Professional level of English. English levels: A1 to C2, Beginner to Proficiency

So, what are the levels, what level of language proficiency do you personally need (depending on your goals), and how much time will it take to reach this level? For convenience, we will focus on English as the most demanded language, and in which there is the most developed system of various tests and international exams. We will conditionally assess the level of English proficiency on a twelve-point scale. In many English language courses abroad, and in decent courses in our country, the formation of study groups takes place precisely in accordance with these levels.

0 - "zero level" of English

Full beginner. Many immediately begin to say: “Yes, yes, this is just about me! I learned something at school, but I don’t remember anything at all! Complete zero!" Not! If you learned something at school, then it has nothing to do with you. Zero level for those who have never learned English and do not even know the alphabet. Well, if, for example, he studied German or French at school, but never came across English.

1 elementary. Elementary level of English

There is no experience of using English. Separate simple words and expressions are clear, something can be guessed with great difficulty. Grammar is the most vague idea. In general, this is a typical level for a graduate of a post-Soviet school who pretended to study some “topics” twice a week, but in fact cheated mathematics under his desk. In case of urgent need, some words still pop up in my head - “passport, taxi, how mach”, but a coherent conversation does not work. To reach this level from scratch, it is enough to study at decent English courses abroad for 3-4 weeks, approximately 80-100 hours of study. By the way, about all the calculations (weeks, hours, etc.) - these are averages for the bulk of students with normal abilities (which are about 80%), ten percent of linguistically gifted students will learn everything much faster, and ten percent will need more time and efforts to achieve the same result. There are no people who are generally incapable of learning languages ​​- I declare this categorically. If you speak Russian, you can speak any other language, you just need to make some effort and spend some time. So, I wrote it, and I felt sad myself: whatever one may say, a month and a half in language courses abroad successfully replace a five-year study of the language in our ordinary secondary school ... well, this, of course, if it’s a three. If you diligently do your homework for all five years, you can achieve much more significant success and rise to a higher level.

2 - Upper-Elementary. Highest elementary level

There is knowledge of simple grammatical constructions of the English language. It is possible to maintain a conversation on a familiar topic - but, unfortunately, the number of familiar topics is very limited. There is an understanding of simple sentences and speech constructions - especially if they speak slowly and explain what was said with gestures.

You can call this level the "living wage" for a relatively independent tourist from guides and interpreters. Add 80-100 hours of study to the previous level. By the way, in most decent language courses in Russia, one level is just about 80 hours, that is, if you study twice a week for 4 academic hours, then this is about 10 weeks, two to three months. Abroad, you can meet three weeks of intensive training.

3 - Pre-Intermediate. Lower Intermediate

You can keep up the conversation on a familiar topic. Knowledge of English grammar is quite good, although vocabulary is limited. You can pronounce fairly coherent sentences with virtually no errors if you have studied this topic in class. This sometimes leads to a paradoxical situation if you have to communicate with foreigners - it seems to them that you speak English quite tolerably, and they happily begin to explain something to you at a normal pace, waving their arms excitedly. But you, having laid out everything you knew, realize that you don’t understand a damn thing anymore, and you feel out of place.

At this level, you can already try to pass some language test, although there will be no practical benefit from this. This level roughly corresponds to the result of 3-4 when passing the IELTS exam, 39-56 points when passing the TOEFL iBT, you can try to pass the Cambridge exam PET (Preliminary English Test).

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Quite often on the forums devoted to the study of foreign languages, there are questions about the levels of English proficiency - “How to understand if I have Beginner or Elementary?”, “What you need to know to start with Pre-Intermediate?”, “How to correctly indicate the level of language proficiency on a resume? or “I once studied English at school, do I have an Intermediate?”. In order to avoid problems with your English, you need not only to choose the right school, but also to understand well at what level you should start learning the language. Let's try to figure it out together. Shall we?

English Proficiency Levels

If you have at least once been interested in the levels of knowledge of English, you may get the impression that there is complete confusion here. But actually it is not. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR) has been specifically designed to describe levels of English proficiency and is an international standard. Consists of the following levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2.

And what then to do with the levels of Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate and Advanced, so well known to us and native from school? And besides, these names can be found with various additional words, such as False, Low, Very, etc. Why all these difficulties? We explain. This classification was invented by the creators of basic textbooks such as "Headway", "Cutting Edge", "Opportunities". What for? These levels divide the CEFR scale into sections for better language acquisition. And it is this division of levels that schools and language courses usually focus on.

You can't do without the help of a pivot table. We suggest that you carefully consider which widely known levels of English proficiency correspond to those on the CEFR scale.

Table of English levels

LEVEL	Description	CEFR level
beginner	You don't speak English	;)
Elementary	You can say and understand some words and phrases in English	A1
Pre-Intermediate	You can communicate in "plain" English and understand the interlocutor in a familiar situation, but with difficulty	A2
intermediate	You can speak and understand speech quite well. Express your thoughts in simple sentences but have difficulty with more complex grammar and vocabulary	B1
Upper Intermediate	You speak and understand English well by ear, but still make mistakes	B2
Advanced	You speak English fluently and have a complete listening comprehension	C1
Proficiency	You speak English at the level of a native speaker	C2

Two words about False, Low, Very and other prefixes to standard level names. Sometimes you can find such formulations as False Beginner, Low Intermediate or Very Advanced, etc. This can be called division into sublevels. For example, the False Beginner level corresponds to a person who previously studied English, but for a very short time, who remembers practically nothing. Such a person will take less time to complete the beginner's course and move to the next level, so he cannot be called a complete Beginner. A similar story with Low Intermediate and Very Advanced. In the first case, a person has already completed the full Pre-Intermediate course and began to study Intermediate, while mastering and using only a few grammatical structures and vocabulary of this level in speech. An English speaker with a Very Advanced level is already halfway to the coveted Proficiency. Well, you get the gist.

