The CEFR Levels: Skills Description

VOCABULARY

You have sufficient vocabulary to conduct routine everyday transactions involving familiar situations and topics. You have sufficient vocabulary for the expression of basic communicative needs and for coping with simple survival needs.

GRAMMAR

You use some simple structures correctly, but still systematically make basic mistakes; nevertheless, it is usually clear what you are trying to say.

PRONUNCIATION

Pronunciation is generally intelligible when communicating in simple everyday situations, provided the interlocutor makes an effort to understand specific sounds. Systematic mispronunciation of phonemes does not hinder intelligibility, provided the interlocutor makes an effort to recognise and adjust to the influence of your language background on pronunciation. You can use the prosodic features of everyday words and phrases intelligibly, in spite of a strong influence on stress, intonation and/or rhythm from the other language(s) you speak.

WRITING

You can copy short sentences on everyday subjects, e.g. directions on how to get somewhere. You can write with reasonable phonetic accuracy (but not necessarily fully standard spelling) short words that are in your oral vocabulary. You can describe everyday aspects of your environment, e.g. people, places, a job or study experience in linked sentences. You can give very short, basic descriptions of events, past activities and personal experiences. You can tell a simple story (e.g. about events on a holiday or about life in the distant future). You can produce a series of simple phrases and sentences about your family, living conditions, educational background, or present or most recent job. You can create short, simple imaginary biographies and simple poems about people. You can create diary entries that describe activities (e.g. daily routine, outings, sports, hobbies), people and places, using basic, concrete vocabulary and simple phrases and sentences with simple connectives like “and”, “but” and “because”. You can compose an introduction to a story or continue a story, provided they can consult a dictionary and references (e.g. tables of verb tenses in a course book).

SPEAKING

You can adapt well-rehearsed, memorised, simple phrases to particular circumstances through limited lexical substitution. You can expand learnt phrases through simple recombinations of their elements. You can make yourself understood in short contributions, even though pauses, false starts and reformulation are very evident. You can construct phrases on familiar topics with sufficient ease to handle short exchanges, despite very noticeable hesitation and false starts. You can give a simple description or presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines. likes/ dislikes, etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list. You can tell a story or describe something in a simple list of points. You can give short, basic descriptions of events and activities. You can describe plans and arrangements, habits and routines, past activities and personal experiences. You can use simple descriptive language to make brief statements about and compare objects and possessions. You can explain what you like or dislike about something. You can express what you are good at and not so good at (e.g. sports, games, skills, subjects). You can briefly describe what you plan to do at the weekend or during the holidays. You can give simple directions on how to get from X to Y, using basic expressions such as “turn right” and “go straight”, along with sequential connectors such as “first”, “then” and “next”.

LISTENING

You can understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type, provided people articulate clearly and slowly. You can understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment), provided people articulate clearly and slowly. You can follow the general outline of a demonstration or presentation on a familiar or predictable topic, where the message is expressed slowly and clearly in simple language and there is visual support (e.g. slides, handouts). You can understand the outline of simple information given in a predictable situation, such as on a guided tour (e.g. “This is where the President lives”). You can understand and follow a series of instructions for familiar everyday activities such as sports, cooking, etc., provided they are delivered slowly and clearly. You can understand straightforward announcements (e.g. of a cinema programme or sports event, that a train has been delayed), provided the delivery is slow and clear. You can catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements. You can understand simple directions on how to get from X to Y, by foot or public transport. You can understand basic instructions on times, dates and numbers, etc., and on routine tasks and assignments to be carried out. You can identify the main point of TV news items reporting events, accidents, etc. where the visuals support the commentary. You can follow a TV commercial or a trailer for or scene from a film, understanding what topic(s) are concerned, provided the images are a great help in understanding and the delivery is clear and relatively slow. You can follow changes of topic of factual TV news items, and form an idea of the main content.

