How do we come up with our difficulty ratings?

Every single video on thisisschool.com is rated between 1 and 5 for difficulty, as illustrated by the coloured stars under each clip.



It is important to note that we don’t rate the speakers but the content of the videos themselves, according to a number of criteria.



Below is a breakdown of some of the key factors in deciding a video’s difficulty rating:





The following factors will also increase the rating of a video:

Any deviation from a standard, generic accent

Excessive hesitation or non-linearity (starting a sentence and not finishing it)

Sound interruption e.g. wind, traffic, passers-by

Mature content




A video will always be given the highest rating for which it is eligible e.g. if the speaker uses a subjunctive the video will be rated 5, even if all other verbs were simple and in the present indicative.



If you have any questions about difficulty ratings, please don't hesitate to get in touch: schools@thisisschool.com

Updated on: 02/10/2023