CEFR Levels Explained: A1 to C2

Quick Answer: The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is a six-level scale for language ability: A1 and A2 (basic user), B1 and B2 (independent user), and C1 and C2 (proficient user). Each level is defined by "can-do" descriptors, for example introducing yourself at A1 or following lectures and complex texts at C1, not by grammar lists. Most international English exams and many universities and employers describe their requirements in CEFR terms.

Key takeaways

• There are six levels in three bands: basic (A1, A2), independent (B1, B2) and proficient (C1, C2).
• The Council of Europe published the CEFR in 2001; the Companion Volume (2018, final edition 2020) added detailed mediation descriptors and more plus-level descriptors.
• Levels describe what you can do in reception, production, interaction and mediation, so your speaking and reading levels can differ.
• B2 is the most common minimum for English-taught university study and many international jobs; C1 is asked for by more demanding programs.
• Each level takes longer than the one before it; any hour figures you see are rough guides, not official CEFR requirements.
• Exam score tables (IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test) are set by each exam publisher, so check their official sites.

What is the CEFR?

The CEFR is a framework published by the Council of Europe in 2001 and updated with a Companion Volume in 2020. It gives teachers, schools, employers and exam boards one shared language for describing how well someone uses a foreign language. Instead of saying "intermediate" (which means different things in different schools), you can say "B1" and most people will understand the same thing.

The framework is not tied to English. You can be B1 in Spanish or A2 in Japanese. But English learners meet it everywhere: in course books, job ads, university requirements and exam score reports.

The six levels at a glance

Level	Name	In one sentence
A1	Beginner	You can use simple phrases about yourself and very familiar things.
A2	Elementary	You can handle simple, routine tasks like shopping and giving directions.
B1	Intermediate	You can deal with most travel situations and talk about experiences and plans.
B2	Upper intermediate	You can talk with native speakers without much strain on either side.
C1	Advanced	You can use English flexibly for work, study and social life.
C2	Proficiency	You can understand almost everything and express fine shades of meaning.

What can you do at each CEFR level?

A1: Breakthrough

At A1 you understand and use everyday expressions and very basic phrases. You can introduce yourself, ask where someone lives and answer simple questions, as long as the other person speaks slowly and helps you.

Examples of A1 language:

• "Hi, I'm Ayse. I'm from Izmir."
• "I have two brothers."
• "Where is the bathroom, please?"

Read more in our guide to the A1 English level.

A2: Waystage

At A2 you can talk about your background, your job and your daily routine in simple terms. You can manage short social exchanges, though you usually cannot keep a conversation going on your own.

• "Last weekend I visited my grandparents."
• "Can I pay by card?"
• "I usually take the bus to work."

B1: Threshold

B1 is the point where English becomes useful on its own. You can understand the main points of clear speech on familiar topics, handle most situations while traveling, and write simple connected text. You can describe dreams, hopes and plans and give short reasons for opinions.

• "I've been learning English for two years because I want to work abroad."
• "If the train is late, I'll call you."

B2: Vantage

At B2 you can understand the main ideas of complex text, including technical discussion in your field. You can interact with fluency and spontaneity, and explain a viewpoint with advantages and disadvantages. Many universities and employers ask for B2 as a minimum. See the full B2 English level guide.

C1: Effective operational proficiency

At C1 you understand long, demanding texts and recognize implied meaning. You express ideas fluently without obviously searching for words, and you can produce clear, well-structured writing on complex subjects.

C2: Mastery

C2 users understand virtually everything they hear or read. They can summarize information from different sources and express themselves precisely, even in complex situations. C2 is not "native speaker" level: the CEFR does not use native speakers as its benchmark, and a C2 exam also tests formal academic and writing skills.

Basic, independent, proficient

The CEFR groups the levels into three bands:

• Basic user (A1, A2): you need help and predictable situations.
• Independent user (B1, B2): you can manage without help in most everyday and many work contexts.
• Proficient user (C1, C2): you can use the language with control and nuance.

This grouping matters when you read requirements. "Independent user" in a job ad usually means B1 or B2.