READING

You can understand short, simple texts on familiar matters of a concrete type which consist of high frequency everyday or job-related language. You can understand short, simple texts containing the highest frequency vocabulary, including a proportion of shared international vocabulary items. You can understand a simple personal letter, e-mail or post in which the person writing is talking about familiar subjects (such as friends or family) or asking questions on these subjects. You can understand basic types of standard routine letters and faxes (enquiries, orders, letters of confirmation, etc.) on familiar topics. You can understand short, simple personal letters. You can understand very simple formal e-mails and letters (e.g. confirmation of a booking or online purchase). You can understand regulations, for example safety, when expressed in simple language. You can understand short instructions illustrated step by step (e.g. for installing new technology). You can understand simple instructions on equipment encountered in everyday life – such as a public telephone. You can understand simple, brief instructions, provided they are illustrated and not presented in continuous text. You can understand instructions on medicine labels expressed as a simple command (e.g. “Take before meals” or “Do not take if driving”). You can follow a simple recipe, especially if there are pictures to illustrate the most important steps.

VOCABULARY

You have a good range of vocabulary related to familiar topics and everyday situations. You have sufficient vocabulary to express yourself with some circumlocutions on most topics pertinent to your everyday life such as family, hobbies and interests, work, travel and current events.

GRAMMAR

You communicate with reasonable accuracy in familiar contexts; generally good control, though with noticeable mother-tongue influence. Errors occur, but it is clear what you are trying to express. You use reasonably accurately a repertoire of frequently used “routines” and patterns associated with more predictable situations.

PRONUNCIATION

Pronunciation is generally intelligible; intonation and stress at both utterance and word levels do not prevent understanding of the message. Accent is usually influenced by the other language(s) you speak.

WRITING

You can produce continuous writing which is generally intelligible throughout. Spelling, punctuation and layout are accurate enough to be followed most of the time. You can produce straightforward connected texts on a range of familiar subjects within your field of interest, by linking a series of shorter discrete elements into a linear sequence. You can clearly signal chronological sequence in narrative text. You can give a simple review of a film, book or TV programme using a limited range of language. You can give straightforward, detailed descriptions on a range of familiar subjects within your field of interest. You can give accounts of experiences, describing feelings and reactions in simple, connected text. You can give a description of an event, a recent trip – real or imagined. You can narrate a story.

SPEAKING

You can adapt your expression to deal with less routine, even difficult, situations. You can exploit a wide range of simple language flexibly to express much of what you want. You can express yourself with relative ease. Despite some problems with formulation resulting in pauses and “cul-de-sacs”, you are able to keep going effectively without help. You can keep going comprehensibly, even though pausing for grammatical and lexical planning and repair is very evident, especially in longer stretches of free production. You can reasonably fluently sustain a straightforward description of one of a variety of subjects within your field of interest, presenting it as a linear sequence of points. You can clearly express feelings about something experienced and give reasons to explain those feelings. You can give straightforward descriptions on a variety of familiar subjects within their field of interest. You can relate details of unpredictable occurrences, e.g. an accident. You can relate the plot of a book or film and describe their reactions. You can describe dreams, hopes and ambitions. You can describe events, real or imagined. You can narrate a story. You can explain the main points in an idea or problem with reasonable precision. You can describe how to do something, giving detailed instructions. You can report straightforward factual information on a familiar topic, for example to indicate the nature of a problem or to give detailed directions, provided they can prepare beforehand.

LISTENING

You can understand straightforward factual information about common everyday or job-related topics, identifying both general messages and specific details, provided people articulate clearly in a generally familiar variety. You can follow a lecture or talk within your own field, provided the subject matter is familiar and the presentation straightforward and clearly structured. You can distinguish between main ideas and supporting details in standard lectures on familiar subjects, provided these are delivered in clearly articulated standard language or a familiar variety. You can follow a straightforward conference presentation or demonstration with visual support (e.g. slides, handouts) on a topic or product within your field, understanding explanations given. You can understand the main points of what is said in a straightforward monologue (e.g. a guided tour), provided the delivery is clear and relatively slow. You can understand simple technical information, such as operating instructions for everyday equipment. You can follow detailed directions. You can understand public announcements at airports, stations and on planes, buses and trains, provided these are clearly articulated with minimum interference from [auditory/visual] background noise. You can understand a large part of many TV programmes on topics of personal interest such as interviews, short lectures and news reports when the delivery is relatively slow and clear. You can follow many films in which visuals and action carry much of the storyline, and which are delivered clearly in straightforward language. You can catch the main points in TV programmes on familiar topics when the delivery is relatively slow and clear.

