{
  "seo": {
    "title": "Mediating a Text B1–B2: CEFR Descriptors",
    "description": "All official CEFR 2020 descriptors for mediating a text, at B1, B1+ and B2, side by side, scale by scale.",
    "keywords": "mediating a text CEFR, CEFR B1 descriptors, CEFR B2 descriptors, companion volume 2020, mediating a text CEFR, official descriptors"
  },
  "breadcrumb": {
    "home": "Home",
    "page": "Descriptors — Mediating a Text B1–B2"
  },
  "hero": {
    "title": "Mediating a Text: the Official CEFR Descriptors from B1 to B2"
  },
  "intro": {
    "paragraphs": [
      "Mediating a text is one of the three mediation families described in the CEFR Companion Volume (2020): conveying the content of a text to someone who cannot access it themselves — summarising it, relaying its key information, explaining data, translating it, taking notes, or responding to a creative text. It is a core skill of academic and professional language use: reporting on a meeting, synthesising a file, walking someone through a chart.",
      "The B1→B2 boundary is already decisive here. At B1, you relay the gist of a simple, familiar text, linearly and sometimes approximately. B2 adds faithfulness to more complex texts, the ability to summarise a set of sources, and a reformulation that starts to break free from the source text's order. The B1+ band — shown here as a transition zone — documents precisely the in-between. This page reproduces every official descriptor for this activity at B1, B1+ and B2, scale by scale."
    ]
  },
  "scalesIntro": {
    "title": "The official descriptors, scale by scale",
    "p1": "11 Companion Volume scales cover mediating a text between B1 and B2. For each one, the B1 and B2 descriptors are shown side by side; where the CEFR publishes B1+ descriptors, they appear in the amber transition band."
  },
  "labels": {
    "low": "B1 — independent user",
    "mid": "B1+ — transition zone",
    "high": "B2 — independent user",
    "noDescriptor": "No distinct descriptor at this level for this scale."
  },
  "expert": {
    "title": "The Examiner's Perspective",
    "bylineName": "Réda Haiat",
    "bylineRole": "CEFR Assessment Expert · 22 Years of Experience",
    "paragraphs": [
      "In text mediation, the B1/B2 boundary separates the person who relays from the person who processes. A B1 mediator conveys the content of a text to someone who can't access it themselves: they summarise, translate roughly, report the gist. A B2 mediator goes one step further — they adapt the relay to what the recipient actually needs, and that adaptation transforms the text rather than just shrinking it.",
      "The deciding factor is whether the recipient is present in the relay. At B1, the summary is neutral: it could serve anyone. At B2, you can tell who it's for — the mediator selects, reorders, spells out what would be unclear to this specific audience. The B2 descriptors frame it in terms of relevance and adaptation, not faithfulness.",
      "B1+ starts to select but stays bound to the source text's order. They choose what to keep, not what order to say it in. That's real progress — they're no longer relaying everything — but the architecture is still borrowed."
    ],
    "signalsTitle": "What I listen for at the boundary",
    "signals": [
      "Is the relay adapted to an identifiable recipient, or neutral?",
      "Does the mediator reorganise, or follow the source text's order?",
      "Do they spell out what would be unclear to this audience, or pass it on as is?",
      "Do they select by relevance, or by position in the text?",
      "Do they flag what they're leaving out, or cut it silently?"
    ]
  },
  "attribution": {
    "workName": "CEFR Companion Volume (2020)",
    "p1": "Descriptors © Council of Europe — from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment. Companion Volume (2020), reproduced verbatim under the ",
    "ccLabel": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence (CC BY 4.0)",
    "ccUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "p2": ". ",
    "sourceLabel": "View the original publication",
    "sourceUrl": "https://rm.coe.int/cefr-companion-volume-with-new-descriptors-2018/1680787989",
    "p3": ". Commentary and analysis © CEFRhub."
  },
  "faq": {
    "title": "Frequently asked questions",
    "items": [
      {
        "q": "What is mediating a text in the CEFR?",
        "a": "It is one of the three mediation families in the 2020 Companion Volume: conveying the content of a text to someone who cannot access it — summarising it, translating it, relaying its information, explaining data, taking notes, or responding to a creative text. It is described by descriptor scales distinct from production and interaction."
      },
      {
        "question": "How many official descriptors cover mediating a text between B1 and B2?",
        "answer": "61 official descriptors cover this zone: 29 at B1, 9 at B1+ and 23 at B2, spread across 11 scales. All of them are reproduced on this page."
