{ "seo": { "title": "Oral Production B1–B2: CEFR Descriptors", "description": "All official CEFR 2020 descriptors for oral production, at B1, B1+ and B2, side by side, scale by scale.", "keywords": "oral production CEFR, CEFR B1 descriptors, CEFR B2 descriptors, companion volume 2020, oral production CEFR, official descriptors" }, "breadcrumb": { "home": "Home", "page": "Descriptors — Oral Production B1–B2" }, "hero": { "title": "Oral Production: the Official CEFR Descriptors from B1 to B2" }, "intro": { "paragraphs": [ "Oral production is one of the CEFR's core language activities: it covers situations where the speaker talks at length without a listener taking turns in return — a presentation, a report, a talk, an extended argument delivered to an audience. Unlike interaction, the whole burden of the discourse rests on the speaker: structuring ideas, linking them, sustaining the distance without a conversational partner to lean on.", "The B1→B2 boundary marks a real shift in the nature of the discourse. At B1, the speaker links simple sentences into a linear sequence — a description, a short narrative, a brief explanation, carried by elementary connectors ('and', 'but', 'because'). B2 adds clarity of development, the ability to defend a viewpoint with arguments and counter-arguments, and a fluency that no longer depends on heavy preparation. 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": "6 Companion Volume scales cover oral production 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": [ "Oral production is the activity where the B1/B2 boundary shows up fastest — often within the first thirty seconds. At B1, the speaker produces discourse that holds together, but stays additive: ideas are strung together in the order they occur to the speaker, linked by simple connectors. At B2, structure precedes the utterance — the speaker knows where they're going before they start, and the discourse carries the marks of that planning: signposting, prioritising, controlled backtracking.", "This isn't about fluency in the sense of speed. A B1 speaker can talk fast and hesitation-free and still be B1, if they're juxtaposing. A B2 speaker can search for words and still be B2, if the discourse is architected. The B2 descriptors say as much through what they demand: developing an argument, highlighting, marking the relative importance of points — operations that all assume command over what you're saying, not just delivery of it.", "B1+ is the zone where the speaker starts to structure, but only on subjects they've mastered. That's the real tipping point: on home ground, they give the illusion of B2; move them to a less familiar or more abstract topic, and they fall back into juxtaposition. It's this dependence on home ground that separates B1+ from genuine B2." ], "signalsTitle": "What I listen for at the boundary", "signals": [ "Is the discourse signposted and structured, or does it unfold as the thought occurs?", "Do connectors mark a real logical relationship, or do they just function as spoken punctuation?", "Does the speaker prioritise (essential vs. secondary), or treat everything at the same level?", "Does it hold up on a topic pushed outside their comfort zone, or does the structure collapse?", "Can they reformulate when they sense they haven't been understood, or do they just repeat verbatim?" ] }, "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 oral production in the CEFR?", "a": "It is one of the CEFR's core language activities: the speaker talks at length without a listener taking turns in return — a presentation, a report, an extended argument. It is described by descriptor scales distinct from comprehension, interaction and mediation." }, { "question": "How many official descriptors cover oral production between B1 and B2?", "answer": "33 official descriptors cover this zone: 16 at B1, 6 at B1+ and 11 at B2, spread across 6 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-production-orale-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": "Sustained monologue: describing experience", "low": [ { "text": "Can give straightforward descriptions on a variety of familiar subjects within their field of interest.", "originalId": 240 }, { "text": "Can reasonably fluently relate a straightforward narrative or description as a sequence of points.", "originalId": 241 }, { "text": "Can give detailed accounts of experiences, describing feelings and reactions.", "originalId": 242 }, { "text": "Can relate details of unpredictable occurrences, e.g. an accident.", "originalId": 243 }, { "text": "Can relate the plot of a book or film and describe their reactions.", "originalId": 244 }, { "text": "Can describe dreams, hopes and ambitions.", "originalId": 245 }, { "text": "Can describe events, real or imagined.", "originalId": 246 }, { "text": "Can narrate a story.", "originalId": 247 } ], "mid": [ { "text": "Can clearly express feelings about something experienced and give reasons to explain those feelings.", "originalId": 239 } ], "high": [ { "text": "Can give clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to their field of interest.", "originalId": 237 }, { "text": "Can describe the personal significance of events and experiences in detail.", "originalId": 238 } ] }, { "scale": "Sustained monologue: putting a case (e.g. in a debate)", "low": [ { "text": "Can express opinions on subjects relating to everyday life, using simple expressions.", "originalId": 283 }, { "text": "Can briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions, plans and actions.", "originalId": 284 }, { "text": "Can explain whether or not they approve of what someone has done and give reasons to justify this opinion.", "originalId": 285 } ], "mid": [ { "text": "Can develop an argument well enough to be followed without difficulty most of the time.", "originalId": 281 }, { "text": "Can give simple reasons to justify a viewpoint on a familiar topic.", "originalId": 282 } ], "high": [ { "text": "Can develop a clear argument, expanding and supporting their points of view at some length with subsidiary points and relevant examples.", "originalId": 278 }, { "text": "Can construct a chain of reasoned argument.", "originalId": 279 }, { "text": "Can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.", "originalId": 280 } ] }, { "scale": "Sustained monologue: giving information", "low": [ { "text": "Can report straightforward factual information on a familiar topic, for example to indicate the nature of a problem or to give detailed directions, provided they can prepare beforehand.", "originalId": 270 } ], "mid": [ { "text": "Can explain the main points in an idea or problem with reasonable precision.", "originalId": 268 }, { "text": "Can describe how to do something, giving detailed instructions.", "originalId": 269 } ], "high": [ { "text": "Can communicate detailed information reliably.", "originalId": 266 }, { "text": "Can give a clear, detailed description of how to carry out a procedure.", "originalId": 267 } ] }, { "scale": "Addressing audiences", "low": [ { "text": "Can give a prepared straightforward presentation on a familiar topic within their field which is clear enough to be followed without difficulty most of the time, and in which the main points are explained with reasonable precision.", "originalId": 308 }, { "text": "Can take follow-up questions, but may have to ask for repetition if the delivery is rapid.", "originalId": 309 } ], "mid": [ { "text": "Can give a prepared presentation on a familiar topic within their field, outlining similarities and differences (e.g. between products, countries/regions, plans).", "originalId": 307 } ], "high": [ { "text": "Can give a clear, prepared presentation, giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view and giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.", "originalId": 305 }, { "text": "Can take a series of follow-up questions with a degree of fluency and spontaneity which poses no strain for either themselves or the audience.", "originalId": 306 } ] }, { "scale": "Overall oral production", "low": [ { "text": "Can reasonably fluently sustain a straightforward description of one of a variety of subjects within their field of interest, presenting it as a linear sequence of points.", "originalId": 230 } ], "mid": [], "high": [ { "text": "Can give clear, detailed descriptions and presentations on a wide range of subjects related to their field of interest, expanding and supporting ideas with subsidiary points and relevant examples.", "originalId": 229 } ] }, { "scale": "Public announcements", "low": [ { "text": "Can deliver short, rehearsed announcements on a topic pertinent to everyday occurrences in their field which, despite possible problems with stress and intonation (= non-manuals in a sign language), are nevertheless clearly intelligible.", "originalId": 293 } ], "mid": [], "high": [ { "text": "Can deliver announcements on most general topics with a degree of clarity, fluency and spontaneity which causes no strain or inconvenience to the recipient.", "originalId": 292 } ] } ] }