A2 English Level: What You Can Do

Quick Answer: A2 is the second CEFR level, called "elementary" or "waystage". An A2 learner can talk about family, work and daily routine in simple terms, handle routine tasks like shopping, ordering food and asking for directions, and describe past events in short sentences. Conversations still need familiar topics and a patient listener.

Key takeaways

• A2 is the upper half of the CEFR "basic user" band, between A1 and B1.
• The big grammar step from A1 is the past simple, regular and irregular ("went", "was", "bought"), plus "going to" for plans.
• Comparatives ("taller", "more expensive"), adverbs of frequency and basic modals (should, have to) are core A2 grammar.
• Typical A2 tasks: buying a ticket, booking a table, explaining a symptom at a pharmacy, writing a short thank-you message.
• Common A2 errors include "I goed", "I didn't went" and "more tall".
• To reach B1, practice telling short stories with sequencing words and giving reasons with "because".

Where A2 sits on the CEFR scale

The CEFR has six levels, from A1 to C2. A2 is the upper half of the "basic user" band. Compared with A1, you have more words, you can talk about the past and future in simple ways, and you can manage everyday situations instead of only introducing yourself. For the full picture, see CEFR levels explained.

What can you do at A2?

Skill	At A2 you can...	Example
Listening	Catch the main point of short, clear announcements and messages	"The train to Leeds leaves from platform 4."
Reading	Find specific information in menus, timetables, ads and short emails	Find the opening hours on a museum website
Speaking	Describe your family, job, home and routine	"I work in an office. I start at nine."
Interaction	Handle short social exchanges and simple transactions	Buy a ticket, order food, ask for directions
Writing	Write short notes, simple personal emails and messages	"Thanks for the party. I had a great time!"

Example A2 conversation

A: Did you have a good weekend? B: Yes, thanks. On Saturday I went to the beach with my friends. A: Nice! Was the weather good? B: It was sunny but a bit windy. On Sunday I stayed at home and cleaned the flat. A: What are you doing next weekend? B: I'm going to visit my parents.

Notice the new elements compared with A1: past simple ("went", "was", "stayed"), future plans ("I'm going to"), and small linking words ("but", "and").

Grammar to focus on at A2

• Past simple, regular and irregular: "I watched a film." "She went home." Our past simple guide lists the common irregular verbs.
• Present continuous for now and future plans: "I'm cooking." "We're meeting Ali tomorrow."
• Going to for plans: "I'm going to study tonight."
• Comparatives and superlatives: "bigger", "more expensive", "the best".
• Countable and uncountable nouns: "some apples", "some water", "How much", "How many".
• Adverbs of frequency: always, usually, often, sometimes, never.
• Basic modals: can, could, should, have to. "You should see a doctor." "I have to work."
• Present perfect for experience (introduced): "Have you ever been to Spain?"
• Linking words: and, but, because, so, then.

Vocabulary for A2

At A2 you build on A1 topics and add:

• Travel and transport: ticket, platform, delay, return (US: round-trip), single (US: one-way)
• Shopping: size, receipt, cash, discount, try on
• Health: headache, pharmacy, appointment, feel sick
• Work and study: colleague, meeting, exam, homework
• Free time: hobbies, sports, films, music
• Describing people and places: friendly, quiet, crowded, modern
• Common phrasal verbs: get up, turn on, look for, go out

Learn new words in short sentences, not as single items. "I'd like a return ticket to Bristol" is far more useful than the word list entry "return ticket: gidiş-dönüş bilet". Note that "return ticket" is British English; American English says "round-trip ticket".

Common A2 mistakes

Mistake	Correct
I goed to the park.	I went to the park.
Yesterday I am at home.	Yesterday I was at home.
She is more tall than me.	She is taller than me.
I didn't went.	I didn't go.
I am living here since 2020.	I have lived here since 2020.
Can you say me the time?	Can you tell me the time?
I am agree.	I agree.

How do you move from A2 to B1?

1. Speak in longer turns. Practice telling a short story of five or six sentences with "first", "then", "after that", "finally".
2. Read graded readers at A2 and B1. They build vocabulary in context.
3. Listen to slower podcasts and short videos on topics you like, with subtitles in English.
4. Write a few sentences every day about what you did and what you plan to do.
5. Review vocabulary with spaced repetition so words move into long-term memory.
6. Work on giving reasons. "I prefer trains because they're more comfortable."

Practice: past or present?

Complete with the correct form.

1. Last summer we ___ (visit) Rome.
2. She usually ___ (take) the bus to work.
3. ___ you ___ (see) the match yesterday?
4. I ___ (not like) coffee.
5. They ___ (go) to the cinema last night.

Answers: 1 visited, 2 takes, 3 Did you see, 4 don't like, 5 went.

Next step: B1

At B1 you become an independent user. You can travel with confidence, explain your opinion and handle situations you did not prepare for. Read the B1 English level guide to see what to aim for.

To build A2 skills step by step, try LearnLingo's free A2 course. It runs in your browser with short lessons, daily streaks and spaced review of the words you have learned.

People Also Ask

What can you do with A2 English?

At A2 you can talk about your background, routine and immediate needs, handle simple shopping and travel tasks, and write short notes and messages. Conversations work best when they are short and on familiar topics.

Is A2 English good?

A2 is an elementary level. It is a solid base for everyday survival and simple social contact, but most jobs and universities that require English ask for B1 or B2.

What is the difference between A2 and B1?

At A2 you manage routine, predictable exchanges. At B1 you can deal with unexpected situations, keep a conversation going, talk about experiences and plans, and give simple reasons for opinions.

How long does it take to go from A2 to B1?

It varies with study time and practice. With steady daily practice many learners move from A2 to B1 in several months to a year, and speaking practice speeds this up a lot.

Related Reading

• A1 English Level: What You Can Do
• B1 English Level: What You Can Do
• CEFR Levels Explained: A1 to C2
• Past Simple Tense: Rules, Irregular Verbs and Examples