What is the CEFR?
CEFR stands for the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The Council of Europe published it in 2001 and added a Companion Volume in 2020. It describes language ability in six levels. It is used for English and for many other languages.
The six levels form three groups:
- A: Basic user. A1 and A2.
- B: Independent user. B1 and B2.
- C: Proficient user. C1 and C2.
The CEFR describes what you can do with the language. It does not list grammar rules or words. The summaries below follow the Council of Europe’s global scale in simpler words.
The six levels
| Level | Common name | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Beginner | Understand and use everyday expressions and very basic phrases. Introduce yourself. Ask and answer simple questions about where you live, people you know and things you have. Talk with someone who speaks slowly and clearly and is ready to help. |
| A2 | Elementary | Understand common sentences about family, shopping, your local area and work. Handle simple, routine tasks that need a direct exchange of information. Describe your background and your immediate needs in simple terms. |
| B1 | Intermediate | Understand the main points of clear speech or text on familiar topics such as work, school and free time. Deal with most situations while travelling. Write simple connected text. Describe experiences, hopes and plans, and give short reasons for your opinions. |
| B2 | Upper intermediate | Understand the main ideas of complex text on concrete and abstract topics. Talk with fluent speakers without strain for either side. Write clear, detailed text on many subjects. Explain a point of view and give the advantages and disadvantages of different options. |
| C1 | Advanced | Understand a wide range of long, demanding texts, including meaning that is not stated directly. Speak fluently without much searching for words. Use the language flexibly for social, academic and professional purposes. Write clear, well-structured text on complex subjects. |
| C2 | Proficiency | Understand with ease almost everything you hear or read. Summarise information from different sources into one clear account. Express yourself very fluently and precisely, and show fine differences in meaning even in complex situations. |
Three things people get wrong
- C2 does not mean "native speaker". The CEFR does not use native speakers as its measure. C2 describes a very high level of precision and ease.
- You do not have one single level. Many learners read at a higher level than they speak. Many exams give a separate result for each skill.
- The levels are not equal steps. The higher levels usually take longer to reach than the lower ones. Cambridge English gives approximate study hours for each level.
What to study at each level
The study choices below are this site’s suggestions. They are not an official CEFR grammar checklist.
A1 and A2
- The verb "be", the present simple and the present continuous.
- The past simple, including the most common irregular verbs. Use the irregular verbs list.
- Prepositions of time and place. Read in, on, at.
- Basic use of articles. Read a, an, the.
- Much, many, some and any. Read countable and uncountable nouns.
B1 and B2
- The present perfect and how it differs from the past simple. Read present perfect or past simple.
- The first, second and third conditionals. Read conditionals.
- The passive, reported speech and relative clauses.
- Verb and preposition pairs such as "depend on" and "apologise for". Try the grammar exercises.
- Common idioms and fixed phrases. Browse the idioms dictionary.
C1 and C2
- Inversion for emphasis: Not until she arrived did he realise the truth.
- Mixed conditionals and conditionals without "if": Had I known, I would have called.
- Formal and informal register, and precise word choice. Try the harder words in the vocabulary quiz.
- Long, real texts: newspapers, reports, lectures and novels.
How to find your level
The level test on this site gives a rough guide. It has 30 grammar and reading questions, five for each level. It does not test speaking, listening or writing, so it cannot give you an official level.
For a certificate, you need an exam from a recognised exam board. Each board publishes its own table that maps its scores to CEFR levels. Check the official website of the exam before you book, because universities and employers ask for specific exams and scores.