Now let's look at the specific skills and abilities of English learners at different levels.

Level of English Beginner, aka Starter

Initial, zero level. This course begins with a phonetic course and mastering the rules of reading. Vocabulary is studied, which makes it possible to communicate on everyday topics (“Acquaintance”, “Family”, “Work”, “Leisure”, “In the store”), and also understands basic grammar.

After completing the Beginner course:

• Vocabulary is about 500-600 words.
• Listening comprehension: phrases and sentences spoken slowly, with pauses, very clearly (for example, simple questions and instructions).
• Conversational speech: you can talk about yourself, your family, friends.
• Reading: simple texts with familiar words and previously encountered phrases, as well as studied grammar, simple instructions (for example, an assignment for an exercise).
• Writing: single words, simple sentences, fill out a questionnaire, write short descriptions.

English level Elementary

A basic level of. A student of this level has all the basic skills of the English language. We study such everyday topics as: "Family", "Rest", "Travel", "Transport", "Health".

After completing the Elementary course:

• Vocabulary is about 1000-1300 words.
• Listening comprehension: sentences that relate to the most common topics. When listening to the news, watching movies, there is an understanding of a common theme or plot, especially with visual support.
• Colloquial speech: expression of opinion, requests provided that the context is familiar. When greeting and parting, talking on the phone, etc. "blanks" are used.
• Reading: short texts with a small amount of unfamiliar vocabulary, announcements and signs.
• Writing: Describing people and events, writing simple letters using familiar clichés.

English level Pre-Intermediate

Speaking level. A listener who is confident in everyday vocabulary and basic grammar is able to express opinions on everyday topics.

After completing the Pre-Intermediate course:

• Vocabulary has 1400-1800 words.
• Listening comprehension: a dialogue or monologue on everyday topics, when viewing, for example, the news, you can catch all the key points. When watching movies, a listener of this level may not understand certain phrases and sentences, but follows the plot. Understands movies with subtitles well.
• Conversation: you can evaluate and express your opinion on an event, maintain a fairly long conversation on familiar topics ("Art", "Appearance", "Personality", "Movies", "Entertainment", etc.).
• Reading: complex texts, including journalistic articles.
• Writing: a written expression of one's opinion or assessment of the situation, compiling one's biography, describing events.

English Intermediate level

Average level. The listener is fluent in the language and can use it in a variety of situations. Usually the Intermediate level is enough to work in a foreign company. A person who speaks English at the level of English Intermediate can conduct negotiations and business correspondence in English, arrange presentations.

After completing the Intermediate course:

• Vocabulary of a listener of this level is about 2000-2500 words.
• Listening comprehension: captures not only the general meaning, but also specific details, understands films, interviews, videos without translation and subtitles.
• Colloquial speech: expresses a point of view, one’s agreement / disagreement on almost any non-isolated topic. Can take an active part in discussions or discussions on non-specific topics without preparation.
• Reading: understands complex texts that are not related to familiar topics and areas of life, non-adapted literature. Can understand the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context (fiction, information sites, dictionary entries).
• Writing: Can compose a letter in a formal and informal style, is proficient in written English, can write lengthy descriptions of events and history, and can provide personal commentary.

English Upper-Intermediate level

The level is above average. An Upper-Intermediate level listener knows and skillfully uses complex grammatical structures and a variety of vocabulary.

After completing the Upper-Intermediate course:

• Vocabulary has 3000-4000 words.
• Listening comprehension: well understands even linguistically complex speech on unfamiliar topics, almost completely understands videos without translation and subtitles.
• Spoken language: can freely evaluate any situations, make comparisons or contrasts, uses different speech styles.
• The conversation is both formal and informal. Speaks competently with a small number of errors, can catch and correct his mistakes.
• Reading: possesses a large vocabulary for understanding non-adapted English texts.
• Writing: can independently write an article, formal and informal letters. Can know and use different styles when creating written text.

English Advanced level

Advanced level. Advanced students are very confident in English and make only minor mistakes in speech, which in no way affect the effectiveness of communication. Students of this level can study special disciplines in English.

After completing the Advanced course:

• Vocabulary is about 4000-6000 words.
• Listening comprehension: understands indistinct speech (for example, announcements at the station or at the airport), perceives complex information in detail (for example, reports or lectures). Understands up to 95% of the information on the video without translation.
• Spoken language: uses English very effectively for spontaneous communication, uses colloquial and formal communication style depending on the speech situation. Uses phraseological units and idioms in speech.
• Reading: easily understands non-adapted fiction and non-fiction, complex articles on specific topics (physics, geography, etc.)
• Writing: can write formal and informal letters, narratives, articles, essays, scientific papers.

English Proficiency level

Fluency in English. The last level of the CEFR C2 classification describes a person who speaks English at the level of an educated native speaker. The only problems that such a person can face are problems of a cultural nature. A person may, for example, not understand a quote if it refers to some popular program or book that is known to almost all native speakers, but may be unknown to a person who did not grow up in the environment.

Conclusion

It should be remembered that the level of language proficiency is assessed by the totality of skills and there is no universal recipe for achieving one or another level. You can't say, "You should learn 500 more words or 2 grammar topics and voila - you're already at the next level."

By the way, you can check your level of English proficiency on our website: a comprehensive test in English.

There are a great many ways to achieve this or that level - these are all kinds of courses and language schools, tutors, tutorials, mailing lists, online lessons, and of course English via Skype. Which of them to go - you choose. The main thing is that it should be useful.

