CEF Levels

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF or CEFR) was put together by
the Council of Europe as a way of standardising the levels of language exams in different regions. It is
very widely used internationally and all important exams are mapped to the CEFR.

There are six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. These are described in the table below.
Click here to see which exams are at which CEFR levels.
Click here to do a test to see which level to study at and here to see what grammar you should know at
each level.
This page in Spanish, French, German
Council of Europe
levels Description
The capacity to deal with material which is academic or cognitively demanding, and to
use language to good effect at a level of performance which may in certain respects
C2 be more advanced than that of an average native speaker.
Mastery Example: CAN scan texts for relevant information, and grasp main topic of text,
reading almost as quickly as a native speaker.
All practice tests at this level
The ability to communicate with the emphasis on how well it is done, in terms of
appropriacy, sensitivity and the capacity to deal with unfamiliar topics.
C1 Example: CAN deal with hostile questioning confidently. CAN get and hold onto
Effective his/her turn to speak.
Operational All practice tests at this level
Proficiency

The capacity to achieve most goals and express oneself on a range of topics.
Example: CAN show visitors around and give a detailed description of a place.
B2 All practice tests at this level
Vantage

The ability to express oneself in a limited way in familiar situations and to deal in a
general way with nonroutine information.
B1 Example: CAN ask to open an account at a bank, provided that the procedure is
Threshold straightforward.
All practice tests at this level
An ability to deal with simple, straightforward information and begin to express
oneself in familiar contexts.
A2 Example: CAN take part in a routine conversation on simple predictable topics.
Waystage All exams and practice tests at this level
A basic ability to communicate and exchange information in a simple way.
Example: CAN ask simple questions about a menu and understand simple answers.
A1 Practice tests at A1 level
Breakthrough
Grammar to study at each CEF level
The table below shows you the grammar areas that you should be studying at each of the CEF levels:
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A1
Adjectives: common and demonstrative
Adverbs of frequency
Comparatives and superlatives
Going to
How much/how many and very
common uncountable nouns
I’d like
Imperatives (+/-)
Intensifiers - very basic
Modals: can/can’t/could/couldn’t
Past simple of “to be”
Past Simple
Possessive adjectives
Possessive s
Prepositions, common
Prepositions of place
Prepositions of time, including in/on/at
Present continuous
Present simple
Pronouns: simple, personal
Questions
There is/are
To be, including question+negatives
Verb + ing: like/hate/love

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A2
Adjectives – comparative, – use of
than and definite article
Adjectives – superlative – use of definite article
Adverbial phrases of time, place and frequency – including word order
Adverbs of frequency
Articles – with countable and
uncountable nouns
Countables and Uncountables:
much/many
Future Time (will and going to)
Gerunds
Going to
Imperatives
Modals – can/could
Modals – have to
Modals – should
Past continuous
Past simple
Phrasal verbs – common
Possessives – use of ‘s, s’
Prepositional phrases (place, time and movement)
Prepositions of time: on/in/at
Present continuous
Present continuous for future
Present perfect
Questions
Verb + ing/infinitive: like/
want-would like
Wh-questions in past
Zero and 1st conditional

B1
Adverbs
Broader range of intensifiers such
as too, enough
Comparatives and superlatives
Complex question tags
Conditionals, 2nd and 3rd
Connecting words expressing
cause and effect, contrast etc.
Future continuous
Modals - must/can’t deduction
Modals – might, may, will, probably
Modals – should have/might have/etc
Modals: must/have to
Past continuous
Past perfect
Past simple
Past tense responses
Phrasal verbs, extended
Present perfect continuous
Present perfect/past simple
Reported speech (range of tenses)
Simple passive
Wh- questions in the past
Will and going to, for prediction

B2
Adjectives and adverbs
Future continuous
Future perfect
Future perfect continuous
Mixed conditionals
Modals – can’t have, needn’t have
Modals of deduction and speculation
Narrative tenses
Passives
Past perfect
Past perfect continuous
Phrasal verbs, extended
Relative clauses
Reported speech
Will and going to, for prediction
Wish
Would expressing habits, in the past

……………………………………………………………………..
C1
Futures (revision)
Inversion with negative adverbials
Mixed conditionals in past, present
and future
Modals in the past
Narrative tenses for experience,
incl. passive
Passive forms, all
Phrasal verbs, especially splitting
Wish/if only regrets
Click here for a free test to check your level.

A2
Cambridge English Key (KET)
PTE General Level 1
PTE Academic 30-42
TOEIC Listening & Reading 225
TOEIC Speaking & Writing 160

B1
Cambridge English Preliminary (PET)
BEC Prelim
IELTS 4-4.5
TOEFL iBT 57-86
TOEIC Listening & Reading 550
TOEIC Speaking & Writing 240
PTE General Level 2
PTE Academic 43-58
Trinity ISE I

B2
Cambridge English First (FCE)
BEC Vantage
IELTS 5-6.5
TOEFL iBT 87-109
TOEIC Listening & Reading 785
TOEIC Speaking & Writing 310
Michigan ECCE
PTE General Level 3
PTE Academic 59-75
Trinity ISE II

C1
Cambridge English Advanced (CAE)
BEC Higher
IELTS 7-8
TOEFL iBT 110-120
TOEIC Listening & Reading 945
TOEIC Speaking & Writing 360
PTE General Level 4
PTE Academic 76-84

C2
Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)
IELTS 8.5-9
Michigan ECPE
PTE General Level 5
PTE Academic 85+