Unit 1 | Module 5

5.1: What do the levels mean? (1)

Level Global descriptor Functions Grammar Vocabulary/Topics
Pre-A1 Can say short words very haltingly or Greeting people Single words and Basic keywords for
Absolute imperfectly to give basic personal Replying to basic simple structures of a things and people in the
(zero) information. Requires a lot of support and questions formulaic nature immediate environment
beginner even scaffolding to participate in simple and Giving basic personal
short exchanges. Relies on non-verbal information
communication greatly.
A1 Speech, especially particular Greeting people Question words (who/ Office words
Beginner vocabulary/phrases, is often unintelligible Asking basic questions what/ when/where) Family/work
due to frequent mispronunciations. Replying to basic Simple verbs Countries/nationalities
questions Simple present Numbers/time
Attempts basic sentence forms but with Giving basic personal Possessive pronouns Days/months
limited success, or relies on apparently information Personal pronouns Furniture/rooms
memorized utterances; makes numerous Talking about family There is/are Money
errors except in memorized expressions. Talking about one’s job Articles Clothes
Talking about places Plurals Food and drink
Can say only isolated phrases about people Talking about Can I have/I would like Seasons
or places. age/time/dates I like + ing/I like + to + Colors
Asking about prices verb
Pauses lengthily before most words; only Expressing likes and Could/would
minimal communication is possible. dislikes Present continuous
Making requests and Prepositions of place
Understands only severely limited individual offers Countable and non-
words and simple connectives even at a slow countable nouns
pace; barely understands any information
given at sentence level; delayed response to
known words.
A2 Mispronunciations are frequent and cause Talking about work Can/Able to (ability) Jobs
Elementary some difficulty for the listener; uses a limited Describing routines Adjectives Frequency
range of pronunciation features; attempts to Giving explanation Transitional words Cooking
 control features but lapses are frequent. Expressing ability (ordinal numbers, then, Sports
Describing people next, last, etc.) Parts of the body
Produces basic sentence forms and some Talking about the past Adverbs of frequency Personality
correct simple sentences but subordinate Describing objects Some/any Vacations
structures are rare; errors are frequent and Talking about the Too, enough & very Weather
may lead to misunderstanding. future Comparatives (as + Animals
Making simple adjective + as) Family life
Uses simple vocabulary; demonstrates comparisons Regular verbs – Simple Health and exercise
limited range and control of vocabulary. Describing places past Feelings/emotions
Describing people and Irregular verbs– Simple
Speech is basically intelligible, though routines past
listener effort is needed because of unclear Making complaints Will/shall/going to
articulation, repetitive points, awkward Asking for and giving Tag questions
intonation, or choppy rhythm/pace. advice Should (advice)
Making requests and Simple future
Understands a limited range of vocabulary at offers Indefinite/Relative
a relatively slower pace; has understanding Pronouns
difficulties due to unfamiliar pronunciation
patterns, lack of grammar knowledge, or
unfamiliar words and phrases.
B1 Some effective use of features but this is not Expressing opinions Superlative adjectives Music, movies, and
Intermediate sustained; can generally be understood Making suggestions Modals - may, might, theater
throughout, though mispronunciation of Expressing possibility could, can, and will Travel
individual words or sounds reduces clarity at Making appointments Adjectives - many/much Fashion
times. Expressing certainty Adverbs - so do/does & Work skills
Talking about habits neither do/does Habits
Produces basic sentence forms with Expressing Verbs - like/would Food & agriculture
reasonable accuracy; uses a limited range of preferences rather/prefer Games and pastimes
more complex structures, but these usually Giving instructions Prefixes and suffixes Science and technology
contain errors and may cause some Describing sequences Reflexive pronouns Job applications
comprehension problems. Making predictions Prepositions - Media
Asking for and giving for/while/since/ during Education & careers
Is able to talk about familiar topics but can permission More tag questions Disasters &
only convey basic points on unfamiliar topics Describing Imperatives emergencies
 and makes frequent errors in word choice. experiences Conditionals 0 & 1
Talking about radio The present perfect
Speech is generally clear, with some fluidity and TV tense
of expression; usually maintains flow of Giving advice Adverbs - never/ever
speech but uses repetition, self-correction Talking about the past Modals - should/have
and/or slow speech to keep going; may over- to/ought to/must
use certain connectives and discourse Verbals (gerunds,
markers; produces simple speech fluently, infinitives, and
but more complex communication causes participles)
fluency problems. The past continuous
tense
Can predict and understand general ideas The passive voice
being delivered at a medium pace; prompt
response to familiar and known words; has
comprehension difficulties due to unfamiliar
topic, new words, unfamiliar grammar
structures.
B2 Uses a range of pronunciation features; Talking about Modals of obligation Health and sports
Upper sustains flexible use of features, with lapses;health/health problems The future continuous Music and the media
intermediate can be understood throughout; L1 accent Expressing probability/ tense Dreams
has some effect on intelligibility. preference Conditionals 1, 2, and 3 Travel and transport
Talking about The present perfect Dating and friendship
Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence hypothetical situations tense Weddings
forms; corrects self when certain mistakes Talking about plans Relative clauses Nationalities
are made; makes some errors in grammar Giving advice The present perfect Foreign cuisine
and punctuation but they rarely impair Describing continuous tense Medicine and health
communication. relationships Conjunctions Accidents and disasters
Describing past events Gerunds and infinitives Families and parenting
Manages to talk about familiar topics but Talking about other Gerunds and participles Manners and customs
uses vocabulary with limited flexibility in countries Prepositions - for/while/
unfamiliar contexts. Talking about the since/during
future The simple past tense -
Speech is generally clear, with some fluidity Talking about used to
of expression, though may lose coherence at accidents Adjective + infinitive
 times when attempting to improve word Talking about past
choice and re-structuring sentences; uses habits
common connectives and discourse markers Describing customs
when speaking.

