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Proficiency Guidelines

Understand your language level.

Find the description that feels closest to what you can do today. Use it to choose a starting point for your lessons.

A1 to C2, at a glance.

The bars show the order of the six CEFR levels. They are a visual guide, not test scores or equal amounts of learning time.

A1 · Beginner

Introduce yourself and manage simple exchanges with support.
Your next focus: Build everyday phrases, sounds and basic sentence patterns.

A2 · Elementary

Handle everyday needs and short, routine conversations.
Your next focus: Connect sentences and grow confidence in daily situations.

B1 · Intermediate

Manage familiar conversations, travel and everyday situations.
Your next focus: Develop fluency, wider vocabulary and clearer connected speech.

B2 · Upper intermediate

Discuss ideas, explain opinions and communicate with more independence.
Your next focus: Refine accuracy, argument and more natural expression.

C1 · Advanced

Use language flexibly in demanding work, study and social settings.
Your next focus: Sharpen precision, register and specialist language.

C2 · Mastery

Express subtle meanings and handle complex language with ease.
Your next focus: Refine nuance, style and demanding specialist communication.

Your level is a starting point.

Your speaking, listening, reading and writing may sit at different levels. Advanced learners can still work on precision, nuance or specialist goals.

These short descriptions are adapted from the Council of Europe CEFR self-assessment grid.