How Off2Class Levels Relate to WIDA ACCESS Scores (Grades 9-12)
Educators in WIDA states often ask whether Off2Class levels meaningfully align with WIDA ACCESS scores. While there is no direct concordance published by WIDA between ACCESS and external frameworks, it is possible to establish a careful, research-informed connection based on WIDA’s own documentation.
Off2Class levels are aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), an internationally recognized standard for describing language proficiency. WIDA has conducted a formal study linking WIDA MODEL scale scores to CEFR levels. In this research, domain-level MODEL scores in listening, speaking, reading, and writing were mapped to CEFR proficiency bands using established standard-setting methods.
WIDA has also examined the relationship between WIDA MODEL and WIDA ACCESS. Their research shows that MODEL scores can be used to predict ACCESS proficiency levels within a reasonable range, acknowledging that these predictions are not exact and include some degree of error.
Taken together, these two findings allow for an indirect but evidence-based interpretation: ACCESS scores can be understood in relation to Off2Class levels, through WIDA’s own research on MODEL. Off2Class’s synthesis of WIDA’s findings is presented in the table below.
It is important to note that this relationship is interpretive rather than equivalent. WIDA does not define direct correspondence between CEFR levels and ACCESS proficiency levels, and ACCESS scores should not be converted into CEFR levels. However, the alignment below provides a practical reference point for understanding how Off2Class levels relate to typical ACCESS score ranges.
Off2Class to WIDA ACCESS (Grades 9–12, Approximate)
| Off2Class Level | CEFR | ACCESS PL Range* | Approximate WIDA Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | A1 | 1.5 – 2.5 | Entering to Emerging |
| Upper Beginner | A2 | 2.0 – 3.0 | Emerging to Developing |
| Pre-Intermediate | B1 | 2.8 – 3.5 | Developing |
| Intermediate | B1+ | 3.3 – 4.0 | Developing to Expanding |
| Upper Intermediate | B2 | 3.8 – 4.5 | Expanding to Bridging |
| Advanced | C1 | 4.3 – 5.0+** | Bridging to Reaching |
*Ranges overlap.
**Predictions above proficiency level 4.5 are less reliable based on available WIDA data.
This alignment is intended to support instructional planning, teaching, and communication. Off2Class levels provide a CEFR-based framework that can be interpreted alongside ACCESS results, helping educators place students, monitor progress, and set expectations using a common language of proficiency.
While Off2Class scores are not directly interchangeable with ACCESS scores for formal reporting purposes, they offer a meaningful and research-informed way to understand student proficiency within the WIDA context.
For a more detailed breakdown of how specific skills from the Off2Class Descriptors Index align with WIDA-aligned 9-12 Can Do statements, refer to the O2C<>WIDA Crosswalk. This crosswalk highlights how O2C proficiency levels and domain-specific descriptors correspond to WIDA proficiency levels across language domains and can be used to support alignment, instructional planning, and placement validation.
Trademark and Attribution Notice
WIDA®, ACCESS for ELLs®, and WIDA MODEL® are registered trademarks of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. These marks are used for identification purposes only.
Off2Class is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by WIDA or the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Any references to WIDA assessments or frameworks are based on publicly available research and documentation.