Reviewed by Tim Hittinger, ICAO examiner (A-126-LPE)What ICAO Level 6 means in practice
ICAO Level 6 is called Expert – in Spanish, Nivel 6 Experto. You communicate precisely and naturally in almost any situation: an unfamiliar topic, time pressure, a sudden change of plan. You choose your words with care and adapt tone and pace to the moment.
Compared with Level 5, the difference is less about errors and more about range, precision and ease.
Do you need to sound like a native speaker? No
The ICAO scale does not expect Level 6 candidates to sound native. Your pronunciation may clearly show your first language or your region. What matters is that it practically never makes you harder to understand. A clear Spanish accent is no obstacle to Level 6.
The six criteria at Level 6: what examiners listen for
Practical explanations in our own words – not the official wording of the rating scale.
Your accent may be clearly Spanish or regional. At Level 6 it practically never costs the listener any effort – not even in fast, complex speech.
Simple and complex sentences stay accurate throughout the test, including when you explain something tricky on the spot.
You pick the exact word, not just one that works. Natural phrasing comes easily, and you adjust your register – crisp with ATC, relaxed in small talk.
Long answers come without visible effort. You use pace deliberately – a short pause or a slower phrase to make a key point land.
Hardly anything gets past you: an oddly phrased question, a joke, a hint of irony or a cultural reference.
The exchange feels like a chat between colleagues. You pick up small signals – a hesitation, a change of tone – and respond naturally.
How Level 6 is awarded: six criteria, two raters
You take the open Levels 4–6 test. There is no separate Level 6 test, and you don’t need an existing Level 4 or 5. Each criterion gets its own level, and your overall result is the lowest one. So for Level 6, all six criteria have to be at 6.
Spain’s Orden FOM/1146/2019 (art. 9.3) requires two assessors before Level 6 can be awarded. At GAT, two raters assess every test, whatever the level: your examiner and the LTB 112 assessment centre. If needed, Austro Control carries out a third assessment.
Not quite a 6? Then you receive Level 5, re-evaluated after 6 years, or Level 4 – whatever you demonstrate. Aiming for 6 does not put a lower result at risk.
Validity: no periodic re-evaluation
FCL.055 (c) requires periodic re-evaluation for Levels 4 and 5, but not for Level 6. Orden FOM/1146/2019 (art. 5.1) applies the same rule to pilots. Once English Level 6 is endorsed on your AESA licence, there is no re-test deadline.
Holding Level 4 or 5 now? Take the test within the three months before it expires. If the result is not a 6, your new validity then runs from your old expiry date (art. 5.3), so you lose no time.
Converting your licence outside the EASA system, or flying for a non-EASA operator? Other rules may apply there, so check your case. Validity and renewal in detail
Level 6 without a test: who qualifies
To be honest, some pilots don’t need our test. Under art. 6.1 of the Orden, AESA can endorse Level 6 without an assessment in two cases:
- A C2 certificate listed in Annex II. For English: C2 from an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (EOI), Cambridge CPE, IELTS 7.5 or higher, Michigan ECPE, PTE General Level 5, Edexcel Level 3 ESOL or Trinity Grade 12.
- Proof that you are a native speaker, as AESA defines it: nationality or birth, plus compulsory schooling completed in English.
In both cases you also need radiotelephony privileges in that language on your licence. Other certificates, such as B2 or C1, don’t qualify – a CEFR certificate is not an ICAO level. AESA’s note lists the exact documents. AESA information note, February 2025 (in Spanish) · Our AESA guide
Which test you need and what it costs
Level 6 is only possible in the open Levels 4–6 test: €229, VAT included. The Level 4 only test (€159) stops at 4.
Base prices for weekday daytime slots. Slots from 8 pm, at weekends and on public holidays carry a surcharge, shown in the calendar before you book.
Two more honest notes
- English RT privileges are a separate entry. AESA requires radiotelephony privileges in English in section XII of your licence, on top of the language level. Most pilots trained in English already have them – check section XII. Our test does not grant them. AESA FAQ (in Spanish)
- Level 6 English does not cover Spanish. Level 4 is the legal minimum, and the Spanish airline job adverts we have checked ask for at least ICAO Level 4 in English, plus a level of Spanish. Our test covers English only.
Tips for Level 6
- Speak naturally, not from memory. Rehearsed phrases stand out. Spontaneous, precise answers convince.
- Show your range. Nuance, comparisons and the occasional idiom, where it fits.
- Go into detail. In the interview, longer answers are welcome.
- Stay precise on the radio tasks. Read-backs and ATIS details count at Level 6 too.
See all task types in the free sample test or read how the test works.
Questions about ICAO Level 6
Can I go straight for Level 6?
Yes. You don’t need Level 4 or 5 first, whether it is your first assessment or a renewal. Currently on Level 4?
Will my accent stop me getting Level 6?
No. An accent is allowed at every level. What counts is that it practically never makes you harder to understand.
Does Level 6 ever expire?
Under FCL.055 there is no periodic re-evaluation for Level 6. Outside the EASA system, other rules may apply.
How good are my chances of Level 6?
That depends on all six criteria, and nobody can tell without hearing you. A 20-minute PreCheck or a 45-minute mock exam gives you an honest estimate. Preparation options
English is my first language. Do I need the test?
Possibly not – see Level 6 without a test. If gathering the documents is harder than a 30-minute test, booking the test is a valid option too.