{ "seo": { "title": "Reading Comprehension B2–C1: CEFR Descriptors", "description": "All official CEFR 2020 descriptors for reading comprehension, at B2, B2+ and C1, side by side, scale by scale.", "keywords": "reading comprehension CEFR, CEFR B2 descriptors, CEFR C1 descriptors, companion volume 2020, reading comprehension CEFR, official descriptors" }, "breadcrumb": { "home": "Home", "page": "Descriptors — Reading Comprehension B2–C1" }, "hero": { "title": "Reading Comprehension: the Official CEFR Descriptors from B2 to C1" }, "intro": { "paragraphs": [ "Reading comprehension covers situations where the reader understands a written text — an article, correspondence, a report, a literary text. It is a receptive skill: it is measured by what the reader manages to extract from a text, at their own pace, without the time constraints of speech.", "At B2, the reader understands articles and reports on contemporary issues in which the writer adopts a particular attitude or viewpoint. C1 adds understanding long and complex factual or literary texts, appreciating distinctions of style, and reading accurately even when a text is loosely structured. This page reproduces every official descriptor for this activity at B2, B2+ and C1, scale by scale." ] }, "scalesIntro": { "title": "The official descriptors, scale by scale", "p1": "6 Companion Volume scales cover reading comprehension between B2 and C1. For each one, the B2 and C1 descriptors are shown side by side; where the CEFR publishes B2+ descriptors, they appear in the amber transition band." }, "labels": { "low": "B2 — independent user", "mid": "B2+ — transition zone", "high": "C1 — proficient 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": [ "A B2 reader handles demanding texts and extracts the essentials. A C1 reader reads what the text doesn't say: its assumptions, its strategy, what it passes over in silence. They're no longer just reading the content — they're reading the intent that organises it.", "The central marker is critical distance. A B2 reader understands an argument; a C1 reader perceives its blind spots, spots where the author overstates the case, identifies the vantage point the text is written from. The C1 descriptors talk about subtlety, style, implicit attitudes — which means reading the text as an act, not as information.", "B2+ has only three descriptors here, and that's consistent: this boundary is crossed in one move rather than gradually. Either the reader arrives at critical reading, or they stay within expert comprehension. There's less of a middle ground here than in the other activities." ], "signalsTitle": "What I listen for at the boundary", "signals": [ "Does the reader perceive the vantage point the text is written from?", "Do they spot the assumptions and what's passed over in silence?", "Do they distinguish style from substance, and read what the style signals?", "Do they catch the subtlety of a literary text, or only its narrative content?", "Do they read the text as an act, or as neutral information?" ] }, "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 reading comprehension in the CEFR?", "a": "It is one of the CEFR's core language activities: the reader understands a written text, at their own pace. It is described by descriptor scales distinct from production, interaction and mediation." }, { "question": "How many official descriptors cover reading comprehension between B2 and C1?", "answer": "23 official descriptors cover this zone: 11 at B2, 3 at B2+ and 9 at C1, spread across 6 scales. All of them are reproduced on this page." }, { "question": "What does the B2+ level mean?", "answer": "B2+ is a CEFR \"plus level\": it describes a strong B2 competence, beyond the B2 threshold but not yet meeting the C1 criteria. The Companion Volume publishes specific descriptors for these intermediate bands — that is the transition zone shown between the B2 and C1 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": "B2 vs C1: the overall differences (article)", "to": "/en/blog/cefr-b2-vs-c1-differences" }, { "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-comprehension-ecrite-b2-c1" } ] }, "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": "Reading for information and argument", "low": [ { "text": "Can understand articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which particular stances or viewpoints are adopted.", "originalId": 151 }, { "text": "Can recognise when a text provides factual information and when it seeks to convince readers of something.", "originalId": 152 }, { "text": "Can recognise different structures in discursive text: contrasting arguments, problem–solution presentation and cause–effect relationships.", "originalId": 153 } ], "mid": [ { "text": "Can obtain information, ideas and opinions from highly specialised sources within their field.", "originalId": 149 }, { "text": "Can understand specialised articles outside their field, provided they can use a dictionary occasionally to confirm their interpretation of terminology.", "originalId": 150 } ], "high": [ { "text": "Can understand in detail a wide range of lengthy, complex texts likely to be encountered in social, professional or academic life, identifying finer points of detail including attitudes and implied as well as stated opinions.", "originalId": 148 } ] }, { "scale": "Reading correspondence", "low": [ { "text": "Can read correspondence relating to their field of interest and readily grasp the essential meaning.", "originalId": 111 }, { "text": "Can understand what is said in a personal e-mail or posting even where some colloquial language is used.", "originalId": 112 } ], "mid": [], "high": [ { "text": "Can understand any correspondence given the occasional use of a dictionary.", "originalId": 108 }, { "text": "Can understand implicit as well as explicit attitudes, emotions and opinions expressed in e-mails, discussion forums, vlogs/blogs, etc., provided there are opportunities for rereading and they have access to reference tools.", "originalId": 109 }, { "text": "Can understand slang, idiomatic expressions and jokes in private correspondence.", "originalId": 110 } ] }, { "scale": "Reading as a leisure activity", "low": [ { "text": "Can read for pleasure with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of reading to different texts (e.g. magazines, more straightforward novels, history books, biographies, travelogues, guides, lyrics, poems), using appropriate reference sources selectively.", "originalId": 191 }, { "text": "Can read novels with a strong, narrative plot and that use straightforward, unelaborated language, provided they can take their time and use a dictionary.", "originalId": 192 } ], "mid": [], "high": [ { "text": "Can read and appreciate a variety of literary texts, provided they can reread certain sections and that they can access reference tools if they wish.", "originalId": 189 }, { "text": "Can read contemporary literary texts and non-fiction produced in the standard form of the language or a familiar variety with little difficulty and with appreciation of implicit meanings and ideas.", "originalId": 190 } ] }, { "scale": "Overall reading comprehension", "low": [ { "text": "Can read with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of reading to different texts and purposes, and using appropriate reference sources selectively. Has a broad active reading vocabulary, but may experience some difficulty with low-frequency idioms.", "originalId": 101 } ], "mid": [], "high": [ { "text": "Can understand in detail lengthy, complex texts, whether or not these relate to their own area of speciality, provided they can reread difficult sections.", "originalId": 99 }, { "text": "Can understand a wide variety of texts including literary writings, newspaper or magazine articles, and specialised academic or professional publications, provided there are opportunities for rereading and they have access to reference tools.", "originalId": 100 } ] }, { "scale": "Reading for orientation", "low": [ { "text": "Can scan quickly through long and complex texts, locating relevant details.", "originalId": 128 }, { "text": "Can quickly identify the content and relevance of news items, articles and reports on a wide range of professional topics, deciding whether closer study is worthwhile.", "originalId": 129 } ], "mid": [ { "text": "Can scan quickly through several sources (articles, reports, websites, books, etc.) in parallel, in both their own field and in related fields, and can identify the relevance and usefulness of particular sections for the task at hand.", "originalId": 127 } ], "high": [] }, { "scale": "Reading instructions", "low": [ { "text": "Can understand lengthy, complex instructions in their field, including details on conditions and warnings, provided they can reread difficult sections.", "originalId": 175 } ], "mid": [], "high": [ { "text": "Can understand in detail lengthy, complex instructions on a new machine or procedure, whether or not the instructions relate to their own area of speciality, provided they can reread difficult sections.", "originalId": 174 } ] } ] }