Note from the author:

Hello and thank you for downloading this FREE eBook.

This eBook takes a look at the language levels system that is used throughout Europe. Basically, the system
was created to help teachers and language managers (School owners and department heads) categorize
students into groups of similar abilities. Sometimes this can be tricky because someone that is good at
speaking might be poor at grammar or listening. Its not a perfect system but generally it works well.
What level do you think you are?

Dillon Frost
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is and charge a fee for it.
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Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

C2 (Proficiency)
Overall general ability
LEVEL

C2

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN advise on or talk

about complex or
sensitive issues,
understanding colloquial
references and dealing
confidently with hostile
questions.

CAN understand
documents,
correspondence and
reports, including the
finer points of complex
texts.

CAN write letters on any

subject and full notes of
meetings or seminars with
good expression and
accuracy.

Social and tourist

LEVEL

C2

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN talk about complex or

sensitive issues without
awkwardness.

CAN (when looking for

accommodation)
understand a tenancy
agreement in detail, for
example technical details
and the main legal
implications.

CAN write letters on

any subject with good
expression and
accuracy.

Work typical abilities

LEVEL

C2

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN advise on/handle

complex delicate or
contentious issues, such as
legal or financial matters, to
the extent that he/she has
the necessary specialist
knowledge.

CAN understand reports

and articles likely to be
encountered during
his/her work, including
complex ideas expressed
in complex language.

CAN make full and

accurate notes and
continue to participate
in a meeting or
seminar.

Study abilities
LEVEL

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

C2

CAN make accurate and

CAN understand jokes,
CAN access all sources
complete notes during
colloquial asides and cultural of information quickly
the course of a lecture,
allusions.
and reliably.
seminar or tutorial.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

C1 (Advanced)
Overall general ability
LEVEL

C1

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN contribute effectively to

meetings and seminars
within own area of work or
keep up a casual
conversation with a good
degree of fluency, coping
with abstract expressions.

CAN read quickly

enough to cope with
an academic course,
to read the media for
information or to
understand nonstandard
correspondence.

CAN prepare/draft
professional
correspondence, take
reasonably accurate
notes in meetings or
write an essay which
shows an ability to
communicate.

Social and tourist

LEVEL

C1

Listening/Speaking
CAN keep up conversations
of a casual nature for an
extended period of time
and discuss
abstract/cultural topics
with a good degree of
fluency and range of
expression.

Reading

Writing

CAN understand complex

opinions/arguments as
expressed in serious
newspapers.

CAN write letters on

most subjects. Such
difficulties as the
reader may
experience are likely
to be at the level of
vocabulary.

Work typical abilities

LEVEL

C1

Listening/Speaking
CAN contribute effectively
to meetings and seminars
within own area of work and
argue for or against a case.

Reading

Writing

CAN understand
correspondence
expressed in nonstandard language.

CAN handle a wide

range of routine and
non-routine situations
in which professional
services are requested
from colleague or
external contacts.

Study abilities
LEVEL

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

C1

CAN follow abstract

argumentation, for example
the balancing of alternatives
and the drawing a
conclusion.

CAN read quickly

enough to cope with
the demands of an
academic course.

CAN write an essay which

shows ability to
communicate, giving few
difficulties for the reader.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

B2 (Upper-intermediate)
Overall general ability
LEVEL

B2

Listening/Speaking

Reading

CAN scan texts for

CAN follow or give a talk on
relevant information,
a familiar topic or keep up a
and understand
conversation on a fairly wide
detailed instructions
range of topics.
or advice.

Writing
CAN make notes while
someone is talking or
write a letter including
non-standard requests.

Social and tourist

LEVEL

B2

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN keep up a
conversation on a fairly
wide range of topics, such
as personal and
professional experiences,
events currently in the
news.

CAN understand detailed

information, for example a
wide range of culinary
terms on a restaurant
menu, and terms and
abbreviations in
accommodation
advertisements.

CAN write to a hotel

to ask about the
availability of
services, for example
facilities for the
disabled or the
provision of a special
diet.

Work typical abilities

LEVEL

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

B2

CAN take and pass on most

messages that are likely to
require attention during a
normal working day.

CAN understand most

correspondence, reports
and factual product
literature he/she is likely
to come across.

CAN deal with all

routine requests for
goods or services.

Study abilities
LEVEL

B2

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN give a clear

presentation on a familiar
topic, and answer
predictable or factual
questions.

CAN scan tests for

relevant information
and grasp main point
of text.

CAN make simple notes

that will be of reasonable
use for essay or revision
purposes.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

B1 (Intermediate)
Overall general ability
LEVEL

B1

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN express opinions on

abstract/cultural matters in
a limited way or offer advice
within a known area, and
understand instructions or
public announcements.