READING

You can read straightforward factual texts on subjects related to your field of interest with a satisfactory level of comprehension. You can understand formal correspondence on less familiar subjects well enough to redirect it to someone else. You can understand the description of events, feelings and wishes in personal letters well enough to correspond regularly with a pen friend. You can understand straightforward personal letters, e-mails or postings giving a relatively detailed account of events and experiences. You can understand standard formal correspondence and online postings in their area of professional interest. You can understand instructions and procedures in the form of a continuous text, for instance in a manual, provided you are familiar with the type of process or product concerned. You can understand clearly expressed, straightforward instructions for a piece of equipment. You can follow simple instructions given on packaging (e.g. cooking instructions). You can understand most short safety instructions, (e.g. on public transport or in manuals for the use of electrical equipment).

VOCABULARY

You can understand and use the main technical terminology of your field, when discussing your area of specialisation with other specialists. You have a good range of vocabulary for matters connected to your field and most general topics. You can vary formulation to avoid frequent repetition, but lexical gaps can still cause hesitation and circumlocution. You can produce appropriate collocations of many words/signs in most contexts fairly systematically. You can understand and use much of the specialist vocabulary of your field but have problems with specialist terminology outside it.

GRAMMAR

Good grammatical control; occasional “slips” or non-systematic errors and minor flaws in sentence structure may still occur, but they are rare and can often be corrected in retrospect. You have a good command of simple language structures and some complex grammatical forms, although you tend to use complex structures rigidly with some inaccuracy.

PRONUNCIATION

You can generally use appropriate intonation, place stress correctly and articulate individual sounds clearly; accent tends to be influenced by the other language(s) you speak, but has little or no effect on intelligibility.

WRITING

You can produce clearly intelligible, continuous writing which follows standard layout and paragraphing conventions. Spelling and punctuation are reasonably accurate but may show signs of mother-tongue influence. You can produce clear, detailed texts on a variety of subjects related to your field of interest, synthesising and evaluating information and arguments from a number of sources. You can give clear, detailed descriptions of real or imaginary events and experiences marking the relationship between ideas in clear connected text, and following established conventions of the genre concerned. You can give a review of a film, book or play.

SPEAKING

You can adjust what you say and the means of expressing it to the situation and the recipient and adopt a level of formality appropriate to the circumstances. You can adjust to the changes of direction, style and emphasis normally found in conversation. You can vary formulation of what you want to say. You can reformulate an idea to emphasise or explain a point. You can communicate spontaneously, often showing remarkable fluency and ease of expression in even longer complex stretches of language. You can produce stretches of language with a fairly even tempo; although you can be hesitant as you search for patterns and expressions, there are few noticeably long pauses. You can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with users of the target language quite possible without imposing strain on either party. You can give clear, systematically developed descriptions and presentations, with appropriate highlighting of significant points, and relevant supporting detail. You can give clear, detailed descriptions and presentations on a wide range of subjects related to your field of interest, expanding and supporting ideas with subsidiary points and relevant examples. You can describe the personal significance of events and experiences in detail. You can communicate complex information and advice on the full range of matters related to your occupational role. You can communicate detailed information reliably. You can give a clear, detailed description of how to carry out a procedure.

