CEFR levels A1 to C2: what each level means

What is the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)?

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR (in German: GER), was developed by the Council of Europe and describes language ability independently of any particular language. It distinguishes six levels, grouped into three bands. The levels describe what you can do with a language, not which grammar you know.

The levels are based on can-do statements: they do not say which grammar someone knows, but what someone can do with the language. The most compact version is the Council of Europe’s global scale. With the 2020 Companion Volume, the Council of Europe extended the descriptors, for example to include mediation and online interaction; the global scale itself remained unchanged.

Not a grammar checklist

A common misunderstanding: “B1 means I can use the present perfect.” The CEFR does not set out a grammar list. It describes communicative actions, such as “can briefly give reasons for opinions in a conversation”. Coursebooks and exam boards work out which structures are needed for that. This is why someone with imperfect grammar but great communicative confidence can reach B2 in speaking, while someone with perfect grammar who hardly speaks may stay at B1 in the oral part.

Mediation: especially relevant at work

The Companion Volume describes in detail how people mediate between languages and between people: summarising a German report in English for international colleagues, explaining in a meeting what a customer meant, or making technical terms understandable for non-specialists. These tasks shape everyday work in many companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, yet traditional exams often reflect them only marginally.

In practice, the CEFR is the common language between learners, teachers, exam boards and employers. Almost every recognised certificate we work towards in our exam preparation is linked to these levels.

Levels A1 and A2: the basic user

A1 and A2 describe the basic user. At A1, you use familiar expressions and simple sentences, for example to introduce yourself, provided the other person speaks slowly and clearly. At A2, you can communicate in routine situations about familiar topics such as family, shopping and work; at work, for example, you can write a short email confirming an appointment.

A1: getting started

At A1, you understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very simple sentences aimed at meeting concrete needs. You can introduce yourself and others and ask and answer simple questions about personal details, provided the other person speaks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

At work: introducing yourself at reception, asking for directions, arranging a time. Example: Hello, my name is Anna. I work in the finance department.

A2: routine situations

At A2, you can communicate in simple, routine situations that require a direct exchange of information on familiar matters: family, shopping, work, your local area.

At work: writing a short email to confirm an appointment, describing simple work processes, making small talk in the office kitchen with short sentences. Example: Thank you for your email. Thursday at 10 is fine for me.

Incidentally, you can start learning Business English from A1. If you practise work situations early on, it is easier to stay motivated, because you can use what you have learnt straight away. The same applies to German: newcomers who learn the phrases they need at work from day one tend to make faster progress.

Levels B1 and B2: the independent user

B1 and B2 describe the independent user. At B1, you understand the main points of clear standard language on familiar topics and can take part in team meetings as long as they do not move too fast. At B2, you speak so spontaneously and fluently that conversations with native speakers work without major effort, and you can give presentations or negotiate on familiar topics.

B1: handling everyday life and work independently

At B1, you understand the main points when clear standard language is used on familiar matters, such as work, school or leisure. You can deal with most situations while travelling, write simple connected texts and briefly give reasons for experiences, plans and opinions.

At work: taking part in a team meeting as long as it does not move too fast; making a phone call to a supplier about familiar topics; writing a short report on a project.

B2: fluent and spontaneous

At B2, you understand the main ideas of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in your own field. You can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular conversation with native speakers possible without strain for either side, and you can explain a viewpoint, giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

At work: giving presentations and answering questions, contributing actively to meetings, negotiating on familiar topics. Example: I see the advantages of option A, but given our timeline, I’d suggest we go with option B.

Self-check: B1 or B2?

Imagine your manager spontaneously asks you, during an English-language call, to explain for two minutes why a project is delayed and then answer follow-up questions. If you can do this without preparation, with reasons and without long pauses, your speaking is probably at B2. If you need notes, short sentences and several attempts, your level is more likely B1.

In many job profiles, B2 is the threshold for being able to negotiate confidently in everyday business. For preparing for a B2 certificate, see our Cambridge B2 First guide.

Levels C1 and C2: the proficient user

C1 and C2 describe the proficient user. At C1, you understand demanding, longer texts including implicit meaning and express yourself spontaneously, precisely and in a well-structured way, for example when you phrase criticism diplomatically or read contracts in detail. At C2, you understand virtually everything with ease and can convey fine shades of meaning very precisely.

C1: effective and flexible

At C1, you understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and recognise implicit meaning. You express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions, and you use the language flexibly and effectively for social, professional and academic purposes. You can present complex subjects clearly, in a well-structured and detailed way.

At work: handling difficult conversations, such as phrasing criticism diplomatically; understanding contracts and technical texts in detail; arguing a case freely in front of an audience. The difference from B2 lies less in the number of words than in precision: We need to address this (B2) versus We need to address the underlying causes rather than the symptoms (C1).

C2: almost effortless

At C2, you understand with ease virtually everything you hear or read. You can summarise information from different sources, reconstructing arguments in a coherent presentation, and express yourself very fluently and precisely, even with fine shades of meaning.

Important: C2 does not mean “like a native speaker”. The CEFR describes competent language use, not origin or accent. If you are preparing for C1, you will find specific advice in our Cambridge C1 Advanced guide.

How long does it take to move from one CEFR level to the next?

As a rough guide, Cambridge English estimates around 200 guided learning hours per CEFR level. Cumulatively, that is about 350 to 400 hours to reach B1 and about 700 to 800 hours to reach C1. The actual time depends heavily on how regularly you learn, how much you actively speak and the feedback you get on mistakes, and the step from B1 to B2 often takes longer.

Cambridge English gives as a rough guide that learners need around 200 guided learning hours per CEFR level and publishes cumulative reference values from complete beginner level (Cambridge English, Guided Learning Hours):

These figures refer to English and are guidelines, not a guarantee. In our teaching at choices®, we see three factors that influence the actual time more than talent: how regularly you learn, how much of the time you actively speak and the feedback you get on mistakes. In our experience, someone who speaks in one-to-one lessons twice a week and does short reviews in between makes considerably faster progress than someone who studies for a whole Saturday once a month. The article How long does it take to learn English? covers this in detail.

Intermediate levels

The path from B1 to B2 often feels longer than from A1 to A2. That is why many programmes work with intermediate levels such as B1+ or B2+, which the Council of Europe’s Companion Volume also describes. Pearson’s Global Scale of English measures even more finely, making progress within a CEFR level visible on a more detailed points scale; there is more on this in The Global Scale of English explained.

Which certificates match which CEFR level?

Almost all major exams report their results on the CEFR. Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced test at one target level, the Pearson English International Certificate offers six exams from A1 to C2, the TOEFL iBT has used a CEFR-aligned scale from 1 to 6 since January 2026, and the Goethe certificates cover German from A1 to C2. choices® prepares you for these exams but does not run them.

The most important exams at a glance:

You will find details on the individual exams in our articles English certificates compared, Pearson English International Certificate and German language exams: an overview.

Assessing your own language level correctly

Self-assessments are often wrong, in both directions. People who read a lot often overestimate their speaking; people who chat fluently in everyday life underestimate how much precision a C1 text demands. On top of that, hardly anyone has the same level in all four skills. A typical profile in working life looks like this, and it shows why a single overall level can mislead:

• Reading: C1 (technical texts, emails)
• Listening: B2
• Writing: B2
• Speaking: B1+ (inhibitions, little practice)

For exam planning, this profile is decisive, because the overall result is usually an average and weak parts cost points. The Council of Europe’s level descriptions offer orientation, but only a test with a speaking component delivers a reliable placement. There is more on this in our articles on language placement tests and self-assessing your language level.

For companies

If a job profile says “English C1”, it should be clear which skills are meant and for what purpose. A sales role needs something different from a role in controlling. In a language audit, we determine a team’s current level and derive targets for each role. I have described why fine-grained measurement pays off economically in an article for Pearson. Tips on wording can be found in the article on language requirements in job profiles.

CEFR levels in practice: recommendations

Four recommendations help you use CEFR levels sensibly in practice: phrase your goal as a concrete situation rather than a level, take a certificate only if your studies, visa or job application require it, work specifically on your weakest skill, and measure your progress every three to six months with a short check of where you stand.

• Phrase your goal as a situation: not “reach C1”, but “give customer presentations in English confidently and answer questions”. The level follows from that.
• Take a certificate only when you need one: a certificate makes sense for university, a visa or a job application. For internal development, a well-founded placement is often enough.
• Work specifically on your weakest skill: an unbalanced profile costs points in exams and impact at work.
• Measure progress regularly: a short check every three to six months keeps you motivated.

At choices®, every course begins with a needs analysis in which we translate your current level and your goal into CEFR levels. Whether English, German or many other languages: you learn online, one-to-one or in small groups. Find out more about the formats under language courses for individuals and language courses for companies; we build the right preparation for language certificates on this foundation.

Polish-speaking readers will find an introduction on choices.com.pl: Co to jest CEFR? (in Polish).

Sources

1. coe.int: table 1 cefr 3.3 common reference levels global scale
2. coe.int: level descriptions
3. rm.coe.int: 16809ea0d4
4. support.cambridgeenglish.org: 202838506 Guided learning hours
5. pearson.com: PEIC CBT public specification
6. ets.org: score scale update
7. goethe.de
8. pearson.com: gse roi business english measurable advantage 11 25
9. choices.com.pl: co to jest cefr

Frequently asked questions

Łukasz Pakuła

Head of Studies at choices®. Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus, lecturer at HM Business School Munich and Kempten University of Applied Sciences. Doctoral studies in applied linguistics, publications with Springer and Equinox, among others. More about us