CAN understand
routine information
and articles, and the
general meaning of
non-routine
information within a
familiar area.

CAN write letters or make

notes on familiar or
predictable matters.

Social and tourist

LEVEL

B1

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN express opinions on

abstract/cultural matters in
a limited way and pick up
nuances of
meaning/opinion.

CAN understand factual

articles in newspapers,
routine letters from hotels
and letters expressing
personal opinions.

CAN write letters on a

limited range of
predictable topics
related to personal
experience and
express opinions in
predictable language.

Work typical abilities

LEVEL

B1

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN offer advice to clients

within own job area on
simple matters.

CAN understand the

general meaning of nonroutine letters and
theoretical articles within
own work area.

CAN make reasonably

accurate notes at a
meeting or seminar
where the subject
matter is familiar and
predictable.

Study abilities
LEVEL

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

B1

CAN understand instructions

on classes and assignments
given by a teacher or
lecturer.

CAN understand basic

instructions and
messages, for
example computer
library catalogues,
with some help.

CAN write down some

information at a lecture,
if this is more or less
dictated.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

A2 (Pre-intermediate)
Overall general ability
LEVEL

A2

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN express simple

opinions or requirements in
a familiar context.

CAN understand
straightforward
information within a
known area, such as
on products and signs
and simple textbooks
or reports on familiar
matters.

CAN complete forms and

write short simple letters
or postcards related to
personal information.

Social and tourist

LEVEL

A2

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN express likes and

dislikes in familiar contexts
using simple language
such as 'I (don't) like...'.

CAN understand
straightforward
information, for example
labels on food, standard
menus, road signs and
messages on automatic
cash machines.

CAN complete most

forms related to
personal information.

Work typical abilities

LEVEL

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

A2

CAN state simple

requirements within own
job area, such as 'I want to
order 25 of...'.

CAN understand most

short reports or manuals
of a predictable nature
within his/her own area of
expertise, provided
enough time is given.

CAN write a short,

comprehensive note of
request to a colleague
or a known contact in
another company.

Study abilities
LEVEL

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

A2

CAN express simple

opinions using expressions
such as 'I don't agree'.

CAN understand the

general meaning of a
simplified text book or
article, reading very
slowly.

CAN write a very short

simple narrative or
description, such as 'My
last holiday'.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

A1 (Elementary)
Overall general ability
LEVEL

Listening/Speaking

Reading

A1

CAN understand basic

CAN understand basic
instructions or take part in a
notices, instructions
basic factual conversation
or information.
on a predictable topic.

Writing
CAN complete basic
forms, and write notes
including times, dates
and places.

Social and tourist

LEVEL

A1

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN ask simple questions

of a factual nature and
understand answers
expressed in simple
language.

CAN understand simple

notices and information,
for example in airports, on
store guides and on
menus. CAN understand
simple instructions on
medicines and simple
directions to places.

CAN leave a very

simple message for a
host family or write
short simple 'thank
you' notes.

Work typical abilities

LEVEL

A1

Listening/Speaking

Reading

CAN understand short

reports or product
CAN take and pass on
descriptions on familiar
simple messages of a
matters, if these are
routine kind, such as 'Friday
expressed in simple
meeting 10 am'.
language and the
contents are predictable.

Writing
CAN write a simple
routine request to a
colleague, such as
'Can I have 20X
please?'.

Study abilities
LEVEL

A1

Listening/Speaking

Reading

Writing

CAN understand basic

instructions on class times,
dates and room numbers,
and on assignments to be
carried out.

CAN read basic

notices and
instructions.

CAN copy times, dates

and places from notices
on classroom board or
notice board.

Taken from Wikipedia

The Common European Framework divides learners into three broad divisions that can be divided into six levels:
The CEFR describes what a learner is supposed to be able to do in reading, listening, speaking and writing at each level.
level
group

level group
name

level

A1

B1

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed
at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.

Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about
personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she
has.

Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is
prepared to help.

Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most
immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local
geography, employment).

Waystage or elementary

Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange
of information on familiar and routine matters.

Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment

and matters in areas of immediate need.

Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly
encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.

Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the
language is spoken.

Threshold or intermediate

Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.

Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics,
including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation.

Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction
with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.

Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint
on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit
meaning.

Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for
expressions.

Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional
purposes.

Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing

controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.

Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating

finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations.

Independent
User

B2

C1

description

Breakthrough or beginner

Basic User

A2

level name

Vantage or upper
intermediate

Effective Operational
Proficiency or advanced

Proficient User

C2

Mastery or proficiency

Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give
reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources,

reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation.

These descriptors can apply to any of the languages spoken in Europe, and there are translations in many languages.

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