CEFR assessment aligned with official descriptors
The only platform that puts official CEFR descriptors at the heart of evaluation.
Complete transparency on how each level is determined.
🇫🇷 Français | 🇬🇧 English | 🌍 More languages soon
Why traditional CEFR tools fall short
Three critical flaws undermining language assessment
Black-box opacity
You get a score without understanding how it was calculated. No explanation. No transparency. No learning.
Pure subjectivity
Evaluations based on vague impressions without quantitative metrics or reproducible methodology.
No scientific validation
Most tools don't cite linguistic theories or published research. Just 'trust our algorithm'.
The CEFR: our absolute reference
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the international standard for describing language ability. CEFRhub aligns every evaluation with official descriptors.
What is the CEFR?
Developed by the Council of Europe, the CEFR defines six proficiency levels (A1 to C2) using 'can-do' descriptors that are language-independent and applicable to French, English, and all languages.
The 2020 update: enhanced descriptors
The Companion Volume enhances language evaluation with refined descriptors for:
- Written Production with detailed text-type specifications
- Spoken Interaction including online communication
- plurilingual and pluricultural competence
- extended quality criteria for assessment
CEFRhub evaluates Written Production and Spoken Interaction using these enhanced descriptors for French and English.
The six CEFR levels: official descriptors
Based on the CEFR global scale
Granular precision: CEFR sublevels for ultra-precise diagnosis
CEFRhub goes beyond the 6 global levels and distinguishes CEFR sublevels (A2.1, A2.2, B1.1, B1.2, B2.1, B2.2) for ultra-precise positioning of your language proficiency. This granularity recommended by the Council of Europe enables detailed progress tracking and perfectly adapted pedagogical objectives.
According to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the A2, B1, and B2 levels each break down into two sublevels: .1 (beginning of level, minimum criteria met) and .2 (end of level, consolidated and secure mastery). This granular distinction allows precise identification of where you stand in your French or English learning journey.
Benefits
- Detailed progress tracking on 9 steps instead of 6 global levels
- Precise identification of your exact position in your language learning journey
- Micro-targeted pedagogical objectives adapted to your specific sublevel
- Strategic preparation for official certifications (DELF A2, DELF B1, DELF B2, DALF C1, Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced)
- Early detection of gaps before moving to the next level
- Reinforced motivation through measurable intermediate progression milestones
📊 Each CEFRhub assessment report indicates your global CEFR level (e.g., B2) AND your precise sublevel (e.g., B2.1 or B2.2) accompanied by a statistical confidence score. This dual indication enables actionable pedagogical diagnosis for teachers and learners.
📖 Based on the CEFR Companion Volume 2020 (Council of Europe) - Annex 1: Plus Levels and sublevels, pages 186-189
A1
Breakthrough
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. 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. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
A2
Waystage
Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions. Can communicate in simple routine tasks. Can describe in simple terms aspects of their background and immediate environment.
B1
Threshold
Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters. Can deal with most situations whilst travelling. Can describe experiences, events, dreams and ambitions.
B2
Vantage
Can understand the main ideas of complex text on concrete and abstract topics. Can interact with fluency and spontaneity. Can produce clear, detailed text and explain viewpoints.
C1
Effective Proficiency
Can understand a wide range of demanding texts and recognise implicit meaning. Can express themselves fluently without obvious searching. Can use language flexibly for social, academic and professional purposes.
C2
Mastery
Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different sources coherently. Can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely.
Multidimensional assessment: the 3 CEFR communicative competences
In accordance with the CEFR Companion Volume 2020, each CEFRhub evaluation analyzes three complementary and interdependent dimensions of your language proficiency in French or English
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages defines communicative competence as the systemic interaction of three distinct but interconnected competences. CEFRhub evaluates each of them with scientific rigor and total transparency, providing you with a complete multidimensional linguistic profile.
Linguistic competence
Mastery of the formal language system: lexicon, grammar, phonology and orthography
Key aspects
- Lexical range and control
- Grammatical accuracy and complexity
- Phonological control (oral)
CEFR: Official CEFR scales: General linguistic range, Vocabulary control, Grammatical accuracy, Phonological control, Orthographic control
Sociolinguistic competence
Adaptation to social and cultural context: registers of language, linguistic politeness and cultural markers
Key aspects
- Registers of language and situational variation
- Linguistic politeness and face-work
- Cultural markers and shared references
CEFR: Official CEFR scales: Sociolinguistic appropriateness, Sociolinguistic flexibility, Turn-taking, Cooperating, Transactions to obtain goods and services
Pragmatic competence
Communication effectiveness and organization: coherence, cohesion and discursive strategies
Key aspects
- Discursive coherence and thematic organization
- Textual cohesion and connectivity
- Communicative effectiveness and functional adequacy
CEFR: Official CEFR scales: Flexibility, Turn-taking, Thematic development, Coherence and cohesion, Spoken fluency, Precision
Holistic and integrated assessment: multidimensional linguistic profile
The three communicative competences are not evaluated in isolation, but in their systemic interaction within your language production. CEFRhub generates a multidimensional CEFR profile that reveals your specific strengths and priority improvement areas for each competence.