There are also many additional services to improve the language. These are social networks created specifically for learning foreign languages, and various discussion clubs, and resources that provide films with and without subtitles in the original language, audio recordings, adapted and non-adapted literature. About all these aids and how exactly and at what levels to use them, you can find in the blog on our website. Stay tuned for new articles.

By the way, while you are reading this article, 700 million people around the world are learning English. Join now!

Big and friendly family EnglishDom

To more accurately track progress in the study of foreign languages, a certain system has been invented. This article will discuss what constitutes the B2 level (the level of English is above average).

English language proficiency levels

There is a common European scale by which the level of proficiency in a foreign language is assessed. The English name is the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This is a certain system of standards that allows you to determine Conditionally knowledge of the language is divided into 6 levels: from A1 to C2. Each of these levels also corresponds to certain indicators of other assessment systems. This table shows the ratio of language proficiency levels in various assessment systems.

CEFR	IH Level	IELTS	TOEFL	Cambridge Examination
A1	beginner
A2	Elementary
B1	Pre-Intermediate	3.5 - 4.0	32 - 42	KET
	intermediate	4.5 - 5.0	42 - 62	PET
B2	Upper Intermediate	5.5 - 6.0	63 - 92	FCE
C1	Advanced	6.5 - 7.0	93 - 112	CAE
C2	Proficiency	7.5 - 9.0	113 +	CPE

When can I start learning English at the Upper-Intermediate level?

The division between the levels of knowledge of any foreign language is very arbitrary, but there are certain indicators by which you can determine the current progress.

English proficiency levels B2 - C1 correspond to practically fluent written and oral speech. A higher level involves an understanding of terminology in various highly specialized areas, the ability to speak on serious topics, conduct business negotiations and read classical literature in the original. It is difficult to establish clear demarcations between the levels of knowledge. But, before deciding to overcome the level of English proficiency B2, you need to make sure that you are fluent in reading B1 literature, as well as being fluent in the basic rules of grammar, can more or less fluently express yourself in the target language, read the press and modern entertainment literature. And although there are still unfamiliar words, this does not affect the general understanding of the text, you catch the meaning and understand what is being said.

According to such a system, the linguistic skills of a student studying any foreign language, including English, are evaluated. Level B2, which means "advanced stage", is above average, but at this stage there may still be some shortcomings that require further elaboration.

Knowledge of grammar rules

Of course, grammar occupies an important place in the study of any foreign language. The following are the main key topics, knowledge of which is necessary at the Upper-Intermediate level.

• Time. B2 - the level of English at which you are already fluent in all aspects and clearly understand in which case it is necessary to use Simple, Continuous, Perfect or Perfect Continuous. In addition, you know the table of irregular verbs and put it into practice.
• Understand usage (Active voice).
• You can convert direct speech into indirect speech.
• Know and use modal verbs, understanding the subtle differences between words like may, might, can, ought,
• You know impersonal forms of the verb: participle, infinitive and gerund.

vocabulary

Considering that a good knowledge of grammar rules is already achieved at level B1, the level of English B2 involves the development of other skills: fluency, listening, reading literature and, of course, increasing vocabulary. At this level, attention should be paid not only to individual words, but also phraseological units, phrasal verbs and more complex structures.

One of the most common mistakes in learning any foreign language is the desire to memorize separate lists of words without subsequently using them in your written and oral speech.

Any new words and phrases should be included in your speech. Those lexical units that are not used will soon be simply forgotten. When reading, write down unfamiliar words and try to make sentences, dialogues, stories or articles with them.

First of all, you should learn those foreign words, the equivalents of which you use in everyday life, talking about yourself, your interests, hobbies, work, goals, relatives and friends. Another common mistake is trying to memorize lists of words, most of which you probably don't have to use often.

One of the best ways is to keep a diary. From the point of view of replenishing the vocabulary, this method is useful in that you learn to use the vocabulary that is directly related to your life. By daily writing down your own observations, events, goals and dreams, you use exactly the same words that you use in your native speech.

Idioms and phraseological units

B2 - level of English, which assumes that you know not only simple words and constructions, but also understand and know how to use a number of idioms. These are speech turns that are peculiar only to this language and do not have a literal translation. The meaning of these phraseological units is conveyed by equivalent phrases acceptable for the target language.

Knowing these set expressions will help make speech more figurative and colorful. The table shows only a small part of all possible phraseological units. You can make your own list of phrases that you will later include in your speech.

Phrasal verbs

In English, there is such a thing as phrasal verbs. Most often, this is a combination of a verb with a preposition or adverb, in connection with which the meaning of the original word changes. These are peculiar stable phrases that do not obey any rules, exist only as indivisible semantic units and carry a semantic load only in this form.

• be about - to be nearby;
• be after - achieve something;
• be back - return;
• break out - suddenly start, break out;
• bring up - bring up;
• call for - call for someone;
• clear up - put in order;
• come about - happen;
• come across - meet unexpectedly;
• look for - look for.

Phrasal verbs are very common in English. However, they are mostly used in everyday speech.

Expanding vocabulary with synonyms

Try to replace frequently used words with synonyms. This will help to make the speech more refined, beautiful and refined.

