At Avancée, we use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to assess your level.
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is an internationally recognised standard for assessing language proficiency. It categorises language ability on a six-level scale, ranging from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient).
This standard makes it straightforward for teachers, learners, and testing organisations to understand and compare language qualifications. It also allows employers and educational institutions to easily evaluate and align these qualifications with other exams in their country.
Level A1 – Elementary
Level A1 represents the most basic level of practical language use. At this stage, learners can engage in simple interactions, ask and answer basic questions about themselves, their living situation, people they know, and things they possess. They can also initiate and respond to straightforward statements about immediate needs or familiar topics, moving beyond a limited set of memorised, situation-specific phrases.
Level A2 – Pre-Intermediate
At the A2 level, students are beginning to navigate social situations with greater ease. They can use basic polite expressions for greetings and introductions, ask how others are and respond to news, and manage brief social interactions. They can ask and answer questions about their work and leisure activities, make and respond to invitations, discuss plans, suggest activities, and arrange meetings. Additionally, they can handle everyday tasks outside the home, such as making simple purchases in shops, post offices, or banks, obtaining basic travel information, using public transport, asking for directions, and buying tickets.
Level B1 – Intermediate
At level B1, students can sustain interactions and effectively convey their ideas across a variety of contexts. They can follow the main points of extended discussions around them, as long as the speech is clear and uses a standard dialect. They are able to communicate their key ideas understandably and maintain coherence, although they may need to pause occasionally to plan grammar or vocabulary, particularly during longer, unstructured speech. Another key skill at this level is handling everyday challenges with flexibility, such as managing less routine situations on public transport, addressing common issues when making travel arrangements or while travelling, and participating in spontaneous conversations on familiar topics.
Level B2 – Upper-Intermediate
At the B2 level, the emphasis is on effective argumentation. Students can articulate and defend their opinions during discussions by offering relevant explanations, arguments, and comments. They can express a viewpoint on a topical issue, outlining the pros and cons of different options, and develop arguments with reasons either supporting or opposing a particular stance. In informal discussions within familiar contexts, they actively participate by sharing their opinions clearly, evaluating alternative ideas, and proposing and responding to hypotheses.
Students at this level can effectively manage social conversations, comprehending detailed spoken language in standard dialect even in noisy settings. They can initiate discussions, take turns appropriately, and conclude conversations when needed, though not always seamlessly. Their level of fluency and spontaneity enables regular interaction with native speakers without causing discomfort or misunderstanding.
Additionally, there is an increased awareness of language use. They can identify and correct mistakes that lead to misunderstandings, take note of common errors, monitor their speech for accuracy, and address slips or errors when they become aware of them.
Level C1 – Advanced
Students at the C1 level have access to a wide range of language, enabling fluent, spontaneous, and nearly effortless communication. They possess a strong command of an extensive vocabulary, allowing them to fill gaps using paraphrasing when needed. There is minimal hesitation or reliance on avoidance strategies, with only highly complex topics potentially disrupting the natural flow of speech.
The discourse skills seen at earlier levels are further refined at C1, with a greater focus on fluency. Students can draw on a diverse repertoire of expressions to smoothly introduce comments, take the floor, or maintain it while organising their thoughts. They can produce speech that is clear, fluid, and well-structured, demonstrating effective use of organisational patterns, linking phrases, and cohesive devices.
Level C2 – Proficient
Students at Level C2 exhibit a level of precision, appropriateness, and ease in their language use that reflects the proficiency of highly accomplished learners. They can express subtle nuances of meaning with accuracy, using a broad range of modification techniques. Their command of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms is strong, paired with an awareness of their connotations. Additionally, they can navigate around language challenges by rephrasing or restructuring their speech so seamlessly that the listener is unlikely to notice any difficulty.
When booking a course with Avancée, you will automatically be asked to fill in a level and needs analysis form, part of our Online Application Process in order for you teacher to start planning relevant lessons from Day 1 and to ensure you are placed with same level students.
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