TEA is a test measuring candidates ability to communicate in plain English and in an aviation context. It is not a test of their operational knowledge or aviation phraseology.

The following are the ICAO Rating Scale descriptors that are assessed during the test;

• Pronunciation
• Structure
• Vocabulary
• Fluency
• Comprehension
• Interactions

The final rating is not the average or aggregate of the ratings in each of the six ICAO language proficiency skills but the lowest of these six ratings.

The ICAO Language Proficiency Rating scale of concern to pilots and controllers are as follows;

• LEVEL 6 Expert
• LEVEL 5 Extended
• LEVEL 4 Operational