A1
An A1 speaker can communicate only the most basic personal information — their name, where they live, the people they know — drawing on a very small repertoire of memorised words and phrases tied to concrete, immediate situations. Grammar is limited to a handful of fixed patterns with little flexibility, and communication breaks down quickly outside of these. Speech is slow and heavily fragmented, with long pauses as the speaker searches for words and works to articulate even familiar ones. Interaction is only possible in the most simple and predictable exchanges, and depends entirely on the other person speaking slowly, repeating and rephrasing as needed. Ideas are strung together with the most basic connectors like and or then, with little sense of structure beyond linear sequence.
A1 to A2 Go from isolated words and fixed phrases to being able to handle simple transactional exchanges in the real world.
A2
An A2 speaker has enough vocabulary and memorised phrases to handle simple, everyday situations such as shopping, asking for directions, or exchanging basic personal information. Their grammar is limited to a narrow set of structures, and errors outside these are frequent and systematic, though they rarely prevent understanding in routine exchanges. Speech tends to come in short bursts with noticeable pauses, false starts and reformulations, reflecting the effort still required to produce even simple utterances. Conversation is largely reactive — they can answer questions and respond to simple statements but struggle to keep an exchange going on their own initiative. Ideas are connected only at the most basic level, using simple linking words like and, but and because to string thoughts together.
A2 to B1 Go from reacting to what others say to being able to independently sustain and steer a conversation.
B1
A B1 speaker has enough language to navigate most everyday situations likely to arise at work, school or while travelling, and can express themselves on familiar topics such as family, hobbies and current events, even if this sometimes requires hesitation or circuitous phrasing. Grammar is reasonably accurate within well-practised patterns, though errors become more frequent when venturing into less familiar territory. Speech is comprehensible and keeps moving, though pausing for planning and self-correction is noticeable, particularly in longer stretches of free production. They can independently initiate, sustain and close simple face-to-face conversations on topics of personal interest, and can repeat back what has been said to confirm understanding. Connected speech is organised into a clear linear sequence, though longer contributions may lack the connective tissue to feel fully cohesive.
B1 to B2 Go from familiar, concrete topics to abstract and complex ideas, expressed with growing confidence and spontaneity.
B2
A B2 speaker can discuss a wide range of concrete and abstract topics with clarity, including technical subjects within their field, and can articulate viewpoints and weigh up arguments without conspicuously searching for words. Grammatical control is relatively high — errors occur but rarely cause misunderstanding, and most are caught and corrected. Speech flows at a fairly even tempo, with only occasional hesitation as the speaker searches for the right expression. They can participate actively and comfortably in conversation with native speakers, initiating and managing exchanges, confirming comprehension and drawing others in, though transitions may not always be perfectly smooth. Discourse is coherent and clearly organised, though a limited connective range can produce some jumpiness in longer contributions.
B2 to C1 Go from competent communication to genuinely effortless expression across professional and academic contexts.
C1
A C1 speaker can express themselves clearly and appropriately across a broad range of general, academic and professional contexts, selecting from a wide repertoire of language without needing to restrict or simplify what they want to say. Grammatical accuracy is consistently high, with errors being rare, difficult to spot and usually self-corrected when they do occur. Language flows fluently and almost effortlessly, with only genuinely complex conceptual material presenting any real disruption to natural delivery. They can manage conversation with skill — selecting appropriate discourse phrases to hold the floor, steer discussion and connect their contributions meaningfully to those of other speakers. Speech is well-structured and smoothly flowing, with controlled use of a range of organisational patterns and cohesive devices.
C1 to C2 Go from mastery of the language system to full native-like sophistication, nuance and stylistic range.
C2
A C2 speaker commands the full breadth of the language, able to engage with any topic — including abstract, nuanced or culturally specific ones — with precision and stylistic ease, drawing on a rich repertoire of idiomatic and colloquial expression. Grammatical control is complete and consistent, maintained even when attention is divided across the demands of complex interaction. Speech is spontaneous and natural, flowing at a colloquial pace with any difficulty navigated so smoothly as to be imperceptible to the listener. They interact with full native-like sophistication, reading non-verbal and intonational cues effortlessly and weaving their contributions into shared discourse with natural turn-taking, allusion and reference. Ideas are shaped into coherent, cohesive discourse with full command of organisational structure and a wide range of connective devices.