CEFR Language Levels Explained

No knowledge of the language to be studied at all

Understand and use familiar expressions and very basic phrases aimed at meeting your everyday needs

Introduce yourself to others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where you live, people you know and things you have

Interact in a simple way if the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help

Understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (for example, very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment)

Communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters

Describe in simple terms aspects of your background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need

Understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc

Deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken

Produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest

Describe experiences, events, dreams, hopes and ambitions, and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans

Understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.

Deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken.

Produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.

Describe experiences, events, dreams, hopes and ambitions, and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning

Express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions

Use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes

Produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices

Understand with ease virtually everything heard or read

Summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation

Express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning, even in the most complex situations