Prompt grasp of the general ideas when

conversation is made at a regular or fast
pace; overall comprehension is complete
though is not sustained due to unfamiliar
topics, and new words.
C1 Uses a wide range of pronunciation features; Talking about sports Verb + gerund Sports and activities
Advanced sustains flexible use of features, with only Describing personal Verb + infinitive Personality
occasional lapses; easy to understand characteristics Indirect speech Personal finances
throughout; L1 accent has minimal effect on Discussing finances Few/a few/little/a little Food and diets
intelligibility. Discussing dietary The past perfect tense Lifestyles
preferences Mixed conditionals Traditional stories
Uses a wide range of structures flexibly; a Talking about lifestyles The present perfect (legends, myths)
majority of sentences are error-free with only Telling stories continuous tense Reading graphs/trends
very occasional inappropriacies. Talking about trends Subjunctives Films/Movies
Making deductions Participial clauses Fears and phobias
Uses a wide range of vocabulary readily and Talking about fears Adjective + preposition Religions
with flexibility to convey precise meaning; Describing products/ Causative (let, make, Career development
uses common and idiomatic vocabulary processes have, get) Information technology
skillfully, with occasional inaccuracies. Reporting what has In case/unless Crime and the law
been said Reporting verbs Gadgets
Response is sustained and sufficient to the Expressing wishes If only…
task, and is generally well developed and Expressing regrets Be used to/get used to
coherent; relationships between ideas are Talking about Used to/be used to
clear; uses a range of connectives and technology Compound adjectives
discourse markers when speaking. Talking about crime
and punishment
Understands a wide range of concrete,
abstract and conceptual language;
comprehension is accurate and can be
 sustained effortlessly; understands main
points, details, speaker’s purpose, attitudes,
as well as levels of formality and inference.
C2 Highly proficient at language use. Can Discussing differences Defining/non-defining Culture and Etiquette
Expert understand all forms of language, including Discussing literature clauses Literary genres
those featuring idiomatic expressions and Describing company Discourse markers Corporate structures
figures of speech. Able to discuss almost all structure Grammatical Politics and Economics
topics at length and very accurately in well- Discussing differences between Lexical differences
structured speech. Vocabulary range is quite relationships American English and between American
wide and includes different kinds of idiomatic Discussing politics and British English English and British
language, including uncommon ones, which economics Mixed conditionals English
leads to high precision and highly nuanced Asking rhetorical Registers
language. questions The past perfect
continuous tense
The future perfect
continuous tense
The future perfect tense