The highest level of calligraphy examination is 10, but it is not the highest level, because calligraphy is a comprehensive art of social culture, historical culture and humanistic culture, not an art to cope with the examination. Even if you pass the level of 10, you should constantly improve yourself, because you are barely a calligrapher when you pass the level of 10, and there is still a long way to go.
Soft pen calligraphy generally refers to calligraphy works created with soft pen, which should theoretically include brush and soft pen.