Determining your English level accurately is an important step in helping you plan your studies effectively. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) provides a reliable assessment standard, dividing abilities from beginner to native speaker. This article will describe each level in detail with specific examples so that you can accurately assess your level.
English Levels According to CEFR
A1 (Beginner) – Entry Level
Overview: At level A1, you are just starting to get acquainted with English. You can understand and use basic phrases to meet the simplest communication needs in everyday life. This is the “survival” stage with English – you can introduce yourself, ask for simple prices or give directions, but still have difficulty maintaining a conversation.
Listening Skills:
- Understand familiar words and simple phrases when the speaker speaks slowly and clearly
- Recognize the topic of conversation but don't understand the details
- For example: Understand “Hello”, “My name is…”, “Thank you”, “How are you?”
Speaking Skills:
- Introduce yourself and others in simple sentences
- Ask and answer basic questions about personal information
- For example: "My name is Tom. I am 25 years old. I come from Vietnam."
Reading Skills:
- Understand public signs and simple short notices
- Read and understand short messages and simple postcards.
- For example: Read and understand the signs “Open”, “Exit”, “No smoking”, “Toilet”
Writing Skills:
- Write simple personal information like filling out a registration form
- Write short, simple messages
- For example: “I need help”, “See you tomorrow at 5 PM”
Typical vocabulary:
- About 500-1000 basic words
- Common words: family, food, job, house, day, hello, goodbye, yes, no, please, thank you
- Numbers, colors, time of day, day of the week
Grammar:
- Present simple tense (I work)
- Yes/No question (Are you happy?)
- Simple WH question (What is your name?)
- Personal pronouns (I, you, he, she)
A2 (Elementary) – Elementary Level
Overview: At level A2, you have passed the “survival” stage and are starting to communicate in familiar everyday situations. You can take part in short conversations about common topics such as family, shopping, weather, hobbies. Although you are still limited to simple vocabulary and structures, you can manage many travel situations or basic communication.
Listening Skills:
- Understand frequently used phrases and vocabulary related to areas of immediate importance (personal information, shopping, local area)
- Capture key messages in short, clear messages
- For example: Understand simple instructions “Turn left at the traffic light”, “The store opens at 9 AM”
Speaking Skills:
- Describe your family, living conditions, educational background, current or recent job
- Communicate in simple, familiar tasks requiring simple exchange of information
- For example: "I live in a small apartment with my parents. I work as a cashier in a supermarket."
Reading Skills:
- Read and understand short, simple texts on familiar topics
- Understand specific information in simple materials such as advertisements, menus, schedules
- For example: Reading restaurant menus, movie schedules, supermarket signs
Writing Skills:
- Write short, simple notes and messages related to immediate needs
- Write a simple personal letter, such as thanking someone
- For example: “I can't come to your party on Saturday because I have to work.”
Typical vocabulary:
- About 1000-2000 common words
- Vocabulary related to shopping: price, discount, cheap, expensive
- Weather vocabulary: sunny, rainy, cold, hot
- Transport vocabulary: bus, train, ticket, station
Grammar:
- Past simple (I worked)
- Present continuous tense (I am working)
- Comparative (bigger, biggest)
- Basic modal verbs (can, must)
B1 (Intermediate) – Intermediate Level
Overview: At level B1, you are an independent user of English in a wide range of situations. You can deal with most situations that would arise when travelling to an English-speaking country. You can take part in spontaneous discussions on familiar topics and express your views, although you may sometimes hesitate when searching for words. This is the level at which you begin to feel confident in communicating in English in an international environment.
Listening Skills:
- Understand the main points when clear, standard language is used in work, school, and leisure
- Understand the main ideas of many radio or TV programmes on current or work/personal topics
- For example: Understand the main content of a simple news report or a job interview.
Speaking Skills:
- Handle most situations that may arise while traveling
- Participate unprepared in conversations about familiar topics
- For example: "I think the government should invest more in education because it's important for our future. What do you think?"
Reading Skills:
- Understand texts with familiar everyday or work-related language
- Understand descriptions of events, feelings and wishes in personal letters
- For example: Reading a short article on a current topic, instructions for using a device
Writing Skills:
- Write simple, coherent text on familiar or personal topics
- Write a personal letter describing your experiences and impressions
- For example: “During my vacation in Bangkok last month, I was impressed by the friendly locals and delicious street food.”
Typical vocabulary:
- About 2000-3500 words
- Work-related vocabulary: deadline, project, colleague, meeting
- Vocabulary about opinions: opinion, agree, disagree, believe
- Travel vocabulary: accommodation, reservation, tourist attraction
Grammar:
- Present perfect (I have worked)
- Past continuous tense (I was working)
- Conditional sentences type 1, 2 (If I have time, I will go)
- More complex conjunctions (however, although, despite)
B2 (Upper-Intermediate) – High Intermediate Level
Overview: At level B2, you are a fluent and confident user of English in most situations. You can communicate fluently and naturally with native speakers without causing any difficulty for either party. You can discuss a wide range of topics, express your views and analyse problems in detail. This is the level that many international companies require for English-speaking positions, and you can confidently work in an international environment or study university courses in English.
Listening Skills:
- Understand complex speech and lectures on familiar topics
- Understand most TV news and current affairs programs
- For example: Being able to follow a complex debate on TV about politics or economics
Speaking Skills:
- Communicate fluently and naturally with native speakers without causing difficulty for either party
- Participate actively in discussions, explain and defend your point of view
- For example: “Although renewable energy has many advantages, we must consider the economic implications of transitioning too quickly, especially for developing countries.”
