A1 – Basic user. You can understand greetings and simple phrases. You can recognize familiar names, words, and simple sentences in context, such as directions and basic instructions. You can read and understand very short, simple texts, like advertisements, menus, and basic signs. You can introduce yourself and others. You can make and respond to simple inquiries about yourself concerning personal details such as: where you live, whom you know, what you have. You can write simple postcards or fill out forms with personal information. You can fill in simple forms or postcards with your personal details. You are able to write brief, basic messages (e.g., invitations, or thank-you notes).
A2 – Elementary user. You should be able to understand sentences and frequent expressions of most immediate relevance (e.g., shopping, family, local services). You can comprehend simple instructions and information linked to personal needs. You can read and understand short, simple texts such as personal letters, simple articles, and short stories. You can describe your daily activities or usual schedule in writing or orally. You can ask for and give directions, you can get by through some usual situations while shopping and handling simple transactions. You can compose brief personal letters and simple paragraphs about familiar topics.
B1 – Intermediate user. You can understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters. You can follow discussions on familiar topics in work, school, and leisure contexts. You can read and understand texts on familiar topics, including short articles and descriptions of events. You can extract relevant information from longer texts. You can give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. You can compose essays or reports with basic structure and argumentation.
B2 – Upper intermediate user. You can understand the main ideas of complex texts, including technical discussions in your field. You can follow extended speeches and lectures with some effort. You can read and understand complex texts, including newspapers, articles, and reports. You can analyze arguments and distinguish opinions from facts. You can explain viewpoints on topical issues and present arguments with structured reasoning. You are able to speak with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that allows for effective communication.
C1 – Advanced user. You should be able to understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. You should have no problem in following most complex interactions and discussions with ease. You can read and interpret complex texts, including literature, and understand subtle argumentation and ideas. You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously almost with the precision of a native speaker. You can present detailed and coherent arguments in complex issues. You can write essays, reports, and articles with effective argumentation and sophisticated language use.
C2 – Proficient user. You can understand virtually everything that is said quite easily. You can summarize information from various sources and reconstruct arguments coherently. You can read any text and comprehend it, even texts which are highly abstract, structurally or linguistically complex. You can express yourself spontaneously, very fluently, and precisely. You can differentiate finer shades of meaning even in complex situations. You can discuss abstract, complicated subjects in a lot of subtlety. You can write complex texts like detailed reports, proposals, and critical essays, with effective logical structure and precision.
