English Levels of Proficiency

How many people do you know who took up the study of English and even years later still “began to learn” it? One of the reasons is the expectation of too fast results. People often want to “learn” a language and speak like a native speaker, although in reality, it doesn’t work that way.

Tatiana Yermolenko

02.12.2022 | 10:46

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But at the same time, the language is mastered gradually, by levels. There are different levels of English proficiency: from elementary to professional ones.

There are six English language proficiency levels in total, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, and CEFR CEF.

This is a system designed specifically to determine the levels of language proficiency for different purposes (tourism, citizenship, work, study, etc.) This system was developed by the Council of Europe in the framework of the project "Learning languages for European citizenship" from 1989-1996 years. So what are they, what English levels of proficiency, and how they are classified?

English levels table

English level	Reading	Pronunciation	Writing	Grammar	Vocabulary (accessible vocabulary)	Hearing comprehension
A1	Simple and elementary phrases, greeting	Short sentences with elementary vocabulary	Writing basic information about yourself (name, age, date of birth, etc.)	Present Simple, Past Simple, Future Simple, as well as singular and plural.	1000-1500 words	Short sentences up to 9 words that are spoken slowly and clearly.
A2	A more detailed account of yourself and your preferences.	Small texts up to 300-400 words	Brief notes, stories (using a dictionary)	Present Continuous Past continuous. modal words. Conditional sentences. Infinitive	1500-2500 words	Simple sentences, dialogues on everyday topics
B1	Simple and spontaneous conversation on any topic. Ability to describe experiences and share opinions	Small texts of different styles and types (but about 15% of the words are not yet understood)	Short story for 20 sentences, personal or business letter	Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous. Degrees of comparison of adjectives. Gerund	2500-3250 words	Short stories, experiences of the person you are talking to. Also feel the context.
B2	Clear expression of opinion, with arguments and examples	Reports, stories, fiction, instructions, and professional information	Texts on various topics, with detailed descriptions and stories	Conditional sentences. All temporary forms	3000-4000 words	Understand broadcasts, interviews and reports, stories and what a native speaker tells you.
C1	Easy conversation, except for highly specialized topics	Virtually any text, including reports, non-fiction, novels, etc.	Business correspondence, texts on various topics, reports, reports, letters	and Inversion. Causal form of the verb	4000-6000 words	You are well versed in the English-spspeaking environment, understand pure English, as well as the accent
C2	Easy and confident conversation at the native level, using idioms, comparisons and irony.	Any conversation on any topic.	Any text on any topic.	All grammar rules	Over 6000 words	Full and confident understanding of the language

Elementary (A1)

Quite often, A1 is divided into two levels of English: Beginner and Elementary. Beginner is the most basic of English levels that everyone starts with. The first step, having mastered this, the student can apply his knowledge for simple everyday purposes. Elementary is like a more advanced Beginner, which includes everything that level A1 suggests:

Greetings, thanks, and goodbyes.
Introducing yourself and introducing someone.
Write or tell brief information about yourself (name, surname, date of birth, place of residence).
Listen to elementary sentences (How are you, What is your name, Come here, etc.)
Understand short phrases in English (pointers, headings, postcards).
Know basic grammar rules (plural and singular, conjugation of the verb “to be”).

This proficiency level in English also implies a small vocabulary (up to 1500 words).

Pre-Intermediate (A2)

The next step is conquering English proficiency levels. Here you can already feel much more confident, although you are still considered a beginner. Pre-Intermediate features include:

Talk about the most pressing topics (weather, life, family).
Orient yourself in the city, ask passers-by for directions and understand how to get there.
Tell us more about yourself (where do you live, who is your family, where do you work, etc.)
Understand simple standard texts (online purchase, order, notification).
Listen to simple phrases and constructions.
A deeper understanding of grammatical rules (tenses, modal words, sentence construction).
Write short messages, and notes, using already familiar vocabulary or using a dictionary.

As you master new levels of knowledge of the English language, you increase your vocabulary. And at this level, you already know exactly 1500-2500 words.

Intermediate (B1)

Conquering new and new levels of English proficiency, you will inevitably reach the middle. At this stage, you can feel much free in an English-speaking environment.

Your vocabulary increases to 2750-3250 words and you perceive English speech better and read and speak more confidently. A student who has reached the Intermediate level can already at this stage:

Read simple instructions, advertising brochures, and letters.
Justify your opinion, and share your impressions, plans, and dreams.
It is easy to understand the interlocutor and keep up the conversation.
You already know what gerund and infinitive are, comparative and superlative degrees, and conditional sentences).

Also, you can already start watching English-language films and understand at least the context (or what is happening on the screen).

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

An advanced or “excellent from average” English level proficiency is already the level of English proficiency when you can already speak fluently with a native speaker and understand English content. After all, here the vocabulary will increase to 3000-4000 words. Upper-Intermediate opens up a whole range of possibilities:

You fully understand the speech of a native speaker and can react to what he says to you.
Read essays, articles, and texts in non-adapted English.
Write essays and articles on various topics.
Describe events in detail, and confirm your point of view with examples, and comparisons.
You clearly know all the basic grammar, and correctly build sentences under any time and conditions.

Important:

All the above-mentioned levels of English allow you to freely navigate during tourism, and the average level even allows you to occupy simple positions (cashier, courier, service personnel, etc.)

Advanced (C1)

Now let's talk about the levels of language proficiency, which are much closer to understanding the level of the native speaker. Advanced is already the level when you know at least 4000 words, sometimes all 6000.

Here you can even conduct business correspondence, participate in international conferences as a listener or as a speaker, as well as write essays, compositions, and articles on any topic. Besides:

You freely express your opinion and can participate in any discussions.
Understand and use idioms, figures of speech, and stylistic devices.
Read any text, any complexity, on any topic.
Understand the native, even if he speaks quickly.

You know complex grammar, you can write and speak sentences in complex structures, with turns, tenses, stylistic inversion, and causal forms.

This is a sufficient level of English proficiency to live and work in an English-speaking environment (and, moreover, occupy more highly qualified positions), participate in the cultural life of the country, study at a higher educational institution or run a business.

Proficiency (C2)

If you have received a certificate indicating that you have mastered this English proficiency level, congratulations, you have passed all levels in English and climbed to the very top. A person with a Proficiency level already knows the language like a native speaker and sometimes it cannot even be distinguished from it. So, possession of the Proficiency level is:

Understanding everything that is said to you, regardless of the accent, intonation, or speed of the conversation.
The ability to speak on any topic, even a narrow specialty.
Ability to write in both a formal and informal style.
Complete knowledge and understanding of grammar, even with complex nuances.
You can write a text on any topic without any preparation, and quite quickly.
Hear and perceive any audio and video materials.
Understand any context, even irony or slang.

Speak competently, coherently, confidently, and even with a little accent (although it will still be because you are not a native speaker). You can even write books, articles, interviews, acts, and more.

"Language plays a significant role in business. It is a means of communication that allows us to interact, understand one another, and build relationships. Proficiency in effective communication, including the English language, is key to success in modern business and enhancing communication efficiency with partners, clients, and colleagues." — Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's CO.

All these levels of English are confirmed officially, on special tests like IETLS, FCE from Cambridge, and TOEFL. They are rented for a fee and they cover all aspects of knowledge of English levels: speaking, listening, grammar, and reading.

Such tests are taken to confirm the level of proficiency in English and receive a grant, the opportunity to study abroad, citizenship in an English-speaking country, a visa, etc. And no matter what level you have, there is always room to strive and improve. The main thing is to have a goal in front of you and follow it.

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