English levels: how to determine yours

The main question that every student of English starts with is: what is my English level? After receiving the answer, you will know exactly where to go next and achieve the planned result.

The next question is how and where to find out your English level? This question baffles many. Many people turn to the Internet with this question and “drown” in a sea of information. We have an answer that will not only simplify the solution, but also give a qualified answer. On the website of the “EnglishPapa” school you can take an English proficiency test online without registration. This service is free and available to everyone.

English levels classification

The European Council has developed and approved the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or CEFR. This scale is an international standard used to describe the level of proficiency in a foreign language. According to CEFR, language knowledge and skills are classified into six levels:

 A – Elementary knowledge (divided into: A1 – survival level and A2 – pre-threshold level);

 B – self-sufficient proficiency (divided into: B1 – threshold level and B2 – advanced threshold level);

 C – language fluency (divided into: C1 – professional proficiency level and C2 – perfect knowledge).

In short about English levels

А0 Beginner or «Breakthrough» (English from zero)

Analize yourself 

After finishing this level you will have the following skills:

• Using and understanding basic phrases used in everyday life;
• Introducing yourself and introducing others;
• Establishing communication and asking the simplest questions;
• Understanding a speaker when they speak slowly;
• Understand short phrases on signs, postcards, road signs, etc.

А1 (Elementary or «Following the path»)

Analize yourself

After finishing this level you will have the following skills:

• Understanding various phrases and sayings on current life topics (work, family, shopping, travel, etc.);
• Asking for directions to your destination and understanding the answer;
• Maintaining a dialogue in ordinary everyday situations, as well as talking about yourself and your needs;
• Understanding videos and TV programs in English;
• Reading and understanding a simple written text (personal letter, an order, etc.).
• Vocabulary of 1500—2500 words.

B1 (Intermediate or «Threshold»)

Analize yourself

After finishing this level you will have the following skills:

• A good and correct understanding of a conversation on familiar topics;
• Speaking and maintaining dialogue in most situations (at work, on vacation, traveling, etc.);
• Expressing your thoughts in English, describing impressions, sharing dreams and expectations, etc.;
• Watching and understand English films, series or TV shows;
• Understanding instructions, advertising booklets, letters and some documents in English;
• Reading and writing (essay, letters, instructions).
• Vocabulary around 3250 words.

B2 (Upper Intermediate or «Excellence»)

Analize yourself

After finishing this level you will have the following skills:

• Supporting a conversation, as well as to understanding the essence of a complex text;
• Communicating with native speakers, as well as maintaining conversations about your profession;
• Good understanding of oral speech;
• Forming competent sentencse (not only simple, but also complex), to express your point of view, to reason on different topics.
• Watching without problem almost any English videos;
• Confident reading and writing.
• A vocabulary of 3750 words.

C1 (Advanced or «Progressive»)

Analize yourself

After finishing this level you will have the following skills:

• Understanding complex texts;
• Excellent oral speech;
• Variety of vocabulary;
• Understanding original movies and books, idioms, accents and slang;
• Well-developed literate writing.
• Active vocabulary of 4500 words.

When going on an interview or filling out questionnaires for employment (or study), a simplified classification of levels is sometimes used:

• Basic;
• Intermediate;
• Advanced;
• Fluent.

However, if you have passed an international language exam you should always indicate your score.

We hope our article was useful for you. We invite you to take our English courses for adults at our school to start learning English or to improve your knowledge. Take an English level test on our website and sign up for a free trial lesson of English online. With EnglishPapa, you will definitely begin to speak English!