Word	Synonyms
beautiful (beautiful, beautiful)	aesthetic (aesthetic, artistic); attractive (attractive, alluring); blooming (blooming); comely (pretty, pretty); dazzling (dazzling); delicate (refined, refined); elegant (elegant, graceful); exquisite (exquisite, delightful); glorious (magnificent, wonderful); gorgeous (amazing, excellent); handsome (handsome - about a man); lovely (charming, charming); magnificent (majestic, magnificent); pretty (cute, cute); radiant (radiant, shining); resplendent (brilliant); splendid (luxurious, lush); stunning (amazing, stunning, stunning).
ugly (ugly, ugly)	frightening, frightful (terrible, terrible, frightening); ghostly (creepy, disgusting); grisly (unpleasant, terrifying); gruesome (terrible); hideous (repulsive); homely (unsightly); horrible (creepy); horrid (creepy, disgusting); monstrous (ugly, ugly); plain (plain, unpretentious); repugnant (repulsive, nasty); repulsive (disgusting); terrifying (frightening); unpleasant (unpleasant); unsightly (ugly, ugly).
happy (happy)	blissful (blissful, heavenly); cheerful (cheerful, joyful); contented (happy); delighted (admired, enchanted); ecstatic (frantic, enthusiastic, ecstatic); elated (jubilant, in high spirits, delighted); glad (pleased, joyful); joyful (experiencing joy); jubilant (jubilant, triumphant); overjoyed (overjoyed); pleased (pleased).
unhappy (unhappy)	dejected (oppressed, dejected, depressed); depressed (dull, downcast); discouraged (annoyed); dismal (gloomy, sad, gloomy); downhearted (decreased, discouraged); gloomy (gloomy, sad); glum (gloomy); heart-broken (heartbroken, heartbroken); melancholy (depressed, sad); miserable (unhappy); poor (poor); sad (sad); sorrowful (mournful); unfortunate (unfortunate, unsuccessful); wretched (cheerless, destitute).

Reading

There is a special adapted literature designed to gradually progress from the initial level (A1) to the advanced level (C2).

These are mostly works of art by well-known authors. Books are adapted in such a way that a certain set of grammatical structures and vocabulary corresponds to a specific level of foreign language proficiency. The best way to understand where you are right now is to read two or three pages and count the number of unfamiliar words. If you come across no more than 20-25 new lexical items, then you are quite ready to start reading this book. To get the most out of the reading process, it is advisable to write down all unfamiliar words and phrases, and then work on them further. That is, include them in your vocabulary when compiling stories, dialogues, keeping a diary and writing essays. Otherwise, the vocabulary is quickly forgotten. You can move on to the next level when you feel that work at this level is becoming boring, and there are practically no new lexical units.

However, level B2 is the level of English, which allows you to read not only lightweight books, but also entertaining literature by modern authors, newspapers, and magazines.

Hearing comprehension

Like reading literature, there are quite a few adapted audiobooks. If you are still experiencing some difficulty in listening, you can start with the manuals corresponding to a lower level. For example, if your grammar and vocabulary are around B1 level, but you find it difficult to understand English by ear, take A2 level books in audio format. Over time, you will get used to foreign speech.

A few tips:

• Listen to a chapter of a book without first reading the text. Understand, determine that you managed to understand how acceptable this rate of speech is for you, how many unfamiliar words.
• Write down from memory what you learned.
• Listen again.
• Read the text, write down unfamiliar words and determine their meaning in a dictionary.
• Turn recording back on.

Such a study will help you get used to English speech in the shortest possible time and increase your level of knowledge.

Levels of knowledge of English B2 - C1 allow you to expand opportunities. For a change, you can include films and series in your training. It is advisable to find films with subtitles. However, it is undesirable to use the language learning method by watching movies with subtitles for a long period of time. Otherwise, you will get used to reading the text, and not listening to the speech of the actors.

This is one of the best methods to help you learn English. Level B2 is quite sufficient for watching entertainment shows and series.

Development of written language

In order to learn how to write fluently in the target language, you need to devote time to this lesson every day. Only regular work will help you begin to speak English more fluently. Choose the most suitable method for you. This can be writing stories, essays, keeping a diary or blog, communicating on social networks. Try to enrich your vocabulary daily, including new expressions and constructions. B2 - the level of English, which corresponds to the level above the average, which means that you must have the following skills:

• you know how to build not only simple, but also complex and complex sentences;
• use different designs
• use set expressions, idioms, phrasal verbs;
• you can write an essay, story or article on a topic familiar to you;
• you communicate quite freely with native English speakers, discussing everyday issues.

Oral speech

Upper-Intermediate or B2 - the level of English corresponds to almost fluency in oral speech, provided that you discuss simple everyday topics.

The best way to improve your speaking skills is to communicate with a native English speaker. Levels of knowledge of English B2 - C1 already allow you to communicate quite freely on everyday topics with English speakers. The easiest way is to find friends on social networks or language exchange sites. However, if this is not possible, alternative methods can be applied:

• briefly retell the books you read, the TV shows or movies you watched;
• try to describe everything you see: the landscape outside the window, the picture, various objects;
• make a list of questions, then try to give a detailed answer to each of them.

It is very difficult to establish a clear distinction between the levels of foreign language proficiency. However, this article will allow you to form a general idea and give approximate answers to questions about what English B2 is, what level it is and what knowledge you need to have at this stage of learning.

Any experienced teacher will tell you that before you start learning a foreign language, you need to determine your level.

This is necessary, first of all, in order not to waste too much time on already familiar material, but to immediately move on in mastering the language. Everyone knows that there is no “ultimate” level of English proficiency unless you live in a language environment.

Any language is a living organism that is constantly changing over time, new words are added to it, and some words, on the contrary, become obsolete. Even grammar rules change. What was considered indisputable 15-20 years ago may no longer be relevant in modern grammar.

That is why the knowledge of a foreign language is never completely complete. Any knowledge requires constant practice. Otherwise, the level you have reached is quickly lost.

What is the "level of knowledge of the English language"?

But what is it, and what are the levels of knowledge of the English language? Let's figure it out.

The level of knowledge is understood as the degree of proficiency in four aspects of languages: speaking, reading and understanding texts, listening to information and writing. In addition, this includes knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and the ability to correctly use lexical and grammatical units in speech.

