The official CEFR descriptors, boundary by boundary
The CEFR Companion Volume (Council of Europe, 2020) describes what a learner “can do” at each level, scale by scale. It is the reference text assessors rely on — and the methodological backbone of CEFRhub.
Of the roughly 1,700 descriptors in the Companion Volume, we publish those at the two boundaries where decisions are made — B1→B2 and B2→C1 — across all seven language activities: 14 crossings, over 400 official descriptors, reproduced in full.
The B1 → B2 boundary
From threshold-level independence to advanced independent user: the most consequential boundary for study, immigration and employment.
Oral production
33 descriptorsThe activity where the boundary shows fastest — often within the first thirty seconds.
Written production
17 descriptorsWhen a text becomes a self-contained unit rather than a string of sentences.
Oral comprehension
26 descriptorsFrom relying on the speaker's cooperation to genuine listener autonomy.
Reading comprehension
38 descriptorsWhen reading stops consuming every resource and frees capacity for analysis.
Mediating a text
61 descriptorsSummarising, rephrasing, passing information on: the largest corpus of the seven activities.
Mediating communication
16 descriptorsThe least linguistic of the seven activities: facilitating exchange between people.
Mediating concepts
26 descriptorsThe shift from participating in group work to leading it.
The B2 → C1 boundary
The entry into proficient use: the boundary of demanding academic and professional requirements.
Oral production
28 descriptorsStructuring extended discourse without the effort showing.
Written production
17 descriptorsTexts that create an effect, not just convey information.
Oral comprehension
25 descriptorsUnderstanding what isn't said: implication, register, intent.
Reading comprehension
23 descriptorsReading the intent that organises a text, beyond its content.
Mediating a text
55 descriptorsTransforming the text, beyond merely shrinking it.
Mediating communication
21 descriptorsMaking a blocked exchange possible between distant positions.
Mediating concepts
30 descriptorsFrom supporting the group to coaching individual thinking.
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Browse the framework equivalenciesFrequently asked questions
What is a CEFR descriptor?
A descriptor is a “can-do” statement describing concretely what a learner can accomplish at a given level, for a specific language activity. CEFR levels are not scores: they are sets of observable descriptors.
Where do these descriptors come from?
From the CEFR Companion Volume published by the Council of Europe in 2020, which extends and updates the 2001 Framework. We reproduce them verbatim, without rewording, under the CC BY 4.0 licence with attribution.
Which part of the CEFR is covered here?
14 crossings: the seven language activities (oral and written production, oral and reading comprehension, three mediation families) at the two boundaries B1→B2 and B2→C1 — over 400 descriptors. This is not the entire corpus: the Companion Volume contains roughly 1,700 descriptors across six levels, and this library focuses on the two boundaries where assessment decisions are made.
Source and licence
The descriptors reproduced in this library come from the CEFR Companion Volume (2020), © Council of Europe, reproduced under the CC BY 4.0 licence — CEFR Companion Volume (2020) — Council of Europe.
The introductions, commentary and groupings are the work of CEFRhub and do not commit the Council of Europe.