      },
      {
        "question": "What does the B1+ level mean?",
        "answer": "B1+ is a CEFR \"plus level\": it describes a strong B1 competence, beyond the B1 threshold but not yet meeting the B2 criteria. The Companion Volume publishes specific descriptors for these intermediate bands — that is the transition zone shown between the B1 and B2 columns."
      },
      {
        "question": "Can I reuse these descriptors?",
        "answer": "Yes. The CEFR descriptors are published by the Council of Europe under the CC BY 4.0 licence: you may reproduce and adapt them, including commercially, provided you credit the Council of Europe. That is exactly what this page does."
      }
    ]
  },
  "related": {
    "title": "Going further",
    "items": [
      {
        "label": "From B1 to B2: the strategic guide (article)",
        "to": "/en/blog/how-to-improve-b1-to-b2"
      },
      {
        "label": "Our CEFR assessment methodology",
        "to": "/en/methodology"
      },
      {
        "label": "All our equivalency charts",
        "to": "/en/equivalences"
      },
      {
        "label": "Assess your level in writing or speaking",
        "to": "/en/signup"
      },
      {
        "label": "Cette page en français",
        "to": "/fr/descripteurs-cecr-mediation-de-textes-b1-b2"
      }
    ]
  },
  "sources": {
    "title": "Sources",
    "items": [
      {
        "label": "Council of Europe — CEFR Companion Volume (2020):",
        "url": "https://rm.coe.int/cefr-companion-volume-with-new-descriptors-2018/1680787989"
      },
      {
        "label": "The CEFR on the Council of Europe website:",
        "url": "https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages"
      },
      {
        "label": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence:",
        "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
      }
    ]
  },
  "scales": [
    {
      "scale": "Processing text in speech or sign",
      "low": [
        {
          "text": "Can summarise (in Language B) the main points made in clear, well-structured texts (in Language A) on subjects that are familiar or of personal interest, although lexical limitations cause difficulty with formulation at times.",
          "originalId": 824
        },
        {
          "text": "Can summarise simply (in Language B) the main information content of straightforward texts (in Language A) on familiar subjects (e.g. a short record of an interview, magazine article, travel brochure).",
          "originalId": 825
        },
        {
          "text": "Can summarise (in Language B) the main points made during a conversation (in Language A) on a subject of personal or current interest, provided people articulated clearly.",
          "originalId": 826
        },
        {
          "text": "Can summarise (in Language B) the main points made in long texts delivered orally (in Language A) on topics in their fields of interest, provided they can listen or view several times.",
          "originalId": 827
        },
        {
          "text": "Can summarise (in Language B) the main points or events in TV programmes and video clips (in Language A), provided they can view them several times.",
          "originalId": 828
        }
      ],
      "mid": [
        {
          "text": "Can summarise (in Language B) the main points made in long texts (in Language A) on topics in their fields of interest, provided they can check the meaning of certain expressions.",
          "originalId": 821
        },
        {
          "text": "Can summarise (in Language B) a short narrative or article, talk, discussion, interview or documentary (in Language A) and answer further questions about details.",
          "originalId": 822
        },
        {
          "text": "Can collate short pieces of information from several sources (in Language A) and summarise them (in Language B) for somebody else.",
          "originalId": 823
        }
      ],
      "high": [
        {
          "text": "Can synthesise and report (in Language B) information and arguments from a number of sources (in Language A).",
          "originalId": 815
        },
        {
          "text": "Can summarise (in Language B) a wide range of factual and imaginative texts (in Language A), commenting on and discussing contrasting points of view and the main themes.",
          "originalId": 816
        },
        {
          "text": "Can summarise (in Language B) the important points made in longer, complex texts (in Language A) on subjects of current interest, including their fields of special interest.",
          "originalId": 817
        },
        {
          "text": "Can recognise the intended audience of a text (in Language A) on a topic of interest and explain (in Language B) the purpose, attitudes and opinion of the author.",
          "originalId": 818
        },
        {
          "text": "Can summarise (in Language B) extracts from news items, interviews or documentaries containing opinions, arguments and discussions (in Language A).",
          "originalId": 819
        },
        {
          "text": "Can summarise (in Language B) the plot and sequence of events in a film or play (in Language A).",
          "originalId": 820
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "scale": "Expressing a personal response to creative texts (including literature)",
      "low": [
        {
          "text": "Can explain why certain parts or aspects of a work especially interested them.",
          "originalId": 893
        },
        {
          "text": "Can explain in some detail which character they most identified with and why.",
          "originalId": 894
        },
        {
          "text": "Can relate events in a story, film or play to similar events they have experienced or heard about.",