Testing for the level of English proficiency is usually carried out in one form or another, wherever you go to study the language. On any training site, in courses, in private classes with a teacher - everywhere, before determining further actions and selecting the necessary training materials, you will be tested for the level of knowledge. Moreover, these levels are very conditional, their boundaries are blurred, the names and number of levels differ in different sources, but, of course, there are common features in all types of classifications.

In this article, we will present the levels of English on the international scale, comparing it with the British version of the classification.

English Proficiency Levels

There are two main classifications of English proficiency levels.

The first belongs British Council is an international organization that provides assistance in learning the language and in establishing intercultural communication. This distribution of competencies in language could be found most often in textbooks produced at Cambridge and Oxford.

The second and main one is called CEFR or The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It is translated into Russian as "The Common European Scale of Language Competence". It was created by the Council of Europe in the second half of the 90s.

Below is CEFR:

The gradation of English levels in the table differs from the British version in the following:

• the British Council does not have a designation for Pre-Intermediate as such, it is at the A2/B1 junction;
• there is everything here 6 levels of English: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2;
• the first two levels are elementary, the second two are sufficient, the last two are considered levels of fluency in the language.

Correspondence table of levels for different assessment systems

International exams

To obtain a place in a foreign university, to work abroad or to successfully find employment in Russia, certain certificates are required. Consider two of the most popular and well-known of them.

TOEFL exam

Upon successful completion, you can enroll in educational institutions in the United States and Canada. The certificate of completion is valid in 150 countries for 2 years. There are several versions of the test - paper, computer, Internet version. All types of skills are tested - writing and speaking, reading and listening.

The main feature is that it is impossible not to pass it, the student who completed the tasks still receives some score that corresponds to a certain level:

1. 0-39 in the Internet version and 310-434 in the paper version shows the degree of knowledge of English on the bar A1 or "Beginner".
2. When getting a result in the range 40-56 (433-486) you can be sure - you have Elementary (A2), that is, basic English.
3. Intermediate (translated as "intermediate, transitional") - these are TOEFL scores in the region of 57-86 (487-566). Do you want to know what level it is, "Intermediate"? It corresponds to B1. You can talk on familiar topics and catch the essence of the monologue / dialogue, you can even watch films in the original, but the material is not always completely captured (sometimes the meaning is guessed from the plot and from individual phrases). You are already able to write short letters and essays in the language.
4. Upper, pre-intermediate would require the following scores: 87-109 (567-636). It means "medium-advanced" in translation. What level is this, Upper intermediate? For the owner, a relaxed, detailed conversation on a specific or abstract topic is available, including with a native speaker. Movies are watched in the original, talk shows and news are also well received.
5. An order of magnitude higher, namely 110-120 for the Internet version and 637-677 for the paper version, required if Advanced English is required.

IELTS exam

The certificate for its passage is quite popular in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Also relevant in case of professional migration to these countries. The test is valid for 2 years. The range of grades that can be obtained for the test is from 0.0 to 9.0. AT A1 scores from 2.0 to 2.5 are included. AT A2- from 3.0 to 3.5. step B assumes scores from 4.0 to 6.5, and for the level C1- 7.0 - 8.0. Language in perfection - these are marks 8.5 - 9.0.

What level of proficiency should be indicated in the resume?

When writing a resume, you must correctly indicate at what stage in learning the language you are now. The main thing is to choose the correct designation of the level of English (english level). The following are usually used: Basic(basic knowledge), intermediate(middle stage), Advanced(proficiency at an advanced level), Fluent (fluency).

If there was an exam, be sure to indicate its name and the number of points received.

Tip: No need to overestimate your level, because any inaccuracy can be revealed quickly enough.

Why is it important to determine your level of language proficiency?

Why does a non-specialist need information about the level of language proficiency, and is it needed at all? If you are planning to start or resume teaching a foreign language, then it is simply necessary to determine your level of knowledge, of course, if you are not an absolute beginner and have previously studied English. Only in this way will you be able to understand at what stage you stopped and where to move on.

Choosing a course of study, you will need to focus on your level. So, for example, on the site you can take various courses: from a course for beginners - Beginner, to a course for students with an Intermediate level.

In order to navigate which course to choose for training, the site provides. The system will accurately determine your level of language proficiency and suggest the appropriate course to make learning as effective as possible.

What does it mean - speak a foreign language? Everyone has their own ideas about this: someone is content with a level that allows them to freely travel around Europe, and someone is not enough to read Shakespeare in the original. Subjective criteria in this case vary greatly - from knowledge of the necessary phrases to an intuitive sense of the language (which sometimes even those who speak it from childhood lack). However, we learn a foreign language for some reason - moving to another country, studying at a foreign university, the need to speak English for work.
Needless to say, "just like that", the language itself will never be learned. Accordingly, no one can do without external criteria, that is, those parameters by which knowledge of the language will be tested in practice. Therefore, below we will consider the gradation of the levels of proficiency in the most common foreign language - English - according to the CEFR scale developed by the Council of Europe, compare it with the results of popular exams (IELTS / TOEFL / Cambridge / PTE) and give some tips for the gradual mastering of the language from elementary to higher level.

Comparison table of levels and scores for exams

How to find out your level yourself?

Today, the level of English proficiency can be determined even without leaving home, thanks to numerous online tests. Below is a selection of several of these tests. It should be borne in mind that such tests will not allow you to absolutely accurately reflect the level of language proficiency, since the resources on which they are placed are most often associated with language schools that have paid or offline resources for an accurate assessment of the level. Therefore, even after receiving the result on the CEFR scale, one should take into account the possible errors of online tests. In addition, some tests, by their content, cannot at all objectively assess knowledge of the language at an advanced level (C1–C2).
Some of the tests below require registration before the start of testing, but there are many tests on the network that allow you to get a result only after registering on the site or contacting the language school, which is very annoying and leads to additional time costs, so such tests are in the tables not taken into account.

