In short: on a resume, list each language with a CEFR level, from A1 to C2. This is the Council of Europe's scale, the one used by the European Union's Europass CV. Where useful, specify the skill (understanding, speaking, writing) and back your level with evidence: an official exam, or at least a self-assessment with the CEFR grid. Words like "fluent", "conversational" or "proficient" have no official definition: if you use them, add the level.
The Six CEFR Levels to Put on a Resume
| Level | Group | Name |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Basic user | Breakthrough |
| A2 | Basic user | Waystage |
| B1 | Independent user | Threshold |
| B2 | Independent user | Vantage |
| C1 | Proficient user | Effective Operational Proficiency |
| C2 | Proficient user | Mastery |
Source: CEFR global scale, Council of Europe (Table 1). For what each level covers, see our guide to CEFR language levels; for the most debated boundary, CEFR B2 vs C1.
Three Ways to Write It
- The short format: one line per language, with the CEFR level. For example "English: B2" and "Spanish: A2".
- By skill, as in the Europass grid: the self-assessment grid offered by Europass separates Understanding (Listening, Reading), Speaking (Spoken Interaction, Spoken Production) and Writing (Europass). Useful when your levels differ: "French: understanding C1, speaking B2, writing B2".
- With evidence: the name of the exam and the year next to the level, for example "French: B2 (DELF B2, 2024)" or "English: C1 (Cambridge C1 Advanced, 2025)".
Whatever the format, use the same scale for all your languages: a reader compares "B2" and "C1" faster than "good" and "fluent".
"Fluent", "Conversational", "Proficient": Words With No Official Definition
These words have no official definition, and resume advice sites do not all match them to the same levels. The CEFR itself calls its top two levels "Proficient user": a recruiter who reads "proficient" cannot tell whether you mean C1 or something much lower.
If you keep a word, add the level: "Spanish: fluent (C1)". Keep "native" for the language you grew up with.
Know Your Level Before You Write It
- Self-assessment. The CEFR self-assessment grid (Table 2) describes each level for listening, reading, spoken interaction, spoken production and writing (Council of Europe). Europass offers it so you can assess your own languages.
- An official exam. This is the strongest evidence: IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge exams for English; DELF, DALF or TCF for French. See our comparisons CEFRHub vs IELTS and DELF vs DALF.
- An assessment of your own production. CEFRHub places a text or a recording on the CEFR scale, from A1 to C2 with sub-levels, in under 3 minutes: a way to avoid overrating yourself before you write your level. This result helps you know where you stand; it does not replace an official exam and is not a credential to list.
If a job posting states the expected level on the ACTFL scale, our CEFR to ACTFL equivalency page explains how the two relate. To see the employer's side, read what CEFR level a job should require.
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. 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 are the 5 levels of language proficiency?
There is no single official five-level scale. The CEFR, the Council of Europe's scale used by Europass, has six levels, from A1 to C2, in three groups. Many resume guides use five informal labels, from basic to native, which have no official definition: add the CEFR level next to them.
What is A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 language proficiency?
The six levels of the CEFR, in three groups: basic user (A1, A2), independent user (B1, B2) and proficient user (C1, C2). See our guide to CEFR language levels.
Can I put a language on my resume if I'm not fluent?
Yes, with its level: "Spanish: A2" tells a recruiter more than "basic". Do not claim a higher level than the one you can show in an interview.
What do I put for language proficiency?
A CEFR level from A1 to C2 next to each language; if useful, the level for each skill (understanding, speaking, writing), and the exam and year that support it.
How do I describe my level for each skill?
Use the CEFR self-assessment grid, which describes each level for listening, reading, spoken interaction, spoken production and writing (Council of Europe). Pick the level that matches what you can do, skill by skill.
Do I need a certificate to list a level?
No, but an official exam is the strongest evidence. Without an exam, list the level from your self-assessment with the CEFR grid, without presenting it as a certificate.
Should I use the CEFR on a US resume?
Use the scale of the job posting. If it states the level on the ACTFL scale, give your level on that scale too, or both. Our CEFR to ACTFL equivalency page explains how the two relate.
What should I write for my native language?
"Native" is enough, for the language you grew up with. CEFR levels are for the languages you learned.
Can I list a CEFRHub result as proof on my resume?
No. CEFRHub is an educational assessment tool, not a certifying test: it helps you know where you stand before you write your level. Only an official exam counts as proof.