Concrete example: differentiated B2 profile
This profile reveals solid linguistic and pragmatic mastery at B2 level, with a priority improvement area in sociolinguistic competence. Recommendation: intensive exposure to varied formal situations (professional correspondence, academic presentations) to develop register flexibility and sophisticated politeness markers.
Compliance with official CEFR 2020 framework
The CEFR Companion Volume 2020 (Council of Europe) insists on distinct evaluation of the three competences. Tools that limit themselves to a single global score ignore this fundamental recommendation.
Actionable pedagogical diagnosis
A learner can excel in grammar (B2 linguistic competence) while struggling to adapt their register (B1 sociolinguistic). Without differentiated diagnosis, impossible to target teaching effectively.
Optimal preparation for official certifications
DELF/DALF, Cambridge, IELTS exams implicitly evaluate these three competences. Knowing your detailed profile enables strategic preparation targeted at your specific weaknesses.
Scientific transparency and explainability
Unlike opaque tools that provide a mysterious global score, CEFRhub explicates how each competence contributes to your final CEFR level, reinforcing trust and understanding.
6 linguistic theories validating alignment
Each evaluation integrates frameworks from world-renowned researchers
Quantitative metrics vs opaque tools
Factual comparison - our explainable approach vs traditional black boxes
| Quantitative metric | CEFRhub | Opaque tools |
|---|---|---|
TTR (Type-Token Ratio) Lexical diversity measure | ✓ Calculated & displayed (0.45-0.85) | ✗ Not shown |
MTLD (Lexical Diversity) Advanced diversity index | ✓ Calculated & displayed (40-120) | ✗ Not shown |
MLT (Mean Length T-unit) Syntactic complexity | ✓ Calculated & displayed (8-22 words) | ✗ Not shown |
VOT (Voice Onset Time) Pronunciation precision | ✓ Analyzed for oral (±15ms native-like) | ✗ Not analyzed |
F0 Range (Pitch) Prosodic naturalness | ✓ Measured (120-350 Hz range) | ✗ Not measured |
Cohesive Density Text connectivity | ✓ Calculated (0.15-0.45) | ✗ Not calculated |
Generic comparison for educational purposes. Quantitative thresholds based on research synthesis (Norris & Ortega 2009, Crossley et al. 2011), not prescribed by CEFR official framework.
CEFRhub is the only platform providing full metric visibility. No black boxes.
From metrics to CEFR descriptors
How we align quantitative analysis and linguistic theories with official CEFR descriptors
Every metric and theory serves one purpose: validating alignment with official CEFR descriptors.
Written Production
Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint giving advantages and disadvantages.
"Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint giving advantages and disadvantages."
CEFRhub validation:
📊 Quantitative Metrics:
- MTLD 75-95: Confirms lexical diversity
- MLT 14-18 words: Syntactic complexity
- Cohesive density 0.25-0.35: Effective connectors
🔬 Linguistic Theories:
- Norris & Ortega: Subordination patterns
- Halliday & Hasan: Cohesive device variety
- Byram: Intercultural references
Spoken Interaction
Speech rate 100-140 words/min + strategic pauses + natural intonation patterns validate B1 fluency (Levelt model)
Written Production
MTLD >100 + MLT >18 words + sophisticated cohesive devices + register flexibility validate C1 written proficiency (Norris & Ortega, Halliday & Hasan)
Traditional tools provide a score without showing this alignment. CEFRhub makes the connection explicit.
Assessment architecture: CEFR at the core
Official descriptors are the foundation. Metrics and theories are validation tools.
Unlike traditional approaches that treat metrics as the end goal, CEFRhub puts CEFR descriptors at the center. Our 6 linguistic theories and quantitative metrics serve as rigorous tools to validate alignment with official CEFR scales.
Submission and Preprocessing
User submits their written production or oral speech. Text is preprocessed (tokenization, normalization) for multidimensional CEFR analysis.
Multi-layered Analysis
Evaluation of the 3 CEFR communicative competences (linguistic, sociolinguistic, pragmatic) + multidimensional quantitative analysis + 6 linguistic theoretical frameworks applied simultaneously
CEFR Level Validation
Results explicitly mapped to official CEFR descriptors with confidence score. Show descriptor + supporting evidence + strengths + areas for improvement
Frequently asked questions
Deepen Your CEFR Knowledge
Explore our guides to better understand CEFR levels and assessment
Complete Guide to CEFR Levels (A1–C2)
Everything you need to know about the 6 CEFR levels and what each one means.
CEFR B2 vs C1: Key Differences
Understand the gap between upper-intermediate and advanced proficiency.
How to Go from B1 to B2
Practical strategies to break through the intermediate plateau.
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