Adapting the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to the Local Context

Adapting the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to the Local Context

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CEF Levels

 ^{CEF Levels}

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF or CEFR) was put together by the Council of Europe as a way of standardising the levels of language exams in different regions. It is very widely used internationally and all important exams are mapped to the CEFR.

There are six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. These are described in the table below.

Click here to see which exams are at which CEFR levels.

Click here to do a test to see which level to study at and here to see what grammar you should know at each level.

Council of Europe levels	Description
C2 Mastery	The capacity to deal with material which is academic or cognitively demanding, and to use language to good effect at a level of performance which may in certain respects be more advanced than that of an average native speaker. Example: CAN scan texts for relevant information, and grasp main topic of text, reading almost as quickly as a native speaker. All practice tests at this level
C1 Effective Operational Proficiency	The ability to communicate with the emphasis on how well it is done, in terms of appropriacy, sensitivity and the capacity to deal with unfamiliar topics. Example: CAN deal with hostile questioning confidently. CAN get and hold onto his/her turn to speak. All practice tests at this level
B2 Vantage	The capacity to achieve most goals and express oneself on a range of topics. Example: CAN show visitors around and give a detailed description of a place. All practice tests at this level
B1 Threshold	The ability to express oneself in a limited way in familiar situations and to deal in a general way with nonroutine information. Example: CAN ask to open an account at a bank, provided that the procedure is straightforward. All practice tests at this level
A2 Waystage	An ability to deal with simple, straightforward information and begin to express oneself in familiar contexts. Example: CAN take part in a routine conversation on simple predictable topics. All practice tests at this level
A1 Breakthrough	A basic ability to communicate and exchange information in a simple way. Example: CAN ask simple questions about a menu and understand simple answers.

Equivalences of common tests to CEFR levels

Equivalences of common tests to CEFR levels

Language schools and certificate bodies evaluate their own equivalences against the framework. Differences of estimation have been found to exist, for example, with the same level on the PTE A, TOEFL, and IELTS, and is a cause of debate between test producers.

