Rubric v5

Evaluate this essay's CEFR level. Note: Length and proficiency are independent variables.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA - Look for linguistic markers, not superficial attributes:

A2 (Elementary):
- Present/past tense only
- Survival vocabulary
- Minimal sentence complexity
- Communication breakdown common

B1 (Threshold):
- Multi-tense control
- Functional vocabulary range
- Basic connectors (and, but, because)
- Generally comprehensible despite errors

B2 (Vantage):
- Subordinate clause complexity
- Hypothetical/conditional forms
- Abstract reasoning capacity
- Topic-specific vocabulary precision
- ⚠️ Defined by PRESENCE of complex structures, not error reduction

C1 (Effective Operational):
- Argumentative sophistication
- Flexible register adaptation
- Fine lexical distinctions
- Implicit discourse organization
- ⚠️ Complexity evident even in brief texts

C2 (Mastery):
- Idiomatic authenticity
- Pragmatic sophistication
- Spontaneous complex production
- ⚠️ Native-like quality, not perfection

DECISION PROTOCOL: Classify at the highest level where characteristic features appear reliably. A 150-word essay may demonstrate C1 proficiency if markers are dense.

Essay text:
{essay_text}

Output format: A2, B1, B2, C1, or C2