a range of proficiency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a range of proficiency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the varying levels of skill or competence someone has in a particular area or subject. Example: "The course is designed to accommodate students with a range of proficiency in mathematics, from beginners to advanced learners."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They are joined by 19-year-old Katie Hoff, an individual medley specialist who will also try to make the team in the 100-, 200-, 400- and 800-meter freestyles, a range of proficiency rarely seen since Shirley Babashoff in the 1970s, and Ryan Lochte, a Floridian who feels a spiritual connection to the water and to the rapper Lil Wayne, and will challenge Phelps in both individual medley events.

The New York Times - Sports

During this stage, 36 TEM student scripts were first prepared, representing a range of proficiency levels (see Appendix 2), and then the 35 teachers were asked to read the scripts and complete the "can do" questionnaire (one for each script; see Appendix 3); that is, they were required to judge to what extent a student writer was competent with reference to the descriptors in the questionnaire.

Language Testing in Asia

In addition, we tested participants with a range of proficiency with Kanji as we hypothesized that the functional connectivity for Kanji may be affected by one's proficiency.

Cerebral Cortex

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Green jobs typically involve a range of proficiencies.

Science Magazine

Simulation techniques such as virtual patients (VPs) are valuable tools for teaching and learning a range of clinical proficiencies.

Nurse Education Today

The students were recruited from different departments at Renmin University of China, so as to cover a wide range of proficiency levels since students are admitted by different departments in terms of their scores of College Entrance Exam (Gaokao).

Language Testing in Asia

These results revealed that high scoring test-takers were able to select the correct answer choice, and the VELC Test® items were targeted for a wide range of proficiency levels.

Language Testing in Asia

While our proficiency-stratified sampling was reasonably successful in recruiting learners of a wide range of proficiency (score range = 18 95 in the TOEFL iBT; see descriptive statistics in Table 5), we were not able to include advanced learners who had obtained TOEFL iBT scores of more than 95.

Language Testing in Asia

This group was composed of adult Japanese learners of English, including 13 undergraduate and 10 graduate students, 6 English teachers, and 1 professional who used English for business, with a wide range of proficiency from beginning to advanced levels; their initial Criterion® holistic scores ranged from 1 to 6 (the whole score range).

Language Testing in Asia

In fact, construct coverage is a major challenge that researchers in L2 pragmatics assessment face, along with issues regarding test practicality, coping with examinees with a wide range of proficiency, and linking test scores to real-world implications (Taguchi and Roever 2017).

Language Testing in Asia

Therefore, intercalated students performed significantly better in multiple areas of the form, assessing a diverse range of proficiencies.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing groups, use "a range of proficiency" to acknowledge the varying skill levels within the group. This promotes inclusivity and realistic expectations.

Common error

Avoid assuming everyone possesses the same level of skill. Using "a range of proficiency" acknowledges diverse capabilities and prevents overestimation of collective abilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a range of proficiency" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an object or complement within a sentence. It describes the spectrum of skills or competence levels present in a group or related to a specific task. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a range of proficiency" is a grammatically correct and useful phrase for describing varying levels of skill or competence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's most commonly found in scientific and news-related contexts. When writing, it's important to use this phrase to avoid assumptions of uniform skill and to acknowledge diverse abilities within groups. Consider alternatives such as "a spectrum of competence" or "varying levels of skill" depending on the context. Be mindful of the phrase's neutral-to-formal register, using it appropriately in academic, professional, or journalistic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a spectrum of competence

Replaces "proficiency" with "competence" emphasizing capability.

a scale of expertise

Substitutes "proficiency" with "expertise" indicating a higher level of specialized knowledge.

varying levels of skill

Uses a more descriptive phrase to highlight different skill levels.

different degrees of mastery

Replaces "proficiency" with "mastery" suggesting a thorough command of the subject.

diverse skill set

Focuses on the variety of skills rather than levels.

mixed levels of ability

Highlights the mixture of different abilities.

a gradient of capability

Uses "gradient" to emphasize a gradual change in capability.

a diverse array of talent

Emphasizes talent, suggesting natural aptitude.

variable levels of competence

Highlights that competence can change.

different grades of expertise

Focuses on formal grading or ranking of expertise.

FAQs

How can I use "a range of proficiency" in a sentence?

You can use "a range of proficiency" to describe varying levels of skill or competence within a group or in a specific area. For example, "The students demonstrated "a range of proficiency" in their writing skills".

What are some alternatives to "a range of proficiency"?

Alternatives include "a spectrum of competence", "varying levels of skill", or "different degrees of mastery" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a range of proficiency" or "a range of proficiencies"?

"A range of proficiency" refers to varying levels of skill in a general sense, while "a range of proficiencies" refers to multiple distinct skills or areas of expertise. The choice depends on whether you're discussing levels within one skill or several different skills.

What does it mean to have "a range of proficiency" in a subject?

To have "a range of proficiency" means that individuals possess different levels of skill, knowledge, or expertise in a particular subject. Some may be beginners, while others may be advanced, and there are varying degrees of competence in between.