          "originalId": 895
        },
        {
          "text": "Can relate the emotions experienced by a character to emotions they have experienced.",
          "originalId": 896
        },
        {
          "text": "Can describe the emotions they experienced at a certain point in a story, e.g. the point(s) in a story when they became anxious for a character, and explain why.",
          "originalId": 897
        },
        {
          "text": "Can explain briefly the feelings and opinions that a work provoked in them.",
          "originalId": 898
        },
        {
          "text": "Can describe the personality of a character.",
          "originalId": 899
        },
        {
          "text": "Can describe a character’s feelings and explain the reasons for them.",
          "originalId": 900
        }
      ],
      "mid": [],
      "high": [
        {
          "text": "Can give a clear presentation of their reactions to a work, developing their ideas and supporting them with examples and arguments.",
          "originalId": 889
        },
        {
          "text": "Can give a personal interpretation of the development of a plot, the characters and themes in a story, novel, film or play.",
          "originalId": 890
        },
        {
          "text": "Can describe their emotional response to a work and elaborate on the way in which it has evoked this response.",
          "originalId": 891
        },
        {
          "text": "Can express in some detail their reactions to the form of expression, style and content of a work, explaining what they appreciated and why.",
          "originalId": 892
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "scale": "Analysis and criticism of creative texts (including literature)",
      "low": [
        {
          "text": "Can point out the most important episodes and events in a clearly structured narrative in everyday language and explain the significance of events and the connections between them.",
          "originalId": 917
        },
        {
          "text": "Can describe the key themes and characters in short narratives involving familiar situations that contain only high frequency everyday language.",
          "originalId": 918
        }
      ],
      "mid": [],
      "high": [
        {
          "text": "Can compare two works, considering themes, characters and scenes, exploring similarities and contrasts and explaining the relevance of the connections between them.",
          "originalId": 913
        },
        {
          "text": "Can give a reasoned opinion of a work, showing awareness of the thematic, structural and formal features and referring to the opinions and arguments of others.",
          "originalId": 914
        },
        {
          "text": "Can evaluate the way the work encourages identification with characters, giving examples.",
          "originalId": 915
        },
        {
          "text": "Can describe the way in which different works differ in their treatment of the same theme.",
          "originalId": 916
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "scale": "Relaying specific information in writing",
      "low": [
        {
          "text": "Can relay in writing (in Language B) specific information points contained in texts delivered (in Language A) on familiar subjects (e.g. calls, announcements and instructions).",
          "originalId": 781
        },
        {
          "text": "Can relay in writing (in Language B) specific, relevant information contained in straightforward informational texts (in Language A) on familiar subjects.",
          "originalId": 782
        },
        {
          "text": "Can relay in writing (in Language B) specific information given in a straightforward recorded message (left in Language A), provided the topics concerned are familiar and the delivery is slow and clear.",
          "originalId": 783
        }
      ],
      "mid": [],
      "high": [
        {
          "text": "Can relay in a written report (in Language B) relevant decisions that were taken in a meeting (in Language A).",
          "originalId": 779
        },
        {
          "text": "Can relay in writing (in Language B) the significant point(s) contained in formal correspondence (in Language A).",
          "originalId": 780
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "scale": "Note-taking (lectures, seminars, meetings, etc.)",
      "low": [
        {
          "text": "Can take notes as a list of key points during a straightforward lecture, provided the topic is familiar, and the lecture is both formulated in simple language and articulated clearly.",
          "originalId": 881
        },
        {
          "text": "Can note down routine instructions in a meeting on a familiar subject, provided these are formulated in simple language and they are given sufficient time to do so.",
          "originalId": 882
        }
      ],
      "mid": [
        {
          "text": "Can take notes during a lecture which are precise enough for their own use at a later date, provided the topic is within their field of interest and the lecture is clear and well structured.",
          "originalId": 880
        }
      ],
      "high": [
        {
          "text": "Can understand a clearly structured lecture on a familiar subject, and can take notes on points which strike them as important, even though they tend to concentrate on the actual formulation and therefore to miss some information.",
          "originalId": 878
        },
        {
          "text": "Can take accurate notes in meetings and seminars on most matters likely to arise within their field of interest.",
          "originalId": 879
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "scale": "Relaying specific information in speech or sign",
      "low": [
        {
