From grimoire
Designs language proficiency diagnostic tests covering reading, listening, writing, and speaking aligned to CEFR levels. Identifies current proficiency and specific weaknesses for efficient study planning.
How this skill is triggered — by the user, by Claude, or both
Slash command
/grimoire:design-language-diagnostic-testThe summary Claude sees in its skill listing — used to decide when to auto-load this skill
Design a language proficiency diagnostic test aligned to CEFR levels covering all four skills to identify current proficiency level and specific weakness areas — producing an actionable diagnosis that guides efficient study planning.
Design a language proficiency diagnostic test aligned to CEFR levels covering all four skills to identify current proficiency level and specific weakness areas — producing an actionable diagnosis that guides efficient study planning.
Adopted by: The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), developed by the Council of Europe, is the global standard for describing language proficiency used by Cambridge Assessment, Alliance Française, Instituto Cervantes, Goethe-Institut, and all major language certification bodies worldwide. IELTS, TOEFL, DELF/DALF, and HSK are all based on or aligned to proficiency level frameworks. Language teachers and programs use diagnostic assessment to place students correctly and identify specific skills deficits. Impact: Learning a language without knowing your current level produces inefficient study — too-easy materials are boring; too-hard materials are demotivating. A diagnostic identifies the specific skill gap (speaking fluency despite reading competence, or reading without listening comprehension) so time is invested where it produces the largest improvement. Self-diagnosis without structure tends to overestimate productive skills (speaking) and underestimate receptive skills (reading), producing study plans that reinforce strength rather than address weakness.
CEFR defines six proficiency levels with can-do descriptors:
| Level | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Beginner | Basic phrases; very familiar topics; simple interactions |
| A2 | Elementary | Simple routine tasks; direct exchange on familiar topics |
| B1 | Intermediate | Main points on familiar topics; travel situations; opinions |
| B2 | Upper-intermediate | Complex texts; spontaneous interaction; clear detailed text |
| C1 | Advanced | Demanding texts; spontaneous fluent expression; implicit meaning |
| C2 | Mastery | Virtually everything; nuance, precision, native-like fluency |
The diagnostic should identify which level best describes the learner's ability in each of the four skills.
Each skill requires different test tasks:
Reading:
Reading text sources: select authentic texts (news article for B2; simple blog for B1; children's reader for A1–A2)
Listening:
Writing:
Speaking:
For major languages, pre-built CEFR-aligned diagnostic tests are available free:
Use existing tests before building custom ones — standardized tests have been validated for reliability and level accuracy.
After completing the diagnostic:
Common discrepancy patterns:
The discrepancy map is more actionable than an overall score.
From the diagnostic:
A diagnostic is a snapshot; progress requires re-measurement:
Progress in language learning is rarely linear — plateaus are common at B1–B2 transition (the most effortful stage). Regular retesting motivates by revealing genuine progress that daily study makes invisible.
npx claudepluginhub jeffreytse/grimoire --plugin grimoireConducts a structured multi-skill proficiency audit mapping current language ability to CEFR levels and ACTFL descriptors, identifying skill gaps and producing a diagnostic baseline for learning planning.
Runs interactive reading comprehension sessions for language learners with target-language texts and comprehension questions. Invoked via /fluent-reading command.
Identifies language barriers in classroom tasks for EAL and multilingual learners, providing scaffold recommendations and priority actions.