Meaning & use
proficiency
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountableformal
The ability to do something well because of training and practice.
Grammar: Often followed by in or at: proficiency in French, proficiency at swimming.
Patterns
- proficiency in something
- proficiency at doing something
- a level of proficiency
The job requires proficiency in spreadsheets.
Her proficiency at chess surprised the club's best players.
He reached a good level of proficiency after a year of lessons.
nouncountable or uncountable
A measured level of skill, especially in a language or a school subject, shown by a test.
Grammar: Used with level or test: a proficiency test, a high level of proficiency.
Patterns
- proficiency test
- proficiency level
- proficiency in a language
Applicants must take an English proficiency test.
The certificate shows an advanced level of proficiency.
Students' reading proficiency has risen over the last three years.
Word forms
| plural | proficiencies |
|---|
Common combinations
- language proficiency
- Language proficiency is needed to study here.
- proficiency test
- She passed the proficiency test on her first try.
- reach proficiency
- It takes years to reach proficiency on the violin.
- demonstrate proficiency
- Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in coding.
- high level of proficiency
- The role calls for a high level of proficiency in Spanish.
Synonyms and how they differ
- skill
- Skill is the everyday word for an ability, while proficiency suggests a good level reached through training.
- competence
- Competence means being able to do something adequately, while proficiency suggests more than basic ability.
- expertise
- Expertise points to expert-level knowledge, which is higher than proficiency.
- mastery
- Mastery implies complete command, a step beyond proficiency.
Opposites
Word family
- proficient adjective
- skilled at doing something
- proficiently adverb
- in a skilled way
- profession noun
- an occupation requiring training
- deficiency noun
- a lack of something needed
Commonly confused: proficiency or efficiency?
proficiency vs efficiency
Efficiency is about getting results without wasting time or resources, while proficiency is about skill level.
Practice
Applicants should show a high level of ____ in written English.
Choose one answer.
Proficiency is the noun for skill level. Proficient is an adjective and cannot follow 'level of', and the other nouns have different meanings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “proficiency”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.