Reading Skills:
- Understand articles and reports related to contemporary issues
- Understanding modern prose
- For example: Reading a popular science research paper, a modern novel for general readers
Writing Skills:
- Write clear, detailed text on a wide range of topics related to interests
- Write an essay or report that conveys information or gives reasons for or against a particular point of view
- For example: “This report analyzes the impact of social media on young adults' mental health, considering both positive and negative aspects.”
Typical vocabulary:
- About 3500-5000 words
- Academic vocabulary: analyze, research, evidence, theory
- Basic idioms: break the ice, once in a blue moon
- Socio-economic vocabulary: infrastructure, unemployment, sustainability
Grammar:
- Past perfect tense (I had worked)
- The report is believed to have been falsified.
- Defining and non-defining relative clauses (The book, which I read last week, was interesting)
- Conditional sentence type 3 (If I had studied, I would have passed)
C1 (Advanced) – Advanced Level
Overview: At level C1, you are an advanced user of English. You can use English flexibly and effectively in both academic and professional settings. You can understand complex texts and express yourself clearly and precisely. At this level, you rarely have difficulty expressing yourself, can adapt your language to the situation, and work effectively in international organizations, in postgraduate studies in English, or in positions requiring high language skills.
Listening Skills:
- Understand long, complex speech even when it is not clearly structured
- Understand TV shows and movies without any special effort
- For example: Understand complex academic lectures or specialized podcasts without having to pause to look up words
Speaking Skills:
- Express yourself fluently and naturally without searching for expressions
- Use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes
- For example: “The exponential growth of artificial intelligence requires a thorough examination of its ethical implications, particularly regarding data privacy and algorithmic bias.”
Reading Skills:
- Understand long, complex texts, including literary and non-literary texts
- Recognize different literary styles
- For example: Reading a specialized scientific article, complex literary novel
Writing Skills:
- Write clear, well-structured text on complex subjects
- Present your ideas at appropriate length, emphasizing important points.
- For example: “This dissertation examines the intersection of economic policies and environmental conservation efforts in developing nations, with particular emphasis on sustainable development practices in Southeast Asia.”
Typical vocabulary:
- About 5000-8000 words
- Advanced academic vocabulary: paradigm, empirical, methodology
- Complex idioms: bite the bullet (accept to do difficult work), cost an arm and a leg (very expensive)
- Technical vocabulary: litigation, fiscal policy, demographic trends
Grammar:
- Rarely have I seen such a beautiful sunset
- It is the economic impact that concerns us most.
- Having finished the project, she took a vacation
- Complex phrasal verbs (put up with, get around to, look down on)
C2 (Proficient) – Proficiency Level
Overview: At level C2, you have reached near-native level. You can understand with ease almost everything you hear or read and can summarise information from different sources, reconstructing coherent arguments. You can express yourself fluently and precisely, clarifying finer shades of meaning even in complex situations. At this level, you can work as a professional editor, translator, or in international negotiations and trade positions that require a fine sense of language.
Listening Skills:
- Easily understand any spoken language, whether fast or slow
- Understand different dialects and idioms
- For example: Understand high-level academic seminars with specialized terminology and varied language styles
Speaking Skills:
- Participate easily in any conversation or discussion with precision and subtlety in nuances of meaning
- Expresses fluently and accurately conveys subtle shades of meaning
- For example: “The nuanced interaction between geopolitical factors and macroeconomic policies has precipitated an unprecedented paradigm shift in international relations, challenging conventional diplomatic frameworks.”
Reading Skills:
- Easily read and understand almost all forms of written language
- Read and understand abstract, structurally or linguistically complex texts, including literary works and technical articles
- For example: Reading complex academic articles, classical literature in classical language
Writing Skills:
- Write clear, fluent, and appropriate text
- Write complex letters, reports or articles with effective logical structure
- For example: “In this comprehensive analysis of quantum computing's implications for cybersecurity protocols, I posit that the advent of quantum supremacy necessitates a fundamental revision of current encryption methodologies.”
Typical vocabulary:
- Over 8000 words
- Advanced academic vocabulary: epistemology, nuanced, quintessential
- Advanced idioms and metaphors: throw caution to the wind, walking on eggshells
- Complex technical vocabulary: jurisprudence, macroeconomic indicators
Grammar:
- Use all complex grammatical structures fluently
- Advanced Cleft sentences (What I find most disturbing is their lack of empathy)
- Use rare tenses flexibly (By this time tomorrow, I will have been working here for ten years)
- Subjunctive mood (If I were to consider all options, I would suggest…)
How to Accurately Self-Assess Your Level
1. Comprehensive assessment of skills
Assess all four skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) separately. Many people may be strong in receptive skills (Listening, Reading) but weaker in productive skills (Speaking, Writing). If your skills are at different levels, determine your overall level based on your weakest skill.
2. Real-life challenges
Try the following activities to assess your actual abilities:
- A1-A2: Can book hotel rooms, order food, ask for directions?
- B1: Can you detail a recent vacation or explain a simple work process?
- B2: Can you debate social issues, express opinions on current news?
- C1: Can follow academic lectures or write analytical reports?
- C2: Can you understand complex poems or write essays with sophisticated arguments?
3. Seek objective feedback
If possible, seek feedback from an English teacher or native speaker. They can provide a more accurate assessment of your ability, especially in terms of pronunciation and naturalness of speech.
4. Take online tests
There are many free online tests that assess your level according to the CEFR framework. However, remember that these tests are only a reference tool and are not a substitute for a comprehensive assessment.
Conclusion
Determining your exact English level is the first step to creating an effective study plan. Remember that each level has its own merits and that language development is a long-term journey. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not at your desired level yet – use this information to set clear, realistic learning goals.
No matter what level you are at, it is important to practice regularly and diversify your learning resources. With perseverance and the right learning methods, you will gradually improve your English and achieve your language goals.