          "text": "Can relay (in Language B) the content of public announcements and messages delivered clearly at normal speed (in Language A).",
          "originalId": 764
        },
        {
          "text": "Can relay (in Language B) the contents of detailed instructions or directions, provided these are clearly articulated (in Language A).",
          "originalId": 765
        },
        {
          "text": "Can relay (in Language B) specific information given in straightforward informational texts (e.g. leaflets, brochure entries, notices and letters or e-mails) (in Language A).",
          "originalId": 766
        }
      ],
      "mid": [],
      "high": [
        {
          "text": "Can relay (in Language B) the main point(s) contained in formal correspondence and/or reports (in Language A) on general subjects and on subjects related to their fields of interest.",
          "originalId": 763
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "scale": "Processing text in writing",
      "low": [
        {
          "text": "Can summarise in writing (in Language B) the main points made in straightforward, informational texts (in Language A) on subjects that are of personal or current interest, provided oral texts are clearly articulated.",
          "originalId": 844
        },
        {
          "text": "Can paraphrase short passages in a simple fashion, using the original text wording and ordering.",
          "originalId": 845
        }
      ],
      "mid": [
        {
          "text": "Can summarise in writing (in Language B) the information and arguments contained in texts (in Language A) on subjects of general or personal interest.",
          "originalId": 843
        }
      ],
      "high": [
        {
          "text": "Can summarise in writing (in Language B) the main content of complex texts (in Language A) on subjects related to their fields of interest and specialisation.",
          "originalId": 842
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "scale": "Explaining data in speech or sign",
      "low": [
        {
          "text": "Can interpret and describe (in Language B) overall trends shown in simple diagrams (e.g. graphs, bar charts) (with text in Language A), even though lexical limitations cause difficulty with formulation at times.",
          "originalId": 793
        }
      ],
      "mid": [
        {
          "text": "Can interpret and describe (in Language B) detailed information in diagrams in their fields of interest (with text in Language A), even though lexical gaps may cause hesitation or imprecise formulation.",
          "originalId": 792
        }
      ],
      "high": [
        {
          "text": "Can interpret and describe reliably (in Language B) detailed information contained in complex diagrams, charts and other visually organised information (with text in Language A) on topics in their fields of interest.",
          "originalId": 791
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "scale": "Explaining data in writing",
      "low": [
        {
          "text": "Can describe in simple sentences (in Language B) the main facts shown in visuals on familiar topics (e.g. a weather map, a basic flow chart) (with text in Language A).",
          "originalId": 802
        }
      ],
      "mid": [
        {
          "text": "Can interpret and present in writing (in Language B) the overall trends shown in simple diagrams (e.g. graphs, bar charts) (with text in Language A), explaining the important points in more detail, given the help of a dictionary or other reference materials.",
          "originalId": 801
        }
      ],
      "high": [
        {
          "text": "Can interpret and present reliably in writing (in Language B) detailed information from diagrams and visually organised data in their fields of interest (with text in Language A).",
          "originalId": 800
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "scale": "Translating a written text in writing",
      "low": [
        {
          "text": "Can produce approximate translations (from Language A into Language B) of information contained in short, factual texts written in uncomplicated, standard language; despite errors, the translation remains comprehensible.",
          "originalId": 868
        }
      ],
      "mid": [
        {
          "text": "Can produce approximate translations (from Language A into Language B) of straightforward, factual texts that are written in uncomplicated, standard language, closely following the structure of the original; although linguistic errors may occur, the translation remains comprehensible.",
          "originalId": 867
        }
      ],
      "high": [
        {
          "text": "Can produce translations (into Language B) that closely follow the sentence and paragraph structure of the original text (in Language A), conveying the main points of the source text accurately, though the translation may read awkwardly.",
          "originalId": 866
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "scale": "Translating a written text in speech or sign",
      "low": [
        {
          "text": "Can provide an approximate oral translation (into Language B) of clear, well-structured informational texts (written in Language A) on subjects that are familiar or of personal interest, although lexical limitations cause difficulty with formulation at times.",
          "originalId": 857
        }
      ],
      "mid": [
        {
          "text": "Can provide oral translation (into Language B) of texts (written in Language A) containing information and arguments on subjects within their fields of professional, academic and personal interest, provided they are written in uncomplicated, standard language.",
          "originalId": 856
        }
      ],
      "high": []
    }
  ]
}