The CEFR Levels

It has been used since 2001. Before that, every school had its own way to describe the levels of their students. For example:

• beginner, intermediate, advanced
• level 1, level 2, level 3 etc.

As you can imagine, it was not very precise, as level 2 in one school could be very different from level 2 in another.

It was also very hard to compare your level in one language to your level in another.

👍 Description of the CEFR level

Break-through

• A1 is the ‘’discovery’’ level, we call it Break-through in English. That means you start learning the basics. At the end of this level, you can interact in a simple way on basic daily subjects like:

Introducing yourself, expressing your tastes, organizing meeting up with friends, giving your opinion, buying something in a shop, giving an advice, describing something or someone, using present and future tenses.

• After A1, this is also the moment to decide whether you want to keep with learning this language

Waystage

• A2 is the ‘’survival’’ level, we call it Waystage in English. In A1 you are note really able to have a real conversation, in A2 you can. The subjects are still very basic but you can survive in the country.

You can do everything we described in A1 but much more precisely and accurately. You can also express your opinion and write short texts.

What’s interesting in A2 is that you go through most of the important grammar themes and learn a good amount of vocabulary. Usually, people progress a lot in A2.

Threshold

• B1 is the intermediate level, called Threshold in the CEFR. This is not an easy level psychologically speaking. Why? Because you’ve made great progress in A2 and now you’ll have the impression to stagnate a bit. This is totally normal. The learning process is not a straight line. I have designed a graph so you can visualize the steps of the language acquisition for an average learner, it’s far from being proportional:.

During B1 you learn a lot of vocabulary and practice the grammar you’ve learned in A2. You can start debating orally and express yourself with much more precision.

Vantage

• B2 is the upper intermediate level or vantage. We can also consider it as an advanced level in French. Indeed, B2 is a great level since you start feeling very confident in expressing yourself in all kind of subjects, even abstract ones, debate and explanations. You can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. In my opinion, you can make B2 the goal to reach to speak well.

Advanced & Mastery

• C1 and C2 are specific levels for people who aim to speak like natives. In C1, you learn the vocabulary you are still missing and correct your last pronunciation problems. You should know all the grammar already, so this is not the purpose of this level.
• C2 is for people who want to teach the language or to become an interpreter or a translator. If someone reaches this level, that means he/she speaks better than a lot of native speakers!

• The CEFR proficiency scales provide a convenient structure for thinking about and communicating a progression of language proficiency and for considering where people stand in relation to that progression. Therefore, mapping language test scores onto the CEFR levels is a useful way to assign practical meaning to those scores. ETS has conducted several studies to facilitate the interpretation of the scores of the language tests it develops in relation to the CEFR levels.

It’s important to follow your own rhythm while, at the same time, being aware of the specialists’ recommendations. That will help you keep on track.

Happy Learning Journey! 🤓 🍀