What it takes to be Proficient / Upper Advanced

According to TOEFL & IELTS standards, two of the most prominent and easily evaluated criteria are: 1. Ability to answer Tier 1 Colloquial icebreaker questions correctly. Questions like: 'What's up?', 'What's new?', 'What's happening?' (Hint: they do not get answered the same as 'How are you?') 2. You are at the 80% Accent Reduction Threshold. Which basically means that you have learned to NOT incorporate your native language's vowel and consonant sounds into your English speaking 80% of the time. These are the two main criteria I use when ELL's come to my rooms in determining if you are at the Proficient / Upper Advanced level. (Of course, if you haven't mastered these two criteria, you're welcomed to stay in the listening gallery and do some 'Shadowing' listening techniques.