LISTENING

You can understand standard language or a familiar variety, live or broadcast, on both familiar and unfamiliar topics normally encountered in personal, social, academic or vocational life. Only extreme [auditory/visual] background noise, inadequate discourse structure and/or idiomatic usage influence the ability to understand. You can understand the main ideas of propositionally and linguistically complex discourse on both concrete and abstract topics delivered in standard language or a familiar variety, including technical discussions in your field of specialisation. You can follow extended discourse and complex lines of argument, provided the topic is reasonably familiar, and the direction of the argument is signposted by explicit markers. You can follow the essentials of lectures, talks and reports and other forms of academic/professional presentation which are propositionally and linguistically complex. You can understand the point of view expressed on topics that are of current interest or that relate to your specialised field, provided the talk is delivered in standard language or a familiar variety. You can follow complex lines of argument in a clearly articulated lecture, provided the topic is reasonably familiar. You can distinguish main themes from asides, provided the lecture or talk is delivered in standard language or a familiar variety. You can recognise the point of view expressed and distinguish this from facts being reporting. You can understand announcements and messages on concrete and abstract topics delivered in standard language or a familiar variety at normal speed. You can understand detailed instructions well enough to be able to follow them successfully. You can extract the main points from the arguments and discussions in news and current affairs programmes. You can understand most TV news and current affairs programmes. You can understand documentaries, live interviews, talk shows, plays and the majority of films in the standard form of the language or a familiar variety.

READING

You can read with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of reading to different texts and purposes, and using appropriate reference sources selectively. You have a broad active reading vocabulary, but may experience some difficulty with low-frequency idioms. You can read correspondence relating to your field of interest and readily grasp the essential meaning. You can understand what is said in a personal e-mail or posting even where some colloquial language is used. You can understand lengthy, complex instructions in your field, including details on conditions and warnings, provided you can reread difficult sections.

VOCABULARY

You have a good command of a broad lexical repertoire allowing gaps to be readily overcome with circumlocutions; little obvious searching for expressions or avoidance strategies. You can select from several vocabulary options in almost all situations by exploiting synonyms of even words/signs less commonly encountered. You have a good command of common idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms. You can play with words/signs fairly well. You can understand and use appropriately the range of technical vocabulary and idiomatic expressions common to your area of specialisation.

GRAMMAR

You consistently maintain a high degree of grammatical accuracy; errors are rare and difficult to spot.

PRONUNCIATION

You can articulate virtually all the sounds of the target language with a high degree of control. You can usually self-correct if you noticeably mispronounce a sound. You can produce smooth, intelligible spoken discourse with only occasional lapses in control of stress, rhythm and/or intonation, which do not affect intelligibility or effectiveness. You can vary intonation and place stress correctly in order to express precisely what you mean to say. Some features of accent(s) retained from other language(s) may be noticeable, but they do not affect intelligibility.

WRITING

You can produce clear, well-structured texts of complex subjects, underlining the relevant salient issues, expanding and supporting points of view at some length with subsidiary points, reasons and relevant examples, and rounding off with an appropriate conclusion. Layout, paragraphing and punctuation are consistent and helpful. Spelling is accurate, apart from occasional slips of the pen. You can employ the structure and conventions of a variety of genres, varying the tone, style and register according to addressee, text type and theme. You can produce clear, detailed, well-structured and developed descriptions and imaginative texts in an assured, personal, natural style appropriate to the reader in mind. You can incorporate idiom and humour, though use of the latter is not always appropriate. You can give a detailed critical review of cultural events (e.g. plays, films, concerts) or literary works.

SPEAKING

You can make a positive impact on an intended audience by effectively varying style of expression and sentence length, use of advanced vocabulary and word order. You can modify your expression to express degrees of commitment or hesitation, confidence or uncertainty. You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language. You can give clear, detailed descriptions and presentations on complex subjects, integrating sub-themes, developing particular points and rounding off with an appropriate conclusion. You can give elaborate descriptions and narratives, integrating sub-themes, developing particular points and rounding them off with an appropriate conclusion. You can communicate clearly detailed distinctions between ideas, concepts and things that closely resemble one other. You can give instructions on carrying out a series of complex professional or academic procedures.