Complex tests

Tests of this kind include tasks in various areas of language knowledge: listening (listening), understanding the text (reading), grammar (grammar) and knowledge of the dictionary (vocabulary). Comprehensive online tests do not include only one important parameter - a test of oral speech (speaking). Such tests can be considered the most objective.

Resource	Questions	Time	Level	Answers	Grade	Timer	Registration	listening	Reading
	42	50 min	A2–C2	4-5 var.	9.7	+	+	+	+
	50	20 minutes.	B1–C2	5 var.	7.4	-	+	+	+
	50	20 minutes.	A2–C1	3–4 var.	7.4	-	+	+	+
	140	70 min.	A1–C1	4 var.	7.2	-	-	+	+
	30	20 minutes.	A2–C1	4 var.	7.0	-	-	+	-
	40	15 minutes.	A1-B2	4 var.	7.0	-	+	+	-
	50	20 minutes.	A2–C1	4 var.	6.8	-	-	-	+
	20	15 minutes.	A2–C2	4 var.	6.5	+	-	+	-
	60	30 minutes.	A2–C1	4 var.	6.5	+	+	-	+
	40	15 minutes.	A1-B2	3–4 var.	6.2	-	-	+	+

Vocabulary and grammar tests

A good option for those who want to quickly determine their approximate level of language proficiency. The level of knowledge of grammar will allow you to quickly navigate your level, because good knowledge in this area constitutes an important “skeleton” on which you can successfully build up other language knowledge.

Resource	Time	Questions	Level	Answers	Grammar	Verbs	Dictionary	Grade
	35 min.	83	A2–C2	6 var.	9	8	7	8.0
	25 min.	40	A1-B2	Writing	7	8	7	7.3
	10 min.	10	B2–C1	4 var.	8	6	6	6.7
	35 min.	68	A2–B2	4 var	7	7	6	6.7
	10 min.	25	A1-B2	4 var.	7	8	5	6.7
	20 minutes.	50	A1-B2	4 var.	7	6	6	6.3
	20 minutes.	50	A1-B2	4 var.	7	6	6	6.3
	20 minutes.	40	A1-B2	4 var.	7	6	6	6.3
	20 minutes.	50	A1-B2	4 var.	6	7	6	6.3
	15 minutes.	40	A1-B2	4 var.	8	5	5	6.0
	15 minutes.	40	A1–B1	3 var.	6	6	5	5.7
	10 min.	25	A1–B1	3 var.	6	3	4	4.3

The assessment is made on a ten-point scale based on five main criteria:

• Grammar - how deeply knowledge of English grammar is checked, including knowledge of tenses, conditional clauses, subordinate clauses, tense agreement, passive voice.
• Verbs - it is separately assessed how detailed the test checks for knowledge of English verbs: irregular, modal, phrasal. The same parameter includes the presence in the test of tasks on the knowledge of the use of prepositions with verbs, the infinitive and the gerund.
• Dictionary - assessment of the diversity of testing vocabulary, as well as the availability of tasks for its use.
• Listening - if the test contains this part, then the level of its complexity, the speed of listening, the presence of different voice timbres, artificial noise, accents, etc. are evaluated.
• Reading - assessment of tasks for the perception and understanding of the text, if any, in the test. The complexity of the texts is mainly evaluated.

A large role is played by the number of tasks in a particular section, the component of knowledge of the language and the complexity of the tasks.

Why is it important to know your language level?

• To correctly determine your goals - only knowing your level of proficiency in a foreign language, you can adequately assess your capabilities, as well as determine short-term and long-term goals, which will allow you to choose the right training program and find a competent mentor.
• The need to indicate in when applying for a job - many modern companies ask applicants to indicate in their resume the level of foreign language proficiency, confirmed by the appropriate certificate. To get a good position in an international company, you need to know the language at a high level.
• To study abroad - it is impossible to enter a prestigious college or university without a good knowledge of a foreign language. And again, members of the selection committee need confirmation - a language certificate.

Foreign language in practice: what is important?

The first thing you need to know: the level of language proficiency is checked only in practice. It is almost impossible to independently determine real language skills, even with the help of Internet tests, since they only determine knowledge of grammar and a very limited vocabulary. Therefore, you should not rely too much on such results, since in reality everything will be completely different.

When determining the level of proficiency in any foreign language, including English, experts pay attention to 4 basic skills: listening, reading, speech and letter. It is these skills that are usually tested on various international tests. Obviously, Internet tests will only evaluate the first two criteria, although in practice it is much more important to be able to express yourself in speech and writing.
The difficulty of self-determining the level of a foreign language lies not only in the fact that it is difficult to evaluate oneself, but also in the fact that the second language as a whole is rarely kept at any particular level. That is, you can be able to understand the most complex texts in a foreign language that correspond to an advanced level, but with great difficulty speak on your own. It turns out that, on the one hand, a person knows the language at the level of a professional, and on the other hand, his communication skills are almost not developed. How then to determine your level of English? Professional linguists and experts define foreign language proficiency according to several levels that apply not only to English, but also to most of the world's languages.

A0 - English Proficiency Zero

IELTS	TOEFL	Cambridge	PTE
0	0	-	0

In truth, such a level does not exist at all, but it is certainly worth mentioning, since 80% of self-critical beginners confidently attribute to themselves complete ignorance of the language. Attention: if a person knows how the word is translated dog or house, then this is already some level. Whatever the source of knowledge: two years of studying English at school, once read an English phrase book or two weeks of classes with a tutor 15 years ago - this knowledge remains in a person’s head forever. This is important because even a minimal base will serve as an excellent basis for further study.
If we talk about the zero level, then this means total ignorance English (this will be true if the person knows English as well as Filipino). In this case, you can enroll in English courses in your home country. In about 3 months, the level of the language will rise to conversational B1. If a person is still visually familiar with the English alphabet and knows what "Hello! How are you?" means, this indicates language proficiency at the A1 level.
start with lessons for absolute beginners, where you can learn the alphabet, reading rules, key words for understanding simple English, learn 300 new words (it will take no more than two weeks).