How the CEFR measures skills

The CEFR does not describe one single ability. It describes several activities:

• Reception: listening and reading.
• Production: speaking and writing on your own.
• Interaction: conversations and written exchanges.
• Mediation: passing meaning between people or texts, for example summarizing an English email for a colleague in Turkish. The 2001 framework named it, and the Companion Volume added detailed descriptor scales.

This is why your profile can be uneven. Many learners read at B2 but speak at B1. That is normal, and knowing it helps you choose what to practice.

Plus levels and sublevels

Some schools and tests use labels like A2+ or B1+. The CEFR describes "plus" levels (A2+, B1+, B2+) for performance that is clearly above the main level but not yet at the next one. Course books sometimes split levels further, such as B1.1 and B1.2. These are local conventions, not separate CEFR levels.

How do exams map to the CEFR?

The table below is qualitative. For exact score ranges, use the official IELTS, ETS (TOEFL), Cambridge English and Duolingo English Test websites.

Exam	How it relates to the CEFR
Cambridge A2 Key, B1 Preliminary, B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency	Each exam targets one level and can also report the levels just above and below
IELTS	One test for all levels; band scores are mapped to CEFR ranges by the publisher
TOEFL iBT	One test; ETS publishes CEFR ranges for section and total scores
Duolingo English Test	One adaptive test; the publisher publishes a CEFR alignment

Most international English exams link their results to the CEFR:

• Cambridge English exams target specific levels, such as B2 First and C1 Advanced. Learn more in Cambridge English exams explained.
• IELTS and TOEFL give scores on their own scales, and the exam boards publish tables showing which score ranges correspond to which CEFR levels.
• The Duolingo English Test also publishes a CEFR mapping for its score scale.

Score-to-level tables are revised from time to time, so always check the official site of the exam you plan to take.

How long does each CEFR level take?

There is no fixed number of hours, because your speed depends on your first language, your study time and how you study. One general pattern is reliable: each level takes longer than the one before it. A1 to A2 can happen in a few months of steady study, while B2 to C1 often takes much longer. Our article on how long it takes to learn English goes into realistic timelines.

How can you find your CEFR level?

1. Take a free placement test that reports a CEFR level.
2. Read the can-do statements above and be honest about speaking and writing, which most people overestimate.
3. For an official certificate, take a recognized exam.

Want a quick estimate? LearnLingo has a free 5-minute English level test that places you on the CEFR scale, and then you can continue in our free browser-based course with short lessons, streaks and spaced review.

Common mistakes when using the CEFR

• Thinking "B" means "bad". B levels are independent user levels. B2 is a strong level.
• Assuming one score covers every skill. Check your speaking and writing separately.
• Chasing C2 too early. For most work and study goals, B2 or C1 is the real target.
• Confusing course book levels with CEFR levels. A book called "Intermediate" may be anywhere from B1 to B1+.

Practice: match the can-do statement

Which level fits each statement?

1. "I can understand a radio interview about a current event and summarize it."
2. "I can say my name, age and nationality."
3. "I can explain why I disagree with a colleague and suggest an alternative."
4. "I can describe my last holiday in simple sentences."

Answers: 1 is B2 or C1, 2 is A1, 3 is B2, 4 is A2.

People Also Ask

What are the six CEFR levels?

The CEFR has six levels: A1 and A2 (basic user), B1 and B2 (independent user), and C1 and C2 (proficient user). Each level describes what a learner can do in listening, reading, speaking and writing.

Which CEFR level is fluent?

Most people call B2 the start of comfortable, independent fluency, and C1 the level of easy, flexible use for work and study. C2 is near-expert mastery, not a requirement for everyday fluency.

How long does it take to move up one CEFR level?

It depends on your starting level, your first language and how much you practice. Guided learning hours grow as you go up, so moving from B1 to B2 usually takes longer than moving from A1 to A2.

Is CEFR used outside Europe?

Yes. The CEFR was created by the Council of Europe, but schools, employers and exam boards around the world use it. Many international exams report or map their scores to CEFR levels.

Related Reading

• A1 English Level: What You Can Do
• B2 English Level: What You Can Do
• How to Test Your English Level
• How Long Does It Take to Learn English?