LISTENING

You can understand enough to follow extended discourse on abstract and complex topics beyond your own field, though you may need to confirm occasional details, especially if the variety is unfamiliar. You can recognise a wide range of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms, appreciating register shifts. You can follow extended discourse even when it is not clearly structured and when relationships are only implied and not signalled explicitly. You can follow most lectures, discussions and debates with relative ease. You can extract specific information from poor quality, [audibly and/or visually] distorted public announcements, e.g. in a station or sports stadium, or on an old recording. You can understand complex technical information, such as operating instructions or specifications for familiar products and services. You can follow films employing a considerable degree of slang and idiomatic usage. You can understand in detail the arguments presented in demanding television broadcasts such as current affairs programmes, interviews, discussion programmes and chat shows. You can understand nuances and implied meaning in most films, plays and TV programmes, provided these are delivered in standard language or a familiar variety.

READING

You can understand in detail lengthy, complex texts, whether or not these relate to your own area of speciality, provided you can reread difficult sections. You can understand a wide variety of texts including literary writings, newspaper or magazine articles, and specialised academic or professional publications, provided there are opportunities for rereading and you have access to reference tools. You can understand any correspondence given the occasional use of a dictionary. You can understand implicit as well as explicit attitudes, emotions and opinions expressed in e-mails, discussion forums, vlogs/blogs, etc., provided there are opportunities for rereading and you have access to reference tools. You can understand slang, idiomatic expressions and jokes in private correspondence. You can understand in detail lengthy, complex instructions on a new machine or procedure, whether or not the instructions relate to your own area of speciality, provided you can reread difficult sections.

VOCABULARY

You have a good command of a very broad lexical repertoire including idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms; shows awareness of connotative levels of meaning.

GRAMMAR

You maintain consistent grammatical control of complex language, even while attention is otherwise engaged (e.g. in forward planning, in monitoring others’ reactions).

PRONUNCIATION

You can articulate virtually all the sounds of the target language with clarity and precision. You can exploit prosodic features (e.g. stress, rhythm and intonation) appropriately and effectively in order to convey finer shades of meaning (e.g. to differentiate and emphasise).

WRITING

You can produce clear, smoothly flowing, complex texts in an appropriate and effective style and a logical structure which helps the reader identify significant points. Writing is orthographically free of error. You can relate clear, smoothly flowing and engaging stories and descriptions of experience in a style appropriate to the genre adopted. You can exploit idiom and humour appropriately to enhance the impact of the text.

SPEAKING

You show great flexibility in reformulating ideas in differing linguistic forms to give emphasis, differentiate according to the situation, interlocutor, etc. and to eliminate ambiguity. You can express yourself at length with a natural, effortless, unhesitating flow. You pause only to reflect on precisely the right means to express your thoughts or to find an appropriate example or explanation. You can produce clear, smoothly flowing, well-structured discourse with an effective logical structure which helps the recipient to notice and remember significant points. You can give clear, smoothly flowing, elaborate and often memorable descriptions. You can communicate clearly detailed distinctions between ideas, concepts and things that closely resemble one other. You can give instructions on carrying out a series of complex professional or academic procedures.

LISTENING

You can understand with ease virtually any kind of language, whether live or broadcast, delivered at fast natural speed. You can follow specialised lectures and presentations employing colloquialism, regional usage or unfamiliar terminology. You can make appropriate inferences when links or implications are not made explicit. You can get the point of jokes or allusions in a presentation. You can extract specific information from poor quality, [audibly and/or visually] distorted public announcements, e.g. in a station or sports stadium, or on an old recording. You can understand complex technical information, such as operating instructions or specifications for familiar products and services. You can follow films employing a considerable degree of slang and idiomatic usage. You can understand in detail the arguments presented in demanding television broadcasts such as current affairs programmes, interviews, discussion programmes and chat shows. You can understand nuances and implied meaning in most films, plays and TV programmes, provided these are delivered in standard language or a familiar variety.

READING

You can understand virtually all types of texts including abstract, structurally complex, or highly colloquial literary and non-literary writings. You can understand a wide range of long and complex texts, appreciating subtle distinctions of style and implicit as well as explicit meaning. You can understand specialised, formal correspondence on a complex topic. You can understand in detail lengthy, complex instructions on a new machine or procedure, whether or not the instructions relate to your own area of speciality, provided you can reread difficult sections.