A1 - initial level of English proficiency - Beginner

IELTS	TOEFL	Cambridge	PTE
2	15	-

This level is also called the "survival level". This means that once in one of the cities of England or America, a person with the help of local residents will be able to get at least to the Russian embassy. In no case can this level be called conversational, since, of course, a coherent conversation will not work. But if we put the jokes aside, then with this level you can go to language courses abroad.
Even minimal skills already allow at the very least to convey some information to the interlocutor, albeit not without the help of gestures. Usually, those who studied English once upon a time and without much pleasure own this level. Of course, there are absolutely no practical skills, but there is knowledge deposited deep in memory that will serve as a good basis for further learning the language.
The student speaks the language at level A1 if:

• answers basic questions: name, age, home country, profession;
• understands familiar phrases provided that the narrator speaks slowly and clearly;
• understands some individual words in an English text.

How to move to the next level: learn the rules of reading and pronunciation, get acquainted with the rules of English grammar, learn about 300 new words.

A2 - Basic English - Elementary

IELTS	TOEFL	Cambridge	PTE
3.5	31	KET pass	30

If you can live with the initial level and not guess about it, then the basic level Elementary suggests some awareness, or at least a memory, that "I once taught something like this." Again, it is still far from the conversational level, but unlike A1, some kind of dialogue can already turn out.
If we return to the hypothetical situation of being in one of the cities of England, then the situation here is a little more rosy: with the basic level, you can not only get to the embassy, ​​but also communicate with a foreigner (for example, tell a little about your profession or place an order in a cafe).
In practice, A2 differs little from A1, and the main advantage of the first lies rather in greater self-confidence and a slightly richer vocabulary. However, the possibilities of communication are still limited, so the A2 level is only suitable as a base for study, since there is nowhere to apply it in practice.
The student speaks the language at level A2 if:

• talks about everyday topics: can tell you or ask for directions, tell about yourself and about things around you;
• understands the speech of the interlocutor in the dialogue, provided that he speaks clearly and on a familiar topic;
• can read and understand elementary sentences ( I have..., You are..., He goes...);
• compose a simple sentence in text form or fill out a questionnaire in English.

How to move to the next level: continue to study grammar, practice writing short texts, learn irregular verbs and their tense forms, practice speaking skills (you can do this via Skype or in conversation clubs), watch movies and TV shows in English with Russian subtitles, learn about 500 new words.

Very often, an intermediate level is distinguished between the initial and conversational levels, which implies that a person can already use English to solve some vital tasks, but does not yet speak spoken English. If we correlate it with the A0-C2 scale, then this level can be characterized as A2+ or B1-.
You can define it like this:

• partially falling under the B1 level characteristic, but the lack of practice in some aspects (for example, writing) indicates knowledge of the language at the level Pre-Intermediate;
• Completely falling under the description of level A2 and partially under level B1 (for example, the skill of speaking is more developed) indicates knowledge of the language at the level Upper elementary.

How to go to the next level: pay attention to those skills that are missing to the next level and work on them, based on the tips for moving to the next level in the paragraph about A2.

B1 - Intermediate English - Intermediate

IELTS	TOEFL	Cambridge	PTE
4	60	PET pass	43

When the competence of language proficiency goes beyond the confused speech about the location of museums and restaurants, and English speech and text become more understandable, these facts indicate that the student is at the first stage of spoken English. But in addition to speaking, this level also implies good reading skills of adapted texts, as well as an understanding of basic English grammar. Statistically, most tourists know the language at this level, which allows them to easily communicate with an interlocutor on everyday topics. Typically, today's graduates graduate from school with at least a B1 level (at a maximum of B2). However, there is still a lot of work to be done before becoming fluent in the language.
The student speaks the language at level B1 if:

• confidently maintains a conversation on any everyday topic with good pronunciation, although still with some hesitations and errors;
• understands the interlocutor, and also partially captures the meaning of a complex speech (lecture) or a conversation between English speakers (film);
• reads literature adapted to the average level with a dictionary and understands the meaning of simple texts;
• can write a short essay about himself or the world around him, using common semantic constructions and words.

How to move to the next level: learn advanced vocabulary and grammar, practice more written English (a tutor or sites for self-learning English will help with this, for example Polyglot Club ), you need to communicate more in English with native speakers or advanced users, regularly monitor English-language sources of information (news publications, entertainment articles, interest sites), watch movies and TV shows with English subtitles (at first it may seem quite difficult, but with over time it will bear fruit). It is equally important to replenish your vocabulary, so you should learn at least 1000 new words.

B2 - Upper Intermediate - Upper-Intermediate

IELTS	TOEFL	Cambridge	PTE
6	90	FCE grade C	59

If the student has good conversational skills (a level above average), can maintain a detailed conversation with a foreigner, understands speech by ear, watches English-language films and TV shows without translation and subtitles, this means that he speaks a foreign language at level B2. It should be noted that people who are completely unfamiliar with the English language are sure that they are facing a real foreigner. However, don't be deceived. Upper Intermediate- this is really a great achievement, but even it is sometimes not enough for professional activities. Also, the disadvantages include the fact that it will be much more difficult to move higher on your own. However, for admission to a foreign university with average requirements for applicants, this level is quite enough, so you can not worry and feel free to sign up for TOEFL or IELTS exams.
A student speaks the language at level B2 if:

• speaks measuredly on almost any topic, expresses his own attitude or spaciously describes his thoughts (however, at this level, some errors in verb conjugation, tenses and the use of complex words are still acceptable);
• understands everyday speech and about 80% of complex speech (lectures, films, interviews);
• understands the meaning of informational texts in English well, draws information from English-language resources without significant loss of meaning (at the same time, it is allowed to use a dictionary to read texts on an unfamiliar topic);
• argues his thoughts in writing, using common constructions (albeit with minor errors).

