English level test: write or speak, get your CEFR level

What is a production-based English level test?

In short: You write a text or record yourself, in English; AI analyzes this production against the CEFR descriptors and gives you your level from A1 to C2, with sub-levels. It is neither a multiple-choice quiz nor an official exam.

CEFRHub is an educational assessment aligned with the CEFR: it is neither an official exam nor a certification (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English exams…). It assesses written or spoken production; it does not measure reading or listening comprehension.

How does the test work?

In short: Three steps: you choose writing or speaking, in English, you write or record yourself, with a prompt if you wish, then you read your report, which arrives in under 3 minutes.

1. 1Choose writing or speaking, then “English” as the assessed language. For writing, you type your text, or upload a file or a photo of handwritten work. For speaking, you record yourself on the spot or upload an audio file; with the free account, you can record up to 3 minutes.
2. 2If you want a topic, pick a CEFRHub task prompt for your level, in English (optional). Otherwise, you write or speak freely, on a topic of your choice.
3. 3Read your report, which arrives in under 3 minutes: your level and sub-level on the CEFR scale, the descriptors that apply to your production, your strengths and what is left to work on.

A production that is too short is not assessed: under 20 words in writing, under 15 seconds in speaking.

What's in the report?

In short: Your level and sub-level, the CEFR descriptors that apply to your production, your strengths and what is left to work on.

• The detected level places your production on the CEFR scale, from A1 to C2.
• The report is based on the descriptors of the CEFR and its Companion Volume, which it quotes.
• It analyzes three competences (linguistic, sociolinguistic, pragmatic), with examples taken from your production.
• It then gives your strengths, points to improve and recommendations.

The sub-level places your production within the level: .1, the level is reached; .2, it is consolidated and features of the next level are starting to appear, what the CEFR calls a “plus” level (A2+, B1+, B2+). A2, B1 and B2 have two sub-levels; A1, C1 and C2 have none.

The free account gets a basic report (about 500 words) and a 2-page PDF summary; the full report in the sample corresponds to the paid plans.

Production-based test or quiz: what's the difference?

In short: A quiz measures what you recognize (grammar, vocabulary); CEFRHub measures what you produce, in writing or in speaking.

Most of the free English level tests at the top of search results are multiple-choice quizzes or comprehension tests. They measure what you recognize, not what you produce.

What do A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 mean?

In short: They are the six CEFR levels, from basic user to proficient user. CEFRHub assesses them with sub-levels A2.1 to B2.2.

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, describes six levels, from A1 to C2, through “can do” descriptors common to all languages, English included. Here is one sentence from its global scale for each.

Unofficial test or official exam: which one to choose?

In short: CEFRHub places your production on the CEFR scale; an official exam (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English) gives a result recognized by the organizations that accept it. When an official result is required, you need an official exam.

CEFRHub issues neither a certificate nor an exam score: it is an educational assessment tool, not a certifying test, and it does not replace an exam. When an institution or organization requires an official result, you need an official exam, such as IELTS, the TOEFL or a Cambridge English exam: the choice depends on what it requires. CEFRHub helps you before that: it places your written or spoken production on the CEFR scale, so you can choose the right exam level and track your progress. It assesses written and spoken production; IELTS and the TOEFL iBT also assess listening and reading.

How much does the test cost?

In short: Free to start, no credit card: one written assessment every 30 days and one spoken assessment offered once. After that, credits from CA$5, or a subscription.

Free to start, no credit card: one written assessment every 30 days and one spoken assessment offered once. After that, credits with no subscription from CA$5 (1 credit = 1 assessment), or a subscription: Professional at CA$49/month (50 assessments), Power at CA$89/month (200 assessments), Expert at CA$179/month (unlimited assessments, under a fair-use policy: 50 analyses per day). 7-day money-back guarantee on the first subscription (full refund if 5 assessments or fewer); cancel anytime, with no cancellation fees. Plus applicable taxes.

When is the result less reliable?

In short: When the production is short or far from the task, or close to the boundary between two levels. Aim for at least the expected length or duration for your level.

• The result is an educational diagnosis. A short production, or one far from the task, gives fewer clues: the result is less certain.
• The shorter your production, the less reliable the result. Aim for at least the expected length or duration for your level (table above): from 25 to 40 words at A1 up to 240 to 320 words at C2; when speaking, from 30 to 45 seconds at A1 up to 2 to 3 minutes at C2.
• Near the boundary between two levels (e.g. B1/B2), the AI may under- or over-estimate the level.
• For speaking, record yourself somewhere quiet: background noise gets in the way of the analysis.
• A text read aloud or learned by heart does not show the same thing as spontaneous speech: the tool asks you for the production type to take this into account.
• Submit your own work: a copied text does not show your level.
• CEFRHub assesses written or spoken production; it does not measure reading or listening comprehension.