The language levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 are those of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), published by the Council of Europe in 2001 and extended by its Companion Volume in 2020. In the Council of Europe's words, "the CEFR organises language proficiency in six levels, A1 to C2, which can be regrouped into three broad levels: Basic User, Independent User and Proficient User".
For each level, this guide quotes the CEFR global scale word for word, then gives concrete examples. It also explains sub-levels, how long progress takes, and the ways to find your level. How CEFRHub applies the descriptors is documented in our assessment methodology.
The Six CEFR Levels at a Glance
| Level | Group | Name | One sentence from the global scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Basic user | Breakthrough | "can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details" |
| A2 | Basic user | Waystage | "can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance" |
| B1 | Independent user | Threshold | "can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest" |
| B2 | Independent user | Vantage | "can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain" |
| C1 | Proficient user | Effective Operational Proficiency | "can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions" |
| C2 | Proficient user | Mastery | "can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read" |
Groups and quotations: CEFR global scale, Council of Europe (Table 1). Level names: the 2001 CEFR; on their origin, see the Council of Europe's history of the CEFR.
A1 — Breakthrough
What the CEFR global scale says
The A1 user "can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type". They "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". They "can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help".
In practice
At A1, you can:
- greet someone, say your name, country of origin and age;
- order a coffee, ask for a price;
- understand simple signs and instructions (exit, open, closed);
- fill in a simple form with your personal information.
What A1 does not yet allow: holding a real conversation, reading a newspaper paragraph, understanding someone speaking at a natural pace.
A2 — Waystage
What the CEFR global scale says
The A2 user "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)". They "can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters". They "can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need".
In practice
At A2, you can:
- take part in simple, direct exchanges about daily life;
- read short, simple texts (menus, timetables, notices);
- write simple personal messages (cards, short emails);
- describe your immediate environment in simple terms.
What A2 does not yet allow: dealing with unexpected topics, following complex instructions, working in the language without significant difficulty.
B1 — Threshold
What the CEFR global scale says
The B1 user "can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.". They "can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken". They "can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest". They "can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans".
In practice
At B1, you can:
- follow the main ideas of a meeting, a news bulletin or a discussion on a familiar topic;
- write a simple report, describe an event, give your opinion with some reasons;
- handle most travel and everyday situations;
- keep a conversation going, with limits on complex or abstract topics.
Towards B2: the next level requires understanding "the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics". It is the step from the familiar to the complex. See our guide to improving from B1 to B2.
B2 — Vantage
What the CEFR global scale says
The B2 user "can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation". They "can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party". They "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".
In practice
At B2, you can:
- write a well-organised argument, a professional report, detailed correspondence;
- follow a debate, a discussion or a lecture with good understanding;
- defend a position and answer counterarguments;
- read professional or academic texts in your field.
B2 in study and work: the level required varies by institution, employer or organisation; check with them. For the boundary with the next level, see CEFR B2 vs C1: the differences.
C1 — Effective Operational Proficiency
What the CEFR global scale says
The C1 user "can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning". They "can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions". They "can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes". They "can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices".
In practice
At C1, you can:
- produce complex, well-structured texts across a range of genres;
- follow fast, idiomatic conversation;
- understand irony, humour, cultural references and implicit meaning;
- use the language flexibly in social, professional and academic settings.
C2 — Mastery
What the CEFR global scale says
The C2 user "can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read". They "can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation". They "can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations".
In practice
At C2, you can:
- read highly complex, abstract or literary texts;
- write with nuance and a wide stylistic range;
- handle almost any communication situation, even a highly specialised one;
- perceive fine differences of meaning across registers and styles.
C2 is not "perfect": it is the highest level of the scale, the level of mastery; it describes what the person can do, not language free of any error.
Sub-levels: A2.1, B1.2…
The CEFR levels can be "further subdivided according to the needs of the local context" (Council of Europe). A sub-level places a person within a level without changing the scale. CEFRHub, for example, gives a sub-level (A2.1, B1.2…) with each level.
How Long Does It Take to Move Up a Level?
According to Cambridge English, moving from one CEFR level to the next takes approximately 200 guided learning hours (lessons and supervised study); the actual time depends on your learning background, the intensity of your study and your practice outside lessons (source: Cambridge English, "Guided learning hours").
In Canada: Levels That Are Not CEFR Levels
In Canada, some language requirements are not expressed in CEFR levels. In the federal public service, second-language proficiency is rated at levels A, B and C of the Treasury Board standard; the choice of assessment methods rests with the Public Service Commission, and the standard gives no correspondence with the CEFR. For details, see CEFR B2 vs C1: the differences; for employers, our HR guide.
How to Test Your CEFR Level
Three ways to find your level, for different needs:
- Self-assessment. The CEFR self-assessment grid (Table 2) is "a draft for a self-assessment orientation tool intended to help learners to profile their main language skills" (Council of Europe). It is a first reference point.
- An official exam (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, DELF, DALF, TEF…). It issues a recognized result, after registering for a session. It is the right choice when a process requires an official result.
- Assessment of a real production. A written text or a spoken recording is analysed against the CEFR descriptors. The result helps guide your learning.
To then list your level on a resume, see Language proficiency levels on a resume.
CEFRHub assesses written and spoken production, in English and French: a CEFR level from A1 to C2, with sub-levels, and a report based on the descriptors of the CEFR and its Companion Volume, in under 3 minutes. Organizations can use it to check a candidate's or an employee's level (language assessment for employees and candidates) or to place a whole class (CEFR placement test for a whole class). It is an educational assessment tool, not a certifying test. Results are not accepted for any immigration, citizenship or admission process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 language proficiency?
They are the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), from the most basic (A1) to the most advanced (C2). They form three groups: basic user (A1, A2), independent user (B1, B2) and proficient user (C1, C2).
What CEFR level is considered fluent?
The CEFR does not define “fluent”. Its global scale first speaks of fluency at B2, where the user “can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party”. At C1, they “can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions”.
How do I find my CEFR level?
Three ways: the CEFR self-assessment grid for a first reference point; an official exam (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, DELF, DALF, TEF…) when a process requires a recognized result; or the assessment of a real production, written or spoken, such as CEFRHub's, which is an educational tool, not a certifying test.
What is the highest CEFR level?
C2, called Mastery. At C2, the user “can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read”.
Is CEFR easier than IELTS?
The CEFR is not a test, so it is neither easier nor harder: it is the scale that describes the levels. IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, DELF or TEF are exams whose results are related to CEFR levels. The framework describes skills; exams measure them.
How long does it take to move up one CEFR level?
According to Cambridge English, about 200 guided learning hours (lessons and supervised study) per level. The figure is indicative: it depends on your background, the intensity of your study and your practice outside lessons (source: Cambridge English).
Do Canada's federal public service levels A, B and C match CEFR levels?
Not officially. The Treasury Board standard defines its own levels A, B and C and gives no correspondence with the CEFR.
Does CEFRHub assess all six CEFR levels?
Yes: from A1 to C2, with sub-levels, in English and French, from a written text or a spoken recording. It is an educational assessment tool, not a certifying test.