How to move to the next level: learn advanced English grammar, practice writing texts in different styles (formal, academic, professional), accustom yourself to draw most of the information from English-language sources (for example, read the news only in English for several weeks), learn phrasal verbs, listen to lectures and watch educational films in English, to replenish vocabulary (it is desirable to learn 600 new words.

C1 - advanced level of English proficiency - Advanced

IELTS	TOEFL	Cambridge	PTE
7.5	100	CAE grade C	76

Perhaps, only a professional or an anglophone and, of course, the speaker himself can understand the difference between an advanced level and a higher average one, but only if he has the so-called "sense of language": when it becomes clear when speaking that the words are used correctly, but the sentence can be built a little differently by choosing more elegant words or suitable terms. This is a sign that the problem of language proficiency has slowly shifted to the problem of its competent use, which, in turn, indicates an extremely high level of knowledge of English as a foreign language. Of course, there is no question of any misunderstanding of the language. A student with level C1 perfectly perceives information by ear and is able to express his thoughts on paper. The only thing that he still cannot quite do is Shakespeare and Nabokov's Lolita in the original without a dictionary. This level is recommended for employment in a foreign company, it opens the doors to almost all foreign universities (including the top ones - Yale University, University College London,).
The student speaks the language at level C1 if:

• speaks without problems on any topic, expresses shades of emotions and relationships in the language;
• understands any spoken language;
• fluently reads texts in English, both informational (articles, newspapers, interviews) and scientific (articles in scientific journals, textbooks, works of philosophers, journalists, critics), occasionally encountering unfamiliar words;
• knows how to write letters to the employer, motivational letters, clearly understands the difference between the formal writing style and the informal one.

How to move to the next level: continue to work with complex texts in English, read works of art by American and British authors in the original, listen to professional lectures on English literature, get acquainted with idioms and figures of speech in English, communicate as much as possible with native speakers.

C2 - professional level - Proficient

IELTS	TOEFL	Cambridge	PTE
8.5	118	CPE grade C	85

The highest level in the gradation of English language levels is level C2. It should be noted that this is still a step, not a final stop. In fact, the C2 level corresponds to an excellent knowledge of English as a foreign language, its competent use for any professional and everyday situation, the ability to freely (well, or almost fluently) read fiction and professional literature in English. However, knowing English at C2 level does not mean knowing it, as they like to say, in excellence.
Any linguist or philologist will attest that mastering a language is the preserve of a very few, and those few usually become brilliant writers or wordsmiths. But if we take the most obvious example, let's say, an educated resident of London, then this also goes beyond the C2 level (usually those who speak English since childhood are called native speakers, and, of course, this is not included in the gradation of knowledge of English as a foreign language).
It should always be remembered that there is no limit to perfection, although proficiency in the language at the C2 level is an excellent result that few achieve. With this level, one can enter any postgraduate program, publish papers in English, conduct conferences and lectures, i.e. for almost any professional activity this level will be more than enough.
A student speaks the language at level C2 if:
How to improve your English: spend a few years in an English-speaking country, such as at a university or on an internship. And, of course, read.

What should you know about learning foreign languages?

Independent study of a foreign language is quite possible, but this undertaking requires a lot of effort, time, and such qualities as perseverance, diligence and determination from the student. At first, the classes seem interesting, but the lack of a clear program, correctly set goals, time frames and a teacher who controls the learning process and motivates the student leads to another breakdown and lack of desire to continue learning the language.
That is why it is desirable to learn a new language together with a teacher in individual or group lessons. When the basic material is completed, you can go abroad to improve your communication skills and increase your vocabulary. Without studying in a country where the language being studied is the main one, it is impossible to master it perfectly, even studying according to the most advanced manuals.
The fact is that the living modern language changes daily, and special educational publications simply do not have time to track these metamorphoses. We are talking about modern slang, foreign borrowings, a variety of dialects, etc., which change the language every day. It is possible to know English at the native level, but for this it is necessary to be in an appropriate language environment, where the student will have to join a foreign-speaking society, be aware of the news that is covered in the press or on the Internet.

How long does it take to learn a foreign language?

The answer to this question depends on several factors: the goals of the student, his perseverance and diligence, as well as solvency. It is quite logical that you can learn a foreign language faster only with the help of a qualified teacher (perhaps even a native speaker). This is a real investment in the future, which will definitely pay off, but it will also require quite a lot of capital investment.
The faster the student wants to learn a foreign language, the more he will have to pay. Theoretically, it can take about 2.5 - 3 years to complete all levels (without living abroad), for this you will have to attend special courses several times a week. If you study on your own, it will take much more time to learn the language. When studying abroad, the student receives the same amount of knowledge much faster.

Miracles do not happen!

Beginners to learn a foreign language should clearly understand that the learning process requires a lot of time from the student, as well as some effort on himself, since there is always a reason to reschedule the lesson or postpone homework until later. Teaching is a lot of work! Therefore, it is impossible to learn a language in a month using a new "unique author's technique" or the 25th frame. Miracles do not happen! Only work on the mistakes and consistent analysis of new material will help to achieve the desired level.

Time spent to level up

The table shows the number of weeks of intensive English for language improvement in schools