-facing roles that require an upper-intermediate level of English proficiency, you should consider using one of our more advanced assessments.
For example, our B2 English test evaluates candidates’ ability to handle complex communication tasks, including customer service scenarios, detailed explanations, and professional correspondence.
Create a multi-measure assessment: 4 tests to pair with the English A2 (Elementary) test
Our basic English test for employment is an excellent tool for assessing language skills. You should combine it with four other tests to better evaluate each candidate’s potential. Your options include cognitive ability, personality, role-specific, and situational judgment tests.
We recommend an assessment with these four tests complementing our A2 English test:
Motivation test: Identify candidates’ internal motivators and work preferences to predict job satisfaction and engagement
Hospitality skills assessment: Assess applicants’ guest service and operational knowledge for hospitality roles, including hotel and restaurant environments
Understanding Instructions test: Measure a jobseeker’s ability to understand and follow written instructions accurately, which is crucial for following workplace processes and workflows
Attention to Detail (Visual) test: Evaluate how well your potential employees can detect errors and maintain precision in visual tasks, ensuring accuracy in their everyday duties
Note: We have included a role-specific skills test here as an example. If the Hospitality test isn’t relevant to your opening, please browse our test library and replace it with a better-suited option.
FAQs
View a sample report
The English A2 (Elementary) test will be included in a PDF report along with the other tests from your assessment. You can easily download and share this report with colleagues and candidates.
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