What is YOUR English level? A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2

Learn how to evaluate your English level using the CEFR scale from A1 to C2 and understand what each level means for your skills and goals.

Key Takeaways

CEFR levels help learners understand and describe their English proficiency accurately.
Most learners aim for B1 or B2 levels, which cover everyday and work-related communication.
Advanced levels C1 and C2 are more academic and professional, not necessary for casual learners.
Achieving B2 is a significant milestone showing comfortable communication with native speakers.
Self-assessment and targeted practice can help learners progress to the next CEFR level.

What the video covers

Explanation of the CEFR framework and its six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2.
Beginners start at A1 and A2, with basic communication and simple expressions.
Intermediate levels B1 and B2 focus on practical communication, travel, work, and study skills.
B1 is true intermediate, equivalent to Cambridge PET and IELTS 4-5.
B2 is upper intermediate, allowing natural communication with native speakers, equivalent to Cambridge FCE and IELTS 5-6.
Advanced levels C1 and C2 involve academic ability and near-native fluency.
C1 corresponds to Cambridge CAE and IELTS 7, suitable for academic and professional contexts.
C2 is near-native proficiency, Cambridge Proficiency exam, IELTS 8-9, very advanced.
The video encourages self-evaluation and offers resources for learners aiming for B1 level.
Lucy shares personal experience with language learning and advises on realistic goals.

Chapters

What does the CEFR stand for and why is it important?

CEFR stands for the Common European Framework of Reference. It is important because it provides a standardized way to measure and describe language proficiency across six levels from beginner to advanced.

What skills can I expect to have at the B1 level?

At B1, you are an intermediate user who can handle most travel situations, understand points related to hobbies, work, and daily life, and write about personal interests and experiences.

Is it necessary to reach C1 or C2 levels for casual English learners?

No, reaching C1 or C2 is often linked to academic or professional needs. Casual learners may find B2 sufficient for fluent and natural communication without the pressure of advanced exams.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

Hello and welcome back to English with Lucy. I have a slightly different video today, but it is incredibly important. It's about how to evaluate your own level of English and what it means when someone says, "I'm A2," "I'm B1," "I've got B2," or "C1 level of English." So many people use these terms without understanding what they mean, so let's fix that. I will also show you what you can do to get to the next level. So, we need to talk about the

Speaker A

CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference. It's divided into six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. This measures your ability in a language. Now, the A levels are considered beginner levels, the B levels are the intermediate levels, and the C levels are

Speaker A

the advanced levels. The majority of my students are working towards the B1 and B2 levels. I sometimes find with the C1 and C2 levels that's less about language skill and more about academic ability. When I learned Spanish, I worked towards my B

Speaker A

levels, and then after that, I felt pretty fluent. I didn't feel the need to take any more exams after that. Let's look in a bit more detail. Let's start with the A1. If you are listening to me now and

Speaker A

understanding what I say, you are probably higher than an A1. With an A1 level, you can use basic expressions. You can introduce yourself. You can ask some questions. You can interact with people if they speak slowly to you, if they are

Speaker A

prepared to modify their language to make sure you understand them because they know you're a beginner. The A2 level is described as elementary. Lots of students get stuck at A2 and find it hard to move on to B1. With A2, you can

Speaker A

understand frequently used expressions about common topics, about everyday life, hobbies, work, your local area. You can also talk about yourself, but in fairly simple terms. Now, let's talk about the interesting part, the B levels. As I said, the majority of

Speaker A

students that I work with are working towards their B1 and their B2. Sometimes there's a sense of pride. People don't want to say they're working towards a B1 because they think they should be further ahead than that, but if you don't

Speaker A

know the basics, you're going to struggle with the more advanced grammar and vocabulary. With B1, you are a true intermediate. You can deal with most travel situations. You can understand points related to hobbies, work, school, your local area, daily life. You can write

Speaker A

about your personal interests. You can describe experiences, ambitions, opinions, dreams. It's the equivalent of a Cambridge PET or PET exam. That's the B1 exam in Cambridge. It's the IELTS level four to five. A B1 level of English is a really good level of

Speaker A

English. If you are looking to achieve a B1 level of English, I have something for you. Click on the link in the description box. Now, moving on to the B2. This is considered upper intermediate, and don't be fooled. To get a B2 in English is an

Speaker A

incredible achievement. You can understand ideas in more technical texts. You can communicate fairly easily with native speakers without too much effort, without too much strain. People can understand you without too much effort or strain. You can respond to questions and conversations

Speaker A

without having to stop and consider too much. It just comes naturally and spontaneously. This is the equivalent of a Cambridge First or FCE certificate. It's an IELTS level five to six. Now, let's move on to the advanced levels:

Speaker A

C1 and C2. This is IELTS level 7 or the Cambridge CAE Advanced exam. With this level, you can read long texts, long articles. You can understand conversations about complex subjects. You don't really have to think about vocabulary or grammar too much. You have

Speaker A

a good enough ability to write academic texts, and that is why so many companies and universities want this C1 level. If you're learning English for pleasure, it might not necessarily be the best goal for you. As I said, I got to B2 in Spanish

Speaker A

and then I became fluent without studying for exams. I wasn't doing it for academic reasons, so I didn't take my academic studies any further at that point. Finally, we have C2. This is an exam that many native speakers wouldn't be

Speaker A

able to pass. It is a near-native level. Not many people do C2 exams. It is really, really advanced. It's an IELTS level eight to nine. It's called the Proficiency exam in Cambridge. You can communicate totally fluently. You can use nuance. You

Speaker A

make hardly any mistakes, right? I hope this helped you with your self-evaluation. I told you if you are working towards a B1 or intermediate level of English, I've got something for you, so click on that link. You can also comment below and let

Speaker A

me know your level of English. Don't forget to connect with me on all of my social media. I've got my Instagram and my website. I will see you soon for another lesson. Bye. [Music] [Music] You

Speaker A

me know your level of english don't forget to connect with me on all of my social media i've got my instagram and my website i will see you soon for another lesson bye [Music] [Music] you

Topics:English levelCEFRA1A2B1B2C1C2English proficiencylanguage learning

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