Language (ISO 639-3)	Certificate	A1	A2	B1	B2	C1	C2
mul	UNIcert			UNIcert I	UNIcert II	UNIcert III	UNIcert IV
mul	TELC	A1	A2	B1	B2	C1	C2
cym	WJEC Defnyddio'r Gymraeg	Mynediad (Entry)	Sylfaen (Foundation)	Canolradd (Intermediate)	-	Uwch (Advanced)	Hyfedredd (Proficiency)
cat	Catalan Language Certificates		Bàsic-A2	Elemental-B1	Intermedi-B2	Suficiència-C1	Superior-C2
cmn	Chinese Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK)[8]	HSK Level 1	HSK Level 2	HSK Level 3	HSK Level 4	HSK Level 5	HSK Level 6
cmn	Test of Chinese As A Foreign Language (TOCFL) (Taiwan)	TOCFL Level 1	TOCFL Level 2	TOCFL Level 3	TOCFL Level 4	TOCFL Level 5
cze	Czech Language Certificate Exam (CCE)[9]	CCE-A1	CCE-A2	CCE-B1	CCE-B2	CCE-C1
deu	Österreichisches Sprachdiplom DEUTSCH (ÖSD)[10]	ÖSD A1 Grundstufe Deutsch 1	ÖSD A2 Grundstufe Deutsch 2	ÖSD B1 Zertifikat Deutsch	ÖSD B2 Mittelstufe Deutsch	ÖSD C1 Oberstufe Deutsch	ÖSD C2 Wirtschaftssprache Deutsch
deu	Goethe-Institut	Start Deutsch 1	Start Deutsch 2	Zertifikat Deutsch	Goethe-Zertifikat B2, ZDfB	Goethe-Zertifikat C1 - Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung (neu)	Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung, Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom
deu	TestDaF[11]				TDN 3 — TDN 4	TDN 5
ell	Πιστοποίηση Ελληνομάθειας (Certificate of Attainment in Modern Greek)[12]	Α1 (Στοιχειώδης Γνώση)	Α2 (Βασική Γνώση)	Β1 (Μέτρια Γνώση)	Β2 (Καλή Γνώση)	Γ1 (Πολύ Καλή Γνώση)	Γ2 (Άριστη Γνώση)
eng	City and Guilds [13]	Preliminary	Access	Achiever	Communicator	Expert	Mastery
eng	NQF (UK Only)[14]	Entry Level	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Levels 4-6	Level 7-8
eng	Michigan English Test - Met (A2-C1 level)		A2 39 or below	B1 40-52	B2 53- 63	C1 64 or above	http://www.cambridgemichigan.org/met
eng	Cambridge exam[15][16]	KET	PET  KET Pass with Merit, Pass	FCE / PET Pass with Merit, Pass / KET Pass with Distinction	CAE (45 to 59) / FCE grade B or C / PET Pass with Distinction	CPE (45 to 59) / CAE grade B or C / FCE grade A	CPE grade A, B or C / CAE grade A
eng	IELTS[26]			4.0 to 5.0 (5.0 is borderline between B1 and B2)	5.0 to 6.5 (5.0 is borderline between B1 and B2)	7.0 to 8.0 (8.0 is borderline between C1 and C2)	8.0 to 9.0 (8.0 is borderline between C1 and C2)
eng	BULATS	Level 0 (0-19)	Level 1 (20-39)	Level 2 (40-59)	Level 3 (60-74)	Level 4 (75-89)	Level 5 (90-100)
eng	PTE Academic		30	43	59	76	85
eng	PTE General (formerly LTE)	Level A1	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
eng	Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) / Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) / Spoken English for Work (SEW)	GESE 2	ISE 0 GESE 3, 4	ISE I GESE 5, 6 SEW 1	ISE II GESE 7, 8 ,9 SEW 2, 3	ISE III GESE 10, 11 SEW 4	ISE IV GESE 12
eng	TOEIC	60 - 105 (listening) 60 - 110 (reading)	110 - 270 (listening) 115 - 270 (reading)	275 - 395 (listening) 275 - 380 (reading)	400 - 485 (listening) 385 - 450 (reading)	490 - 495 (listening) 455 - 495(reading)
eng	Versant	26-35	36-46	47-57	58-68	69-78	79-80
eng	TOEFL (IBT)	9 to 29		57 to 86	87 to 109	110 + /110 to 120
eng	TOEFL ITP		337	460	543	627
eng	TOEFL Junior Standard		225-245 (listening), 210-245 (language form), 210-240 (reading)	250-285 (listening), 250-275 (language form), 245-275 (reading)	290-300 (listening), 280-300 (language form), 280-300 (reading)
eng	British General Qualifications [34]	Foundation Tier GCSE	Higher Tier GCSE	GCE AS level / lower grade A-level	GCE A-Level (known as A2)
fin	YKI	1.taso	2.taso	3.taso	4.taso	5.taso	6.taso
fra	CIEP / Alliance française diplomas	TCF A1 / DELF A1	TCF A2 / DELF A2 / CEFP 1	TCF B1 / DELF B1 / CEFP 2	TCF B2 / DELF B2 / Diplôme de Langue	TCF C1 / DALF C1 / DSLCF	TCF C2 / DALF C2 / DHEF
ita	CELI	Impatto	1	2	3	4	5
ita	CILS	A1	A2	Uno	Due	Tre	Quattro / DIT C2
por	CAPLE	QECR	CIPLE	DEPLE	DIPLE	DAPLE	DUPLE
rus	ТРКИ – Тест по русскому языку как иностранному (TORFL – Test of Russian as a Foreign Language)	ТЭУ Элементарный уровень	ТБУ Базовый уровень	ТРКИ-1 (I Cертификационный уровень) (1st Certificate level)	ТРКИ-2	ТРКИ-3	ТРКИ-4
spa	DELE	A1	A2	B1 (formerly "Inicial")	B2 (formerly "Intermedio")	C1	C2 (formerly "Superior")
swe	TISUS	-	-	-	-	TISUS	-
swe	Swedex	-	A2	B1	B2	-	-
	AMCAD EFL	A1	A2	B1	B2	C1	C2
	ALTE level	Breakthrough level	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5

 

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages 

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, abbreviated as CEFR, is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe and, increasingly, in other countries . It was put together by the Council of Europe as the main part of the project "Language Learning for European Citizenship" between 1989 and 1996. Its main aim is to provide a method of learning, teaching and assessing which applies to all languages in Europe. In November 2001 a European Union Council Resolution recommended using the CEFR to set up systems of validation of language ability. The six reference levels (see below) are becoming widely accepted as the European standard for grading an individual's language proficiency.

Common reference levels

The Common European Framework divides learners into three broad divisions that can be divided into six levels:

A Basic User

A1 Breakthrough or beginner

A2 Waystage or elementary

B Independent User

B1 Threshold or intermediate

B2 Vantage or upper intermediate

C Proficient User

C1 Effective Operational Proficiency or advanced

C2 Mastery or proficiency

The CEFR describes what a learner is supposed to be able to do in reading, listening, speaking and writing at each level.

level group	A		B		C
level group name	Basic User		Independent User		Proficient User
level	A1	A2	B1	B2	C1	C2
level name	Breakthrough or beginner	Waystage or elementary	Threshold or intermediate	Vantage or upper intermediate	Effective Operational Proficiency or advanced	Mastery or proficiency
description	Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.	Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.	Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.	Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.	Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.	Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations.

These descriptors can apply to any of the languages spoken in Europe, and there are translations in many languages.

Cambridge ESOL said that each level is reached with the following guided learning hours: A2, 180–200; B1, 350–400; B2, 500–600; C1, 700–800